DNC stands by Christ-less Easter statement

DNC stands by Christ-less Easter statement

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is defending an Easter statement it released that made no mention of Jesus Christ or His resurrection.

Some evangelicals are calling on DNC chairman Howard Dean to apologize for issuing a press release that described Easter Sunday as a "holiday [that] represents peace, redemption and renewal, a theme which brings hope to people of all faiths." They say Dean's politically correct definition of Easter is an affront to Christians. But DNC spokeswoman Amaya Smith says there was no deliberate attempt to omit Jesus from the statement.

"I think if you look back at Governor Dean's remarks previously, he's made a consistent effort to reach out to faith and religious community," Smith asserts. "Recently we just spoke to Eastern University, a conservative Christian university -- and in many of his public speeches he has talked about Jesus and the teachings of Jesus ...."

The DNC "has been launching a broad effort to reach out to people of diverse faiths" under Dean's leadership, adds Smith. "I think as part of our effort it's always important to hear feedback from the faith community -- and that's part of opening that dialogue," she suggests. "And of course, we're willing to take criticism and willing to engage in a direct dialogue as to how future statements should be crafted."

Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Arthur Eaves says "the failure of the DNC to put Jesus at the center of the Easter statement was a mistake." And Democrats, he adds, "need to stop allowing fringe groups to cow us into a fear of openly proclaiming what we believe and where our beliefs come from."

According to Eaves, "the DNC needs to recognize that for most Democrats there are no sweeter words than 'He is Risen!'"