Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference and Briefing  ...next >
June 3, 2011--Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, attended the conference, generally staying out in the corridor and speaking to reporters.  He stated, "this is kind of the Republican Party at prayer, where they try to convince people that every ultraconservative policy statement is blessed by God, in fact probably written by God."  [see also press release]

June 3, 2011--Faith in Public Life organized a lunch and press briefing across the street at Acadiana.  Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director of Faith in Public Life and Faithful America, stated, "We're very concerned that the religious right is pushing a conservative economic agenda that doesn't reflect Christian values."  Others speaking were (left to right) Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Fr. Clete Kiley of UNITE/Here and Rev. Derrick Harkins of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church.  Wallis stated, "this is political ideology dressed up as religion."  "We did not get into fiscal trouble because of poor people," Wallis said, arguing there is need to "form a circle of protection around the poorest and most vulnerable people."  Kiley spoke of "the inordinate concentration of wealth in the hands of a very few."  "This is no faith-based budget, this is the Ayn Rand budget," he stated.  [see also press release] 

Also during the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference, James Salt, head of Catholics United (which is part of Faithful America) tried to present Rep. Paul Ryan with a Bible to make the point that in their view his budget proposal does not reflect Biblical values.

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