http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=7572
Some highlights:
"Secondly, Christ was committed to compassion for the most destitute, poor, needy, and forgotten people in our society. Today there is a stark difference [between conservative ideology and Christian teaching] because most of the people most strongly committed to the Republican philosophy have adopted the proposition that help for the rich is the best way to help even poor people (by letting some of the financial benefits drip down to those most deeply in need). I would say there has been a schism drawn -- on theology and practical politics and economics between the two groups. "
Exactly Mr. President. What Mel Gibson evidently forgot to point out in his extraordinarily pornographic and violent "Passion of the Christ" is that Jesus was a truly compassionate man not given to aiding the wealthy and well-off but instead those shunned or otherwise excommunicated from society. President Bush does the antithesis, rewarding wealth and the wealthy with excessive tax breaks while people all over the world and within the United States suffer. Of course, George W. Bush is not Jesus Christ, but he certainly shouldn't claim to represent his will while simultaneously carrying out policy that contradicts his teachings.
"I've been involved in national politics now for more than 25 years. But this year we will see the Democratic Party more united than ever before in my memory, and even the earlier history that I studied before my life began."
Amen
"I personally, in my Sunday-school lessons, don't favor the religious endorsement of a gay marriage. But I do favor equal treatment under the law for people who differ from me in sexual orientation."
OK, so I don't agree with him here. But he recognizes the need to respect gay Americans and the lives they lead. Good for him.
"This was an issue that I had to face when I was campaigning 25 years ago. I have always been against abortion; it's not possible for me in my own concept of Christ to believe that Jesus would favor abortion. But at the same time, I have supported the Supreme Court ruling of our country as the law of the land. And the present arrangement, whereby a woman is authorized to have an abortion in the first trimester of the pregnancy, or when the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest -- these are the things that moderates who have beliefs like mine can accept as the present circumstances in our country. The liberality of abortion is anointed by the laws of our country, including the ultimate ruling of the Supreme Court."
Carter basically sums up my position on abortion here perfectly. Biblically correct: I don't think so. Still, this is a decision I've made for myself. I owe it to others to respect their own decision.
I recommend everyone read this. Carter reveals his superior intelligence so beautifully. A true leader.