Faithful Philly Forum

There was a congruence of stories I noticed in the news this week, across a wide gulf of cutlure, affluence and faiths. While the monks of Burma are being controlled by force of the gun and being kept in bounds, a church in Pasadena is being hemmed in by the IRS. All Saints Episcopal Church, a large, affluent, socially active congregation was investigated for electioneering from the pulpit in the 2004 election–with the threat to cut off tax exempt status. This month, the IRS simply closed the case, thus leaving it unresolved–will they be investigated again? I think we should all think of ways to call our tax exempt status into question. How will I transcent the putative controls the government and culture seems to have on my willingness to speak out? What would it take for me to launch into the streets with my bowl in the air?

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I’m currently sitting in the press section at the ACORN Presidential Candidate Forum at the Bright Hope Baptist Church at 12th and Cecil B. Moore.  It’s an event that showcases a beautiful marriage of faith and politics.

Rev. Kevin Johnson, the senior pastor of Bright Hope, opened the forum with a prayer that walked the line between religious doctrine and protest rhetoric graciously.

We’ve heard from the presumed mayor-elect Michael Nutter, as well as Representative Chaka Fattah, both of whom spoke out again predatory lending, endorsed funds for neighborhood repair and full funding of public schools.

Later, we’ll be hearing from Sen. Hillary Clinton, Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Sen. John Edwards (who will be announcing his plan to increase minimum wage).
ACORN is streaming the forum live, which you can watch here.  There’s also a forum in which you can participate if you feel the need to respond to the things you are seeing and hearing.

Beverly Dale and the CA have been witness to the failed US policy in Iraq from the beginning.

Along comes Bob Woodward, former publicist for the Bush Administration, with the wonderful insight that all is not well in Iraq.

Hello! Smell the coffee Bob.

What is it that RevBev knew that the MSM failed to recognize?

Perhaps it is that foreign policy devised by those without justice-based values can only be destructive. Maybe Bev should send George some instructions on being faithful?

OSF 10/03/2007