AD ESPOUSES A RELIGIOUS VALUE JUDGEMENT

New advertisement from an organisation called the Matthew 25 network (mission statement below). A religious organisation strongly endorsing Barack Obama. Watch the ad.

"The Matthew 25 Network is a community of Christians – Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, and Evangelical – inspired by the Gospel mandate to put our faith into action to care for our neighbor, especially the most vulnerable. The election of our public officials, and the politics they stand for, are a reflection of our core values. We believe that those elected to public office carry an important trust, as their decisions have a profound impact on our nation and our world. We believe that people of faith should actively participate in the political process as an important avenue for social change. We are called by our faith to engage in the world as it is, while we seek after and hope for God’s Kingdom. Therefore, while no elected official will be without flaw, we come together as individuals to support candidates for public office who share the values of the Matthew 25 Network: promoting life with dignity, caring for the least of these, strengthening and supporting families, stewardship of God’s Creation, working for peace and justice at home and abroad, and promoting the common good. "

Notice anything missing amongst their mission statement and "core values." Although they speak about helping the most vulnerable, caring for the least of these, and promoting life with dignity, they doing not talk about the core issue of abortion, and the rights of the unknown. Is it possible for a religious group to overlook a candidate who does not oppose abortion and have amongst his/her platform a pro-life stand?

I suppose they sum this up with the disclaimer, "while no elected official will be without flaw." Being a pro-choice liberal, I would love to think this is a religious movement to escape the notion that they cannot ever vote for a pro-choice candidate, the one issue that separates them from the bonds of the Republican party, and the dysfunctional leadership they offer. I personally believe it is time for a pro-life liberal to come forward. Obama has made whispers about having serious misgivings over the issue, however he is intelligent to know that coming forward with a pro-life stand would be a death blow to any political aspirations he may have with the Democratic party, and its electorate.

Having said that, I must be nervous about an organisation who states....the values of the Matthew 25 Network: promoting life with dignity, caring for the least of these, strengthening and supporting families, stewardship of God’s Creation....and turning around and endorsing a pro-choice liberal. While conservatives may think they are settling for a candidate, personally I think they are TIRED of settling, on the wrong candidates who happen to stand on their side on one issue alone, as crucial as that one issue is to any religious belief and mores.