According to the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State website, "Religious Right leaders are so determined to forge conservative churches into a partisan political machine that they are even willing to break federal law to do it".
The so-called "Values Voter Summit" takes place this weekend in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by Family Research Council Action (FRCA) and the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), the two-day event is designed to mobilize evangelical churches and church-goers in advance of the November elections. The full story can be found at the AU website.
"There seems to be a real values void at the Values Voter Summit," remarked the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "I long for the days when conservatives urged respect for the law, not flagrant violation of it." More commentary below.
Are Americans really tired of the politization of religion? Or are we at the pinnacle of success of "new" religion; the logical outgrowth of the 700 club? Mainstream pastors and churchmen would do well to examine how the evangelical groups have redefined "religion" to the American populace, and the meaning of the phrase "God told me to do it." It's a well-known fact that summit organizers are deeply partisan. How do today's churches regard flagrant undercutting of the rule of law, in particular mass violations of federal tax law? Or will the leaders of all religious groups in this country continue to hide their heads in the sand as one of the most fundamental of American precepts is eroded away?
It seems that lying has found it's way into the heart and soul of religion in this country: it's only wrong when we say it is. Have they pulled the teeth of the federal watchdogs? Or will these summit groups continue to get away with rewriting separation of church and state?
Thomas Jefferson's Virginia statute prohibited support of any religion by public taxation, and forbade all civil disabilities imposed on citizens because of religious belief or lack of it. The man must be rolling in his grave by now.