Last week, Jack Danforth (pro-life, ordained Episcopal priest, moderate Republican, former U.N. ambassador) wrote a very interesting piece in the NY Times (registration required). As usual, Mr. Danforth has a lot of good things to say. He notes, “High-profile Republican efforts to prolong the life of Ms. Schiavo, including departures from Republican principles like approving Congressional involvement in private decisions and empowering a federal court to overrule a state court, can rightfully be interpreted as yielding to the pressure of religious power blocs.”
I read this and I was provoked in multiple directions. I am a religious conservative (an evangelical and politically active Southern Baptist). But I am a firm believer in states rights, judicial restraint and the balance of powers. So while I am heartened that religious conservatives feel that they can now publicly voice their concerns, I do agree with Mr. Danforth that the Republicans are walking a very fine line. I hope we can use morality as a stimulus to our policy development. But I pray we don’t relinquish an inclusive political agenda for an exclusive religious agenda.
-CyclingRoo-