Evangelicals denounce CNN faith and politics forum

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Evangelicals denounce CNN faith and politics forum

Conservative evangelicals are criticizing a recent forum that featured Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. The head of the National Clergy Council says the CNN special, sponsored by the group Sojourners, tried to portray the three Democrats as being compatible with evangelical beliefs, practices, and politics.



A day after the "Faith, Values and Politics" forum on Monday, Pastor Rob Schenck moderated a roundtable discussion at the National Press Club called "Evangelicals in '08: United or Divided?" The event featured panelists who presented historical Christian positions on social and moral issues -- individuals such as theologian Dr. Norm Geisler, Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver, and constitutional attorney Bernard Reese.

In contrast, Schenck contends that the Sojourners panelists who asked questions of Edwards, Obama, and Clinton do not hold mainstream evangelical values.

"Through carefully crafted questions and the responses -- mostly rehearsed -- of the candidates, the sponsoring group hoped to convince 'who knows who' that issues like world poverty and corporate CEO compensation packages trump the sanctity of human life, the sanctity of marriage and the family, and the public acknowledgement of God," Schenck declared.

Schenck said CNN and Sojourners "conspired to create a fictional class of Christians -- so-called 'liberal evangelicals.'"

"Sojourners and their favorite candidates want us to change, to adapt, to a more popular, more acceptable, more congenial list of priorities," the National Clergy Council leader stated. "But Jesus warned, woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you for so did their fathers to the false prophets."

Schenck sarcastically referred to the Sojourners forum as "the religious revival with Brother Barack, Sister Hillary, and Deacon John."