I'm sure you are all aware of those Christian coalition voter guides which pop up in October every election year here in the United States, misrepresenting Democrats and Progressives on issues such as abortion, gun control, gay marriage, the pledge of allegiance, etc. When I saw a
voter guide of sorts issued by the Mennonite Central Committee of Canada, I just had to check it out. You'll be interested as well, as it provides a good summary of issues we progressives should highlight in order to win more people of faith to our side.
It begins:
"For Christians, an election is not just about voting--it is about discerning the kind
of life that God calls us to. It is a time for broad discussion with others about being
part of a community, about sharing resources, about alternatives to violence, and
about hope for the future. It is part of our on-going commitment to uphold politicians
and public life in prayer and to witness to God's reign of peace, justice, and
wholeness."
Like the sound of that? Check out more excerpts below.
"A home is much more than a physical dwelling. It can also be a place of security, of
welcome, and a first step in getting other elements of life under control. Yet 1.7 million
Canadians were unable to find shelter that is adequate, suitable, and affordable. Those
most affected include refugees, people who have been incarcerated, people living with
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, those living with mental health concerns, Aboriginal
people, and low income Canadians. What measures will your candidates take to help
ensure that these groups can access appropriate housing?"
"On security spending, Canada spends four times more on defense than on development
aid. Smaller still is our spending on diplomacy, even though it can do much in
terms of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
What are the most effective ways of promoting our own security and that of our
sisters and brothers the world over?"
The link to the full pdf is above. Even more can be found at: (http://www.mcc.org/...). The question is, how can liberal Christian (and other religious groups) advocacy help progressives win elections in the US (or Canada)??? Or should we leave religion out of politics???