May 12, 2005

Far-left churches oppose Schwarzenegger

The Riverside Press-Enterprise informs us in "Churches target governor" that the California Council of Churches doesn't like Arnold's support of the Minuteman Project. At the very end of their article, we get this:

...The California Council of Churches represents 1.5 million members of mainstream Protestant and Orthodox churches, said council spokeswoman Elizabeth Sholes.

Progressive Christians United, a Pomona-based group of congregations, co-authored the letter.

"Hmm... 'progressive', eh?" I can hear you saying. "Could the Press-Enterprise be pulling a fast one here, trying to portray what are actually far-left groups as mainstream groups?"

That's what it looks like to me. Since I'm not familiar with these religious groups, I'd welcome input on the "progressiveness" of the signatories to the letter, which can be found here, which is the site of Progressive Christians Uniting (not "United" as it says in the article). "Peace and justice" are certainly fine things. However, they're also code words for far-left if not even further left.

There's more on the California Council of Churches here. They appear to be at least fellow travelers of the National Council of Churches. And, here's someone else's attempt to find out more about that organization.

If you think the reporter should have reported their ideology more accurately, her email is at the bottom of the article: smcnary *at* pe.com

UPDATE: Whatever they call themselves now, see this from July 2004:

"We represent 1.5 million members of the mainstream and progressive communities of faith," said the Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director of California Church IMPACT...

IMPACT is the "Legislative Advocacy Sister Organization of the California Council of Churches", and Schlosser heads both organizations.

Posted to California at May 12, 2005 12:23 PM

Comments

Just like the Catholic bishops, most true Christians will take the side of mercy, love and compassion when they educate themselves with respect to immigration.

Posted by: Ralph at May 12, 2005 03:39 PM

"mercy, love and compassion"

It's too bad that too many of the immigrants themselves don't seem to have the same spirit:

http://www.lapdonline.org/get_involved/most_wanted/most_wanted_top10.htm

http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_the_illegal_alien.html

And perhaps it would help others to get into this same spirit if there weren't quite so many of the newcomers:

http://www.americanpatriotsthebook.com/southern_california.htm

And I'm sure even though most of the Hispanic immigrants are themselves Catholic, or at least Christian, and religious-based charities (e.g. Catholic ones) get a lot of money from the government for work with 'refugees' and immigrants (money that pays for salaries and lobbying for more 'refugees' and immigrants, among other things), their motives really are purely humanitarian. I suggest we give them even greater satisfaction by stopping all government funding of these agencies (since it makes no sense for immigration to cost taxpayers money) -- so if they wish to continue showing "mercy, love and compassion", they and their fellow churchmembers ought to be happy to make whatever personal sacrifices are needed to continue.

Posted by: x at May 13, 2005 01:32 AM