- Amy Sullivan points out Real Abortion Solutions, a group that is advertising on christian radio stations urging a more nuanced aproach to reducing abortions. Will these messages make any difference in states with large Catholic and Evangelical populations? The economy is already trumping social issues for many moderate-to-conservative religious voters. But there’s still a significant number of undecided Catholics and Evangelicals out there. In 2004, they broke heavily for Bush. If they break for Obama this year, it may be because this new approach resonated.
- Yolanda Pierce takes Charisma Magazine editor Steve Strange to task for his column, “Life as We Know it Will End if Obama is Elected”. I want to argue that the ship is sinking…and we should let it sink. Our notions of America as only a homogeneous, white, Christian nation are finally sinking. And good riddance. The real America has always been a ship that is multi-layered, complex, diverse, heterogeneous, and complicated. That is our beauty and our strength. (Strange’s article)
- A friend of mine is featured in this article about changing political priorities among Evangelical college students. Max Kuecker was a devoted member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IV) on Northwestern’s campus in the mid 90’s. It provided faith, fellowship, support, and friends. One thing, however, really bothered him: “It was clear from the culture around me that to be a Christian meant I had to be a Republican. It seemed like every time I stuck my neck out to disagree with the party platform, I’d get shot down.”
- E. J. Dionne wonders if Catholics will favor Obama in the voting booth next week. The impact of the new Catholic politics could be substantial. Catholics are often a decisive electoral group partly because church membership ranges from upscale to working-class whites, a large group of Latinos, and a significant number of African Americans. Catholics typically make up about a quarter of the electorate, and they are strategically located. White (non-Latino) Catholics are important in such swing states as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, while Latino Catholics make up a notable share of the populations of New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and Florida.
David W. Swanson
Pastor and Author
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