|
| |
| Charitable choice: Is it really
culture wars funded by the federal treasury?
A comment by Gene TeSelle
[2-13-01]
Several news outlets reported that on January 31
President Bush was overheard making remarks to Catholic leaders when the
Oval Office speaker system was accidentally switched to the reporters'
room.
He said that his program to give tax money to
religious organizations will help them promote opposition to abortion.
The program is intended, he said, to "change the culture" and
make it easier for them to "save babies." That, says Margaret
Sykes, is proselytizing, trying to convert people to a particular
religious belief.
Bush said that the pro-life movement has been
"losing a war of words," and went on to say. "This whole
faith-based initiative really ties into a larger cultural issue that
we're working on." He praised Catholic leaders as "vital
allies" because they will not be "eroded by political
correctness or whatever."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan tried to put a
different spin on these remarks, saying, "Faith is a powerful tool
for changing and saving lives." But in his next sentence he raised
the specter of culture wars funded by the government. "In a much
broader context, it's all about changing the culture."
It's already on the way, folks. The President has not
only created an Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives with the
promise of distributing billions to religious groups. He has signed an
executive order directing government agencies to establish special
offices designed to help religious organizations get that money.
Right-wing opponents of the public schools are in the
habit of speaking of them as "government schools." In a far
more direct way, however, we are moving into an era of government
propaganda taking sides in the culture wars of our time.
Or perhaps, if you think a variety of religious perspectives will be
aired, you might view it as the religious equivalent of XFL competition,
subsidized by the federal government.
|
| |
| |
|
If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
Darcy Hawk
4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
| |
|
Some blogs worth visiting |
|
PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
| |
|
Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
| |
|
John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
| |
|
John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
| |
|
Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
| |
|
