40 Religious Leaders Denounce Sarah Palin and Fox’s Hate Speech

[SunsetDreams]

Forty different Catholic, evangelical, mainline Protestant, Jewish and Muslim leaders and scholars came together to release a statement condemning the hate language of Fox News, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich as it relates to the so called Ground Zero mosque, “Fear-mongering and hateful rhetoric only undermine treasured values at the heart of diverse faith traditions and our nation’s highest ideals.”

The statement released by Faith In The Public Life condemned the religious bigotry of Gingrich, Palin, and Fox News, “As Catholic, evangelical, mainline Protestant, Jewish and Muslim leaders and scholars committed to religious freedom and inter-religious cooperation, we are deeply troubled by the xenophobia and religious bigotry that has characterized some of the opposition to a proposed Islamic center and mosque near where the World Trade Center towers once stood.”

It continued, “Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, is the most recent prominent opponent to cast this debate in a way that demonizes all Muslims and exploits fear to divide Americans.”It is a sign of their contempt for Americans and their confidence in our historic ignorance that they would deliberately insult us this way,” Gingrich said in a statement. Sarah Palin called plans for the center a “provocation.” Fox News has aired a steady stream of irresponsible commentary and biased coverage that reduces what should be a civil debate into starkly combative terms.”

Rev. Peg Chemberlin, President of the National Council of Churches said, “We are deeply saddened by those who denigrate a religion which in so many ways is a religion of compassion and peace by associating all Muslims with violent extremism. That’s like equating all Christians to Timothy McVeigh’s actions. This center will reflect not only the best of Islam, but the enduring hope that Christians, Jews and Muslims can together find common ground in addressing the most urgent challenges of our time.”

Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby said, “It’s simply wrong for Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin to malign all Muslims by comparing this cultural center and mosque with a radical ideology that led to the horrific attacks of 9-11. We fail to honor those killed by terrorists when we betray the bedrock principle of religious freedom that has guided our democracy for centuries.”

The statement concluded by calling for an end to the fear mongering and hate filled rhetoric, “Mr. Gingrich, Ms. Palin and other prominent voices privileged to have the ear of the media would make a more lasting contribution to our nation if they stopped issuing inflammatory statements and instead helped inspire a civil dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims committed to a future guided by the principles of compassion, justice and peace. Fear-mongering and hateful rhetoric only undermine treasured values at the heart of diverse faith traditions and our nation’s highest ideals.”

More at link: http://www.politicususa.com/en/palin-hate-speech

[Oceansaway]

1. K&R...n/t

[Skittles]

2. they need to denounce them in general

their offenses go far beyond being hysterical over a mosque

[AnArmyVeteran]

4. That's what I thought.

Religions which allow people who profess to be 'Christians' but act the opposite should forcefully denounce these hate peddlers every time they do it. I have long wondered why churches/religions say nothing while fake 'Christians' spread their evil. Whenever they stay silent they appear to condone evil hate peddlers and therefore are part of the problem.

Ironically, the only group who can denounce right wing hate from conservative 'Christians' are other people who actually practice what they preach. The right wing can always successfully attack any other group like politicians or the media, but they can't attack other churches/religions who are bold enough to stand up to the right wing hate machine. Evil flourishes when good people do nothing to try to stop it. I'm glad those 40 groups are speaking out in favor of the Islamic outreach center.

[bluerum]

33. Almost all religions recognize and condem the corrosive nature of hate.

Paradoxically, almost all religions have a history of saying one thing and doing another. It is good to see them speaking out in an organized manner.

[AnArmyVeteran]

39. The word 'hypocrisy' had to be created because of religion.

[SunsetDreams]

3. kick

[Chemisse]

5. This makes me happy. K & R

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. kick and recommend!! VERY IMPORTANT!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

7. That is a good start......

[AlinPA]

8. Let's see if this appears on Fox, MSNBC or CNN. Don't hold your breath.

[Lagomorph]

56. It it does....

...it'll be all about the Center for American Progress and various "Clintonistas".

[babylonsister]

9. Recommend wholeheartedly! nt

[Martin Eden]

10. What Gingrich said could have been said about HIM and PALIN

”It is a sign of their contempt for Americans and their confidence in our historic ignorance that they would deliberately insult us this way”

Politicians who who rely on the ignorance of voters and appeal to their fear and hatred are indeed showing contempt for the American people.

[NJmaverick]

11. K&R

[Douglas Carpenter]

12. I hope this gets kicked to the front page!!

[spanone]

13. k&r..

[Joanne98]

14. It's about time they stood up for their faith. It's been hijacked by heretics.

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. another kick....PLEASE KICK THIS TO THE FRONT PAGE!!!

Right now there is a nationwide campaign of anti-Muslim hysteria being whooped up by right-wing politicians, the crazy wing of fundamentalist Christianity and the likes of Newsmax and Fox News. There is a grave danger of this hysteria becoming - if it has not already - completely mainstream discourse in American society.

This hysteria has dangerous ramifications, not only for the American-Muslim community but for the entirety of society and the direction it is going. The 20th Century has surely shown that hate campaigns are not controllable and can and do lead society down extremely self-destructive paths.

