|
|
|
|
BJCPA Uses "God Talk" to Call for Universal Health Care for All Americans In a May 17th, 1994 article in Report from the Capital, BJCPA Executive Director James Dunn writes: "Don’t be fooled by those who conflate political agendas with ‘God talk.’ One of the most serious threats to the political process is the politicization of religion." But, two months later, in a July, 1994 statement sponsored by the National Council of Churches (NCC), entitled: A Pastoral Appeal: Health Care Coverage for All Americans, numerous religious leaders, including BJCPA Executive Director James Dunn, signed the document which was then sent to all members of Congress. The NCC document states:
In the NCC’s cover letter to the members of Congress, the name of God is again invoked on behalf of the NCC/BJCPA political agenda of attaining universal health care for all Americans: "Simply, no human life is less deserving of health care than any other, in the eyes of God." (For more information see "defense" section XIV) BJCPA: Selective Criticism The BJCPA has no apparent concerns about church/state separation with regard to the well documented political involvement of the NCC, a coalition of liberal religious denominations. Describing the political successes of the NCC in the 1960’s, former NCC General Secretary Edwin Espy stated: "It is striking to note...how many of the general policies advocated by the National Council across the years have been incorporated into federal legislation. This was true during the Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy Administrations, particularly in international policy, and it has been especially notable in domestic legislation under the Johnson Administration." ("From Mainline to Sideline," by K.L. Billingsley, p. 179, "Minutes of the General Board," December 2, 1965) But of conservative Christian groups, especially the Christian Coalition, the BJCPA states: "The Christian Coalition has formulated positions on every issue from tax policy to foreign policy to legal aid to term limits. The organization then attaches the name of God to its views, saying, ‘This is God’s position’ and ‘This is the Christian position.’... When they do this they are cheapening the name of God; and when they do this they are taking the Lord’s name in vain." (emphasis ours) (Report from the Capital, April 2, 1996, p. 4, Brent Beasley) (For more information see "defense" section XIV) NCC Receives Federal Funding: BJCPA General Counsel joins NCC Staff The BJCPA’s strong ties to the NCC became even more apparent in 1994 when former General Counsel/Associate Director of the BJCPA, Oliver (Buzz) Thomas, was named special counsel for religious and civil liberties of the NCC. Thomas stated: "It feels very comfortable to me to be going to work with the NCC... It’s an organization whose views I think are mainstream..." (Report from the Capital, June 14, 1994, p. 1) According to the Institute on Religion and Democracy: "The NCC’s 1996 budget anticipates nearly $54 million in income." Of that amount, $9 million will come from U.S. government grants. (Faith and Freedom, Spring, 1996, p. 4) But BJCPA General Counsel, Brent Walker, who replaced Thomas writes: "We Baptists who believe in separation of church and state often assume everybody can understand the wisdom of keeping government from funding religion." He continues: "How can religion raise a prophetic fist against government when it has its other hand opened for a handout.?" (Report from the Capital, Oct. 31, 1995, p. 3) Ironically, the current General Secretary of the NCC, Joan Brown Campbell, serves with the BJCPA’s Dunn and Walker on the governing board of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. (For more information see "defense" section XIV)
|
