CALIFORNIA FAITH LEADERS SAY LOU ENGLE’S “BLOOD VENGEANCE” A GROSS DISTORTION OF RELIGION

I’m proud to be part of an organization speaking out against Christian values being used as weapons of mass discrimination.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CFE Leaders Challenge Alliance of Engle, Gingrich and Huckabee
September 3, 2010

This weekend in Sacramento, California groups of religious extremists will take part in “The Call” –lead by Pastor Lou Engle and promoted by conservative politicians such as Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee, who are using religious events to rally voters and to crush marriage equality in California.

“It is not only misguided but reckless to promote a God of vengeance.” said Samuel M. Chu, Executive Director of California Faith for Equality, of Engle’s religious agenda. ”Religion should never be used as a weapon to condemn, to harm, or to strip away a person’s humanity.” California Faith for Equality (CFE), is an organization of over 6000 clergy and lay leaders who support equality and justice for all.

“We represent good people of deep faith across the great state of California who know that traditional religious values are love, justice and compassion, not bigotry, discrimination and hatred,” said the Very Rev. Dr. Brian Baker, Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento. “CFE stands with all those working for marriage equality because we believe God blesses all people equally and that Constitution should protect all people equally

“CFE strongly supports freedom of religion,” added Chu, “but we also believe in the freedom from religion. When politicians like Gingrich and Huckabee create an alliance with Lou Engle, we must speak out to prevent religious extremists from writing their theology into the laws of this land.”

CFE spokespeople Samuel M. Chu and the Very Rev. Dr. Brian Baker will be available for comment throughout the weekend.

California Faith for Equality is a statewide network of clergy and lay leaders from a diversity of faith traditions who are committed to equality.