More faith leaders speak out on Obama
I promised I’d post more statements and comments from faith leaders and faith-based groups regarding Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. presidency.
Here are a few more that have come across the wire or sent via e-mail:
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church congratulated Sen. Barack Obama today on his election as the 44th President of the United States and applauded his willingness to articulate a vision of change for the nation “that is based on hope for all the people, especially those who are disinherited and disenfranchised.”
The congratulatory letter was signed by the Council’s president, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, and sent on behalf of the entire council, which includes bishops from the U.S., Africa, Europe and the Philippines.
“The United Methodist Church has a long history of publicly-expressed concern for social justice based on Christian principles. Our desire for justice extends to the natural world, the nurturing community, the social community, the economic community, the political community and the world community,” the letter stated. “We are praying that God will grant you wisdom, courage and protection in your presidential leadership. We are also praying for all the leaders of the world’s nations who will collaborate with you in the arena of common concerns that impact the global community.”
The Baptist Press reported today that Southern Baptist ethics leader Richard Land applauded the meaning of Obama’s election while acknowledging his opposition to the president-elect’s policies.
“There are tens of millions of Americans who did not vote for President-elect Obama, as well as those who did, who are very, very pleased that an African American has been elected president of the United States,” said Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “The fact that this could happen in a country with as tragic a racial past as America’s says something noble and fine about the American experiment and the glorious ‘opportunity democracy’ it has spawned. After much struggle, we as a nation have chosen to live up to the promises of our founding documents: We believe ‘that all men are created equal.’
“For the millions of us who came of age during the civil rights era and were inspired by Dr. [Martin Luther] King, it is very gratifying to watch our nation elect a person of color to the highest political office in the land, even so one for whom we may not have voted because of serious policy differences,” Land told Baptist Press.
Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, issued the following statement today:
“The election of Barack Obama represents a historic moment for our nation. Across the often bitter divides of race and class, Americans united behind a shared vision for the common good. We hope that President-elect Obama will live up to his promise to build a new kind of politics that brings Democrats and Republicans together to confront the urgent challenges we face here and around the world. As faithful citizens, we will challenge his Administration to bring a responsible end to the
Jane Hansen Hoyt, president of Aglow International, a worldwide women’s ministry based in Seattle, issued this statement:
“We congratulate Barack Obama, the new president-elect of the United States and commit to pray for him and his family, as we have done on behalf of our leaders for decades. As a worldwide women’s ministry with thousands of members across the U.S., we are praying for two crucial issues he will face that, we believe, will have an effect on our nation for generations: Support for the nation of Israel, and the appointment of U.S. Supreme Court justices. May he make those decisions with wisdom and a desire to seek righteousness.”
Meanwhile, Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued a statement today on the U.S. election results and the priorities for the next president.
“Initial results show that 54% of the Catholic vote went to President-elect Barack Obama. This shows that the majority of Catholics voted their conscience when deciding who should be the next president, and ignored the single-issue dictates of a few bishops who declared that it was unacceptable to vote for him because of his prochoice position.
“The next administration will have to work hard to repair the damage done during the last eight years. Undoubtedly, concerns about America’s economic security and military engagements overseas will garner a great deal of attention. However, the next administration and Congress must also work for advances in reproductive health care in the U.S. and abroad.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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While I oppose President-Elect Obama’s politics, I am gratified that, given our nation’s past, we can see fit to entrust the single most powerful office the world has ever seen to a candidate regardless of race. Perhaps we are finally moving beyond perceived racial barriers.