President Obama's Faith Inspires Pastors' Defense Of White House Religion Policies - Huffpo

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/president-obama-faith-pastors_n_1297827.html?ref=mostpopular


Jaweed Kaleem - Posted: 02/23/12 07:43 PM ET | Updated: 02/24/12 12:11 PM ET


Religious and nonprofit group leaders Thursday defended President Barack Obama's spiritual beliefs and his administration's support of faith-based groups, rebuffing conservative accusations that the White House is waging a war on religion.

"It's kind of silly season here. It's an election year and you are looking for any leg up," said the Rev. Joel Hunter, senior pastor of Northland Church in Orlando and a spiritual adviser who writes weekly devotionals -- passages of scripture with explanations -- for Obama and regularly prays with the president. "Anyone who knows him will not question his personal faith or devotion."

Hunter spoke on a conference call with eight religious and nonprofit leaders organized by the Rev. Dr. Gary Gunderson, senior vice president of faith and health at Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tenn. Gunderson was in Washington, D.C., last week for a meeting about faith-based healthcare efforts and said tense public debates over Obama's policies on religion and the president's personal faith motivated him to host the discussion.

"The federal government's relationship with faith-based groups is stronger than ever," said the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, president emeritus of the National Council of Churches. "Religious freedom is respected" while government partnerships with faith-based groups are expanding, she said.

more at link

[appleannie1]

1. I see regular 'news' stations are not covering this.

[cbayer]

2. They aren't covering this or the joint interfaith statement of principles

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002336154

or the call from religious leaders

http://www.democraticunderground.com/125115297

or today's statement released by Catholic nuns

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002347234

None of them are apparently inflammatory enough for the media

[Humanist_Activist]

3. "The federal government's relationship with faith-based groups is stronger than ever," --Yeah...

That's the problem.