Jewish Leader Blasts 'Religious Right'

[beam me up scottie]

Jewish Leader Blasts 'Religious Right'
By KRISTEN HAYS, Associated Press Writer
Sat Nov 19,10:55 PM ET

HOUSTON - The leader of the largest branch of American Judaism blasted conservative religious activists in a speech Saturday, calling them "zealots" who claim a "monopoly on God" while promoting anti-gay policies akin to Adolf Hitler's.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the liberal Union for Reform Judaism, said "religious right" leaders believe "unless you attend my church, accept my God and study my sacred text you cannot be a moral person."

"What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God?" he said during the movement's national assembly in Houston, which runs through Sunday.

***

He used particularly strong language to condemn conservative attitudes toward homosexuals. He said he understood that traditionalists have concluded gay marriage violates Scripture, but he said that did not justify denying legal protections to same-sex partners and their children.


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Reform_Jews_Conservatives.html

[xchrom]

1. thank you mr. yoffie.

we need that kind of help at this time.

[beam me up scottie]

2. This guy rocks.

Yoffie also urged lawmakers to model themselves on presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, who famously told a Houston clergy group in 1960 that a president should not make policy based on his religion.

We need more religious leaders like him.

[LaurenG]

3. Thank goodness! A human who believes in God and still

has his heart firmly attached. How refreshing.:)

[beam me up scottie]

4. The remarkable thing about Rabbi Eric Yoffie is that

he's not afraid to call them as he sees them, even when he's in the middle of * country.

[LaurenG]

5. You know that does seem to be an issue that I have

not thought of for a while. Fear of standing up and telling our own truth about issues. It really shouldn't be this hard to state clearly what we stand for. Statements like his should be the norm, not something that is so rare that it excites us. Good for Rabbi Yoffie.