Folks here have a tough time understanding why Liberals get tarred for being "anti-religious" and why this then transfers over into Democrats being "anti-religious."
While i admire much of the important work Rev Barry Lynn does for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the reason why Christians such as myself view him with much suspicion is because he really does seem to confirm the stereotype of the "secularist" Democrat that Obama (rightfully) condemned who wants to eliminate ANY role for religion in the public square. Never mind religion has always been present in most every social movement in American history (both for better AND worse...)
Faith Talk Derided
A national advocate of church-state separation on Friday chided 2008 presidential candidates in both parties for "pandering" to voters by showcasing religion in their political campaigns.
"When you have Democrats and Republicans hiring ethics and religion advisers – that is to say spin doctors – it suggests they are not really comfortable themselves knowing whatever it is they do believe," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United.
Mr. Lynn noted that the Democratic front-runners recently discussed their religious faith at a nationally televised forum and frequently invoke God at campaign stops.
"This is pandering," he told a conference on church-state issues sponsored by the Texas Lyceum, a nonpartisan public-policy organization.
This is such nonsense by Lynn. Dems are hiring faith outreach advisors because for too long, we've been tarred as godless and anti-religion and have not communicated what we believe in--plenty of it is compatible with religion, whether it be Jewish or Christian or Muslim. I think Obama (and Hillary and Edwards) are hiring people to communicate their ideas to a very big segment of Americans whose faith plays a role in their politics, whether it be anti-poverty, anti-war, what have you. I don't believe it's pandering to tie your values and where they come from to what you want to do as President. if you're an atheist or you have no interest in hearing about how a candidate's religion impacts their policy, then you don't have to tune into the Sojourners debate. But plenty of Americans DO have an interest in such things. for myself, i'm interested in hearing about how Mazie hirono's buddhism impacts her church-state views. i'm interested in the religious roots (if any) of Edwards' commitment to ending poverty. i am interested in hearing about how Obama's organizing work in Chicago was impacted by the Church. i don't think this means i'm calling for a theocracy or to have the 10 Commandments in classrooms.
Lynn doesn't trust American voters to judge for themselves who is pandering and he thinks ANY mention of religion in politics is inappropriate. It's folks like him who confirm all the prejudices of my conservative friends who say Democrats want to eradicate religion from the public sphere. I don't need to endorse the Moral Majority's agenda to share their concerns. So i hope secular liberals can understand why some of us religious Dems believe there is an anti-religious element in the progressive movement and we can find ways to all work together.