This hysteria has even more dangerous ramifications for American foreign policy.

There are right-wing religious crazies in America who now pretty much dominate the Republican Party and there are the neoconservatives who are bent on promoting a permanent American war in the Middle East and I believe they must be stopped or America and the whole world will experience a catastrophe beyond imagination. The religious crazies believe they must help facilitate the battle of Armageddon in order to usher in the second coming of Christ. This is not a small marginal group of kooks. This is a group who are to a large degree now calling the shots in the Republican Party while their allies the neoconservatives work out the details.

Diffusing this hysteria and not allowing this hysteria to become mainstream discourse is one of the most important stands any public figure can take - The consequences of this hysteria growing and becoming even more mainstream are just too dire.

[Parker CA]

16. K&R

[SusanaMontana41]

17. kicked and recommended n/t

[66 dmhlt]

18. One of the advantages of NOT having cable TV ...

At least I know I'm not supporting this racist outlet:

[a la izquierda]

19. K & R

[Loudmxr]

20. Maybe it will get some coverage because it is a fight.

[political_Dem]

21. What took them so long? She's been this way her entire career.

[PassingFair]

22. Thank you! Printing out for my beloved religious Mother....

who came over after church (Episcopalian!) last Friday and told me
that "Those Muslims are just rubbing our FACE IN IT!!"

She is normally pretty good about things, and she
is a committed democrat. If EPISCOPALIANS are talking
like this I shudder to think what they're picking up
from places like Saddleback.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

23. Palin, Gingrich are getting very stale

9/11 has been milked and milked by thses RW villains

[Ramulux]

24. This doesnt mean anything

We all know that if someone has a problem with Sarah Palin or Fox news they are just angry and jealous. This whole thing is a conspiracy by the liberal media to undermine the greatest news channel and governer of all time.

LOL

[malaise]

25. I fail to understand why people don't confront these

'morans' on the Constitution.

[freebrew]

28. Not only constitution,

how about the fact that we as a nation still don't know if it WERE Muslims that di 9-11.
Thanks to * and all, we may never find out who really did it .


Kind of like the JFK quandry...

[Beartracks]

43. Because the latest schtick is to claim that Islam...

... isn't a religion; it's a socio/political movement bent on world domination -- and therefore, it's not qualified for Constitutional protection.

So sayeth the great Americans at Freeperville.

------------------------

[malaise]

51. Absolutely

You nailed it. A religion older than the US is now being questioned by mostly illiterates and politicians attempting to find a replacement for their communist bogey. I'm sick of this shit.

[Moosepoop]

26. K&R! n/t

[myrna minx]

27. K&R n/t

[democrank]

29. K & R

[Scurrilous]

30. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Frisbee]

31. K&R. Right on target. n/t

[orbitalman]

32. Amen. n/t

[burnsei sensei]

34. This will go further and is more effective

than Obama's statement.
The fact that they call out the adversaries of the plan by name is even better.

[proReality]

35. K&R n/t

[RoseMead]

36. K&R n/t

[PatrynXX]

37. Reminds me of Abortion clinic bombers.

My old high school english teacher (retired now) says of such people.... they undermine us as Christians. Wouldn't entirely be surprised if he'd side with this. (it was a non denominational Lutheran High School, although WELS backed it. ) Lutherans always have some sort of Catholic background in their parents.

[brewens]

38. All the "Pastor Ted Republicans" should be happy about this. n/t

[old mark]

40. It is better late than never - I am happy to read this. K&R. nt

[Beartracks]

41. LOL! Gingrich: Historic Ignorance. n/t

[democracy1st]

42. K & R

[Ignis]

44. K&R

[red red red]

45. K & R n/t

[patrice]

46. K & R

[Enthusiast]

47. This is a great piece. K&R! nt

[pinto]

48. Kick

:kick:

Good, clear statements. :thumbsup:

[Number23]

49. That's what I'm talking about. Kick and rec'd

[roxiejules]

50. Good article, but I think McVeigh was agnostic

"Science is my religion." - Timothy McVeigh, who claimed to be agnostic, not Christian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/jun/11/mcveigh.usa4

[DeSwiss]

52. This Non-believer K&R's!!! n/t

[FedUpWithIt All]

53. An enthusiastic k+r n/t

[SnakeEyes]

54. I'm underwhelmed

I'll get excited when non-progressive religious groups, that aren't committed to social justice and progressive causes, step up and show some real tolerance by supporting the mosque. But at least these groups are helping to show that "they don't speak for all people of faith." Though I wonder how many people like us these groups do represent.

[Douglas Carpenter]

55. another kick

[Violet_Crumble]

57. Too late for me to recommend this, but I'm giving it a kick...

What has Sarah Palin said exactly? It's just that I've just come from a thread where a number of DUers are openly calling the building of the centre a provocation and accusing anyone who objects to what they're saying of playing the bigot-card. So what did Sarah Palin say?

[CLANG]

58. I'm sure they'll take it under advisement.

:eyes: