Bush Supports Group Who Is Convincing Churches To Throw Out Their Crosses

[Oilwellian]

This is a very odd story, via Atrios:

This wintry season, as the faithful continue to receive alarming reports from the news that Republicans are all that stand between them and the outlawing of Christmas itself by hordes of secular humanists, the two presidents Bush have endorsed a powerful conservative interest group specializing in removing the cross -- not from schools or courthouses, but from churches.

Rather than the traditional egg hunt, this group, calling itself the American Clergy Leadership Conference, sponsored a nationwide "Tear Down The Cross" day for Easter, 2003. Last week, leaders in this radical cause presided over a Washington prayer breakfast featuring messages of thanks from the presidents. Former Senator Bob Dole came in person.

Mostly African-American, pastors who joined in 2003's ACLC-sponsored "Tear Down The Cross" won gold watches from the wealthy group, which unabashedly claims in its publications to have stripped churches of over a hundred crosses over the Easter holiday alone. This, movement leaders said, cleared the way for a new age and second messiah.

Speaking of messiahs, make a quick stop at the web site of the ACLC, and it's clear there's more to it than the “rapidly growing movement of clergy committed to the endeavor of making this nation the best that it can be," as the ACLC described itself in a December 8 Washington Times op-ed. It's actually a vehicle for Sun Myung Moon, the billionaire conservative donor who calls himself the True Father.

http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=258

[aquart]

1. Ah, Sun thinks he's the Messiah and George thinks he is.

They must have fun get togethers.

[Oilwellian]

2. Isn't this a creepy story?

I'd love to hear the media ask Bush if he thinks the cross is a symbol of Satan. :D

[Calvinist Basset]

3. What a Twisted Theology!

"The fact that the cross is a symbol of division, shame, suffering and bloodshed prove that it is not of God but Satan."

The above quote just shows how out of touch Moon is with sound Christian doctrine.

Simply put, any symbol can have whatever meaning people wish to ascribe to it. Sure, Romans used the cross as an instrument of shame, torture and execution. But the resurrection of Jesus allowed Christians to change the meaning of the cross to a symbol of joy, hope, resurrection from death and eternal life. Christians have a long, powerful history of redeeming symbols for new meanings--and I prefer to let this tradition prevail.

[Oilwellian]

4. But, but, but....

You get a gold watch if you go along with the new interpretation. :eyes:

[checks-n-balances]

7. And to think liberals are being accused of trying to destroy Christmas!

These right-wingers need to turn their ire on "Rev" Moon - I think even some of them would be appalled at this!

[burn the bush]

5. blast this story to the media. Hopefully someone will pick it up

the more crap that gets printed about the shrub, the better. Blast all media with any negative stories you find.

[DieboldMustDie]

6. Maybe I'll start wearing a cross in protest.

:shrug: Haven't done that since I was a kid.

[Sugarbleus]

8. Great Article!

I read Gadflyer before. I knew about the cross removal thing.. I just didn't know "the rest of the story"

Thanks, can't wait to send this to some fundie friends :evilgrin: