Welcome to Street Prophets Coffee Hour! Thermal for the warmth of a good cup of coffee or your preferred beverage, as well as the warmth of a more progressive religion and community.
I’ll probably be having tea and vitamins in the afternoon, actually, but whatever perks you up for your afternoon without causing sleepless nights! Feel free to share in the Comments, if you’re so inclined.
Do you make your coffee fancy?
A few DKos commenters often complain that progressive Christians don’t make enough noise, which I think is sometimes a valid complaint. So I’ll use this space to discuss progressive Christianity’s views on the issues. These are not my views alone. Note that there are and have long been progressive Christian religio-political groups, some of whom are trying to become more vocal and get more noticed. Since Dobbs still smarts, and hopefully will fuel a big Democratic win in November, let’s start by discussing abortion.
See this recent article on progressive Christians in Rolling Stone (quotes below are just a taste; much more at the linky):
In 1967, more than five years before Roe, a group of pastors founded the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion, a network of Christian-faith leaders committed to helping women get both legal and illegal abortions from licensed professionals. By the time Roe passed, as many as half a million women had obtained a safe abortion thanks to the CCS, whose members claimed to be compelled by “higher laws and moral obligations transcending legal codes.” They used the Bible’s authority to argue for abortion care as not just a basic human right but a moral Christian imperative.
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According to a Pew survey published this past May, a majority of not just religious people but of Christians, specifically, support a woman’s right to abortion care in some, if not all, cases. Twenty percent of Black Protestants say abortion should be legal without exception; a full 77 percent of white evangelicals think it should be legal at least sometimes. Fifty-nine percent of Christians in the United States did not want Roe overturned. And as evidence for the notion that some people who malign the abortions of others may be far more lenient when facing the prospect of their own unwanted pregnancy, a 2014 Relationships in America survey found that while conservative women were much more likely to oppose abortion, they were only slightly less likely to have had one.
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For many Christians, fighting for bodily autonomy is actually biblical, an extension of the belief that we are made in the image of God, that our bodies are holy, and that the government should not intervene in that holiness. It’s biblical because it grants people the free will that God has endowed them with, because it supports the sanctity and dignity of life across the spectrum and the call to live life abundantly. And, crucially, it’s biblical because reproductive justice aligns with the teachings of Jesus. “I see Jesus as one who continually meets folks who are at the margins of society and listens to them and amplifies their voices and welcomes them where they have not received welcome in a really long time, if ever,” says the Rev. Lauren Jones Mayfield, the chairperson of Planned Parenthood’s national Clergy Advocacy Board. “When we are on the side of the marginalized, I think that we are with the patients who are walking into the health centers rather than protesting on the sidewalks outside of them.”
I, of course, worship Ceiling Cat. But the sentiments and prosocial activities are much the same.
And finally, let’s elevate our Community cred and repost The Needs List! From Aashirs nani on Helping Humpday, with some variations on bolding for variety’s sake (and of course, with a pootie):
We’ve had a number of new requests in the last day or so. It seems life is catching up with some of our people. When sending via PayPal, be sure to select “Send to family/friend” to avoid fees on either end.
Community Needs List as of 9/06/22:
Fundraisers who want a diary to be or stay on the list: PLEASE kosmail requests and donations received to njm5000 by Tuesday evening to be included on the Wednesday morning updated list.
Living on the financial edge—need help? Check out the Helping Directories before your next emergency.
Housing and Living Expenses Fundraisers and Other Links
morgansmom—needs help towards major car repairs and moving to a better environment. $8000 7950 7900 7850 7750 7725 7615 7605 7565 7465 7415 7375 7275 7175 7025 6920 $6820 The first $ have helped with a number of small, but critical, car repairs & 2 new tires. • Visit the KoFi page to see some cool artwork & donate! • PayPal: wingednag at gmail dot com.
DHfromKY—is looking to raise $2450 1950 1830 1720 1685 1585 1385 1285 1180 1170 960 for rent and other necessities. Against the wall, again...• PayPal is dharden40219 at yahoo dot com—select “Send to a friend”, and PayPal doesn’t charge a fee.
J Graham—"Your child has mental health issues." But you're a fighter. "It's cancer." But you're a fighter... • She’s sleeping in a tent! (Cats, music, and a chance to help a deserving Daily Kos member). The goal is $14,000 9944 9534 8884 8859 8709 8684 4448 4348 to cover first and last month rent, security deposit, some medical expenses, utility bills, and moving costs. She has a Mighty Cause fundraiser, and PayPal at: jgraham4healthcare at gmail dot com
rexymeteorite—and his wife are left with only $23.00 in their bank account. That’s all they have for groceries and bills for the rest of this month. Please help rexy and his wife get through this difficult period in their lives — I hate to admit it, but I need some help. Goal: $700 + 200 = $900 106
You can help them either through VenMo or GoFundMe. Everyone underestimates expenses, so it would be fantastic if we could all give him a cushion of $200.00 over what he asked for. Thank you for helping a deserving DK communty member. rexy’s wife’s VenMo — @Elizabeth-Brown-25029 Click on this GoFundMe link to make a contribution — Help rexymeteorite survive post-COVID syndrome h/t JekyllnHyde
michelewln—Is trying to move but has a new diary—Emergency She needs $1,000 immediately for the move and living for the month of September. PayPal: michelewilson327 at gmail dot com
ZenTrainer posted a diary… — "I'll stick with this for as long as you want to." $3000 330
She needs a bit of support from the DK Community. Please help if you can. Thanks.
2PAYPAL = PAYPAL.ME/ZENTRAINER h/t JekyllnHyde
HarpPlayer posted a diary — I Really Need Some Help asking for help with various expenses that have accumulated. HarpPlayer is a retired RN with health problems, but this help can provide a fresh reset. Total needed about $2100, if my (Elena’s) math is correct. Total received as of Wednesday night $400. Good start!
These people are our own. Please do what you can.
If helping financially isn’t the right choice for you at this time, you can still help. Tip and rec the diary so it stays visible. Share on social media: Twitter, Facebook, whatever platform you use, to bring the attention of others outside our daily readers. And offer words of encouragement to people who are struggling. It can be scary to be struggling, and it can feel lonely. Let them know we understand and are here to help.
If you have time, please visit the diaries above and leave comments for their authors. Those words of encouragement are vital!
If you don’t like fundraisers, please just move along. They are a longstanding tradition at DKos — Until we vote in enough progressives to create a much stronger social safety net!
Please note: I take care of my 90ish-year-old Mom and something could come up, so I am scheduling this to auto-publish. If possible, I’ll be here to engage in Comments. However, if I’m not here, please chat amongst yourselves, take a coffee break, post aminal photos, etc.!