President Obama is said to have asked Tony Dungy to serve on his Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. This news comes as a disappointment to many people and groups who deem Dungy's past actions to be bigoted in the name of religion.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has issued a press release expressing their dismay at this turn of events.
Church-State Watchdog Group Expresses Disappointment At Selection
Americans United for Separation of Church and State today expressed disappointment at the Obama administration’s decision to ask former football coach Tony Dungy to serve on the president’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
“God & Country,” the religion blog of U.S. News & World Report, said today that Dungy has been asked to serve on the council, but he has not yet decided whether to do so.
Dungy, former coach of the Indianapolis Colts football team, has well-known ties with intolerant Religious Right groups. In 2007, for example, he spoke at a fund-raising dinner for the Indiana Family Institute, a James Dobson-affiliated group that opposes gay rights, reproductive rights and separation of church and state.
Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United’s executive director, “I am surprised and disappointed that Dungy has been asked to serve on the council. His view that civil-marriage law should reflect religious doctrine is not in keeping with the Constitution.”
Added Lynn, “It is extremely important for the advisory council to uphold civil rights and civil liberties, and I am concerned that Coach Dungy is far from the best person to do that.”
Dungy, in his remarks at the Indiana Family Institute dinner, supported an Indiana constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and suggested that public policy ought to reflect religious doctrine.
"I feel like telling people when they look at this issue of same-sex marriage . . . I'm not on anybody's side," Dungy said. "I'm on the Lord's side."
According to U.S. News, Dungy accepted the Indiana Family Institute's Friend of the Family Award and said he "embraced" the IFI’s support for the gay marriage ban.
"IFI is saying what the Lord says," Dungy said. "You can take that and you can make the decision on which way you want to be."
"We're not trying to downgrade anyone else," Dungy added. "But we're trying to promote the family — family values the Lord's way."
Lynn said it is important that the advisory council not advocate views such as Dungy’s that undercut church-state separation.
Concluded Lynn, “I look forward to working with President Obama and his staff as he develops his administration’s position on the faith-based funding issue.”
Comments
I guess we can only take comfort that as time goes on, the views of people like this will become more and more disjunct with the rest of society.
I think the greatest thing that will turn people from Christianity are the actions of Evangelicals...ironic as it seems.
There are few people more intolerant than liberals with clout.
Those few may be atheist-fundamentalists
Mr. Gray:
You do not tolerate bigotry. You do not condone prejudices behind a face of a complacence, as if certain arguments deserve a seating at the table when such decisions are made.
No decent person ever should call for that kind of "tolerance", and if you follow the rhetoric behind some of these arguments by the likes of men and women like Dungy, it will lead you to some of the most vile, putrid, and offensive muck that can be found in the hearts of man.
Different colored spectacles, I'm sure, but this is one those issues that is a zero-sum game.
"There are few people more intolerant than liberals with clout. Those few may be atheist-fundamentalists"
Care to give examples of this intolerance?
Check out the great debate in Chicago: God’s Favorite Church Takes On Famed Atheist Sunsara Taylor.
Next Wednesday, April 8th at 8pm The Best Church of God Service with Sunsara Taylor at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
For reservations, call Revolution Books: 773-489-0930.
Chicago, IL – April 8th, 2009 – The critically-acclaimed Best Church of God returns for one unique service on Wednesday, April 8th at 8pm in the heathen confines of the Chopin Theatre. In a regrettable association with left-leaning Revolution Books, BCOG—the only church God goes to—challenges Sunsara Taylor to a battle of Good vs. Evil in the format of a “spirited” debate. Best known for her onair cage matches with righteous Christian Crusaders like Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, the blasphemously outspoken Sunsara Taylor is a writer for Revolution newspaper and is currently on a nation-wide campus tour promoting her unholy liberal propaganda (stand strong, ye college Christian clubs!).
Like Jesus, the BCOG is returning for one spectacular appearance—and just in time for Easter. In addition to the frank back-and-forth on religion, guests will experience the trademark Best Church of God service which includes original hymns, Power Prayers®, God-filled Liturgical dance performances, Pastor Dave’s famous sermons, miraculously delicious transubstantiations, and more. The BCOG is Chicago’s only true congregation of fundamentalist, Right-wing Christians. Followers are urged to attend this important event as the church is heading back into hiding after the service, awaiting the Rapture at the undisclosed BCOG Northern Idaho compound.
Check websites www.bestchurchofgod.org and www.revcom.us for The Best Church of God and Sunsara Taylor
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