Progressive Faith Group Defends Its Bipartisan Ways

By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country

Katie Paris, director of communications strategy for Faith in Public Life, E-mails to defend her group's bipartisan M.O. in response to my post asking whether anti-Christian-right groups like hers can maintain their independence from the Democratic Party. Faith in Public Life and other progressive faith outfits have accused conservative "pro-family" groups like the Family Research Council of being in the GOP's pocket.

Here's Katie's note:

...[I]n your post you ask whether religious organizations like Faith in Public Life will show that we are any different than groups like Family Research Council by not just serving up rhetoric, but by actually working on both sides of the aisle. It's my hope that we will continue to demonstrate our difference by our actions, but I think the Compassion Forum, the presidential forum we organized and sponsored in April at Messiah College in PA, gives an indication of our commitment to working with all sides. McCain chose not to attend the Forum, but notably, it earned the endorsements of Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum. Also, importantly, the religious leaders that posed questions to Obama and Clinton spanned the ideological and political spectrum. We've worked with Republicans and Democrats on immigration reform, children's health care, and other issues. We've worked with religious leaders who disagree on abortion and gay and lesbian issues, but find ways to work together on those issues, plus others like poverty and torture. Hopefully, we will surprise you a time or two in the future, but in the mean time, just wanted to make the point that we have already shown our commitment to working with both parties.

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