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Jim Wallis Lambastes the Right’s ‘War on Religion,’ Abortion & Gay Marriage Stances as ‘Failed’

Nov. 9, 2012 9:23pm Billy Hallowell

Jim Wallis: Rights War on Religion, Abortion & Gay Marriage Stances Are Failed

Photo Credit: FILE

In the wake of the 2012 presidential election, progressive evangelical Jim Wallis had plenty to say about President Barack Obama’s victory and the overarching political direction the nation seems to be moving in. After describing the divisiveness embedded in the current political climate, Wallis derided Republicans’ “war on religion” and spoke out against conservatives’ “non-negotiable” stance on issues like abortion and gay marriage.

“The results of the presidential election showed how dramatically a very diverse America is changing; people are longing for a vision of the common good that includes everyone,” the liberal faith leader wrote. “As one commentator put it ‘the demographic time bomb’ has now been set off in American politics — and getting mostly white, male, and older voters is no longer enough to win elections, as the Romney campaign learned on Tuesday.”

TheBlaze has explored some of the issues surrounding the election and, undoubtedly, demographics are a problem for the GOP; unless Republicans adjust strategy, some critics claim the party could be in trouble in future electoral seasons. However, Wallis’ other contentions about social issues — particularly in an election dominated by unprecedented economic themes — may be off base.

Photo Credit: FILE

While it is true that the “war on religion” did little to prevent the majority of self-described Catholics from embracing Obama, social issues appeared to be somewhat less pronounced in the 2012 race.

Wallis, though, characterized the Republican Party’s method as focusing upon social issues, while invoking Obama’s supposed threats to religious liberty — a tactic he dismissed as “failed.” But for the majority of the campaign season, Republican Mitt Romney generally avoided issues like abortion and gay marriage, as the majority of conversations and dialogue focused upon the economy, health care and similar issues.

“As for religious voters, it appears a strategy of citing a ‘war on religion’ — and doubling down on the long-failed strategy of citing abortion and traditional marriage as the two ‘non-negotiable’ religious issues — once again failed,” he continued.

From there, Wallis went on to praise the notion that “evangelical,” as a term, is changing in America — and that it now includes minority groups who came out en force for President Barack Obama. While the progressive faith leader praised this development, he also noted that many religious people feel stuck between two extremes and Wallis urged believers to get engaged on the issues and to get “above personalities and partisanship.”

Photo Credit: FILE

The Sojourners leader also touted the need for immigration reform and for fiscal policies that protect America’s poor. Traditionally, he has called for redistribution as a means to ensuring that those in need are properly cared for. He did note in this piece, however, that fiscal responsibility, too, is a “moral issue.”

“Trust has been lost in the fairness and opportunity of our economic system, and must be restored by asking what a ‘moral economy’ would look like,” he wrote. “More people think everyone deserves a ‘fair shot’ and believe both our economic and political systems have been rigged on behalf of the wealthy and powerful. New senate voices like Elizabeth Warren are promising to be ‘champions’ on those issues.”

Read Wallis’ entire article here.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (198)

YoshiFD3S
Posted on November 13, 2012 at 11:45am
Whether you beleive in the biblical faith or not, there is something to be said about how the morality of a nation affects its policies and practices.

The bible, when practiced correctly and as intentioned, has and will always serve as the ultimate source of love, truth, peace, prosperity, and justice. No modern-day man or woman of faith is asking that we stone homosexuals or any of the ridiculous “anti X” rhetoric that has emerged into a full-blown “Christian nation” hysteria.

I’ll tell you this, though..To NOT see the direct relevance between this country’s progressing lack OF faith and our continued degredation as a nation is nothing more than being willfully ignorant.

There should be no room for questions or doubt when it comes to this subject.

No one is proposing violence or blatant segregation against any one persons, only that SOME form of moral decency be maintained as the rule of law in this nation.

Who sets the rules? Who sets the stnadards? Who determines right from wrong?

Would you rather a MAN who can barely govern his OWN actions be the one to govern YOUR actions? Or would you rather rely on the irrefutable (2,000+ years and going strong) word of God as the best means of how to best govern yourselves and others?

If you fix the MORAL issues of this country than everything else will fall into place.

Until people turn away from their immoral behaviors, our society will only continue to decline. Period.

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vaman
Posted on November 13, 2012 at 8:48am
This religious leader makes some excellent points. Romney lost because he did the same-old-thing. He pushed issues that older, white, christian people like to hear. Big military, no gays, no abortion, christians first and everyone else go to hell. It failed. Even sensable white christians rejected these notions. When Republican hard line politicians embrace change, they will find themselves back in the White House.

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- YoshiFD3S
  Posted on November 13, 2012 at 12:22pm
  I’m not old and I’m not white, but I AM by definition a conservative republican.
  
  Bigger military – Does it need to be bigger? Not necessarily. Should it be smaller at a time that we have nations racing to build nuclear weapons that they’ve already stated they would use on us or ous allies? No. I’m IN the Navy, we are already operating at a minimum capacity, stretched VERY thin.
  
  Gays/Homosexuals – I understand the want to “let people live their own life”, but to NOT recognize the direct impacts of homosexual relationships and parternships and its role on society is just you wanting to ignore the facts. Check the CDC’s web-site for example. Homosexual males are reported to have T-W-I-C-E the amount of STD cases. There’s a REASON why biblical law states it as being wrong and immoral – it’s self-destructive! So how then can ANYONE permit people to willingly destroy themselves? Because it’s their “choice”? Ridiculous.
  
  Abortion: Tell me how the killing of another human being ISN’T murder. Just because the person is incapable of defending themselves and they are “out of sight”, somehow it makes it okay?? A baby (human being) doesn’t decide their parents. Why then should they be penalized let alone MURDERED because their father was a P.O.S.? The killing of an innocent human being no matter young or old is WRONG and should never be considered “acceptable” under ANY conditions.
  
  “Going to hell”? Why do you even care? Do you even believe in hell? So why co
  
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Free2speakRN
Posted on November 12, 2012 at 2:29pm
We will ‘all’ face judgement, Jim.

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italy2007
Posted on November 12, 2012 at 6:39am
By their “fruits” you will know them. We know your fruits Jim Wallis – put Billy Graham up against thie communist and look at their fruits – GOOD IS EVIL AND EVIL IS GOOD has become the “liberal theologians” new mantra – Liberalism is a Sin – Jim Wallis must have a really hard time with the 10 Commandments – if he even believes in them

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Git-R-Done
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 8:53pm
The same sex marriage people have been suing businesses that refuse to cater to same sex marriages in the states where it’s legal.

And with Obamacare forcing religious institutions to provide birth control against their religious beliefs and social liberals being ok with that. What makes anybody think that the social liberals aren’t going to force religious institutions to perform same sex marriages?

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anotherplanet
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 7:57pm
Progressive Christian or worse yet progressive Evangelical are oximorons. It does not exhist except in the minds of pretend to be christians (small c intended).

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fieldwork
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 6:35pm
Having the Constitutional right to keep what you earn and the opportunity to advance your fortune in a merit based economy is as fair as it gets Jimmy. Today its called the American dream but it used to be an American promise.

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BubbaCoop
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 2:32pm
This man is nothing less than evil. Wolf in sheep’s clothing…and just barely clothed at that.

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