"Somebody must raise a dissent"--Moral Monday clergy lead the way

[marions ghost]

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/06/18/2175021/hundreds-of-faith-leaders-arrested-for-protesting-conservative-policies-in-north-carolina/

Republicans and Tea Party conservatives have long peddled themselves as America’s moral compass, citing scripture as they propose regressive laws and policies. But when a growing coalition of North Carolina progressives descended on Raleigh, N.C., Monday to decry the state’s Republican legislature, they drew support from another source of moral authority: progressive faith leaders.

(snip)

“When laws are most harmful to the most vulnerable, clergy who are committed to a biblical vision of peace and justice ought to start paying attention,” said Rev. Franklin Golden, co-pastor of Durham Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC and a clergy member arrested at the protests.

With both the North Carolina House and Senate governed by conservative Republican majorities, participants in Moral Mondays don’t expect to win many immediate legislative victories through their activism. Instead, activists and their supporters are hoping their prayers and protests will pay dividends at the ballot box in 2014.

“We’re going to make sure that the contrast is so clear between meanness and immorality and extreme politics and the politics of love and justice and compassion, that when 2014 comes, the people will be able to make a decision.” Rev. Barber told The American Prospect in an interview.

--Although not affiliated with a church, I support the clergy and religious community who have
stepped up to the plate and made a huge difference in North Carolina this year. Although they have been working for progressive causes for a long time, it required a Herculean effort to draw attention to the historic injustices going down in NC, and their leadership and wisdom continues to be a pivotal factor in the success of the resistance to ALEC-fueled tyranny. So this post is a shout-out to churches & synagogues and those of other faiths who have realized that they can't just work behind the scenes in this America--they have to be visible and lead. They have to call these political marauders on their malfeasance on moral grounds. Under the leadership of Rev Barber & the NAACP, they have done this forcefully and swiftly in North Carolina. The timing is critical. This is working, at least for NC. As Rev Barber said, "Somebody must raise a dissent." Not to do so is to be complicit.

--Thoughts? Comments?