The Rev. Barry Lynn, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says there has been too much talk about God on the presidential campaign trail, and voters don't really learn much of significance when they ask candidates about their faith.
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I think there is too much BS from Barry Lynn who selectively decides who is playing by HIS rules. No outcry on Obama's tactics. UCCTRUTHS.com has covered this pretty well (better than AU.org):
http://ucctruths.blogspot.com/2007/10/obama-makes-campaign-altar-call-silence.html
Obama makes "campaign altar call", Silence from Americans United
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
No, Barack Obama is not campaigning in churches (wink, wink). From the Associated Press:
The invitation appeared one Sunday in Joanna Chase's church bulletin: Come to a "faith forum" and join a conversation about the intersection of religion and politics.
Living in New Hampshire, Chase is accustomed to pitches from presidential hopefuls, especially those focusing on values-voting Republicans. But this one came from the team of a Democrat, Sen. Barack Obama.
The candidate himself wasn't on the bill. But about 50 people showed up to talk about the war, poverty and trying to seize back the moral mantle some in the GOP claim. The night also featured an Obama video and a campaign altar call _ an invitation to become a "congregation contact" and rally support for the candidate.
And the word from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is...
Ah yes, nothing again... on Obama. But Americans United (and United Church of Christ ordained) Rev. Barry Lynn did single out the "Religious Right" at the beginning of the month:
“No one,” he continued, “disputes that pastors may speak out on social, political and moral issues. What federal tax law does not allow is electioneering for candidates by churches and other tax-exempt organizations.”
AU’s Lynn said James Dobson, Tony Perkins and other Religious Right leaders must be worried that evangelical clergy are continuing to reject their plan to politicize churches.
Lynn is right about his admonishment to "Religious Right" leaders, but the irony of his silence during Barack Obama's appearance before the UCC's General Synod this past July and now with Obama's "alter call" demonstrates, again, that Rev. Barry Lynn is just another partisan using religion for partisan political benefit.