Newt Gingrich is running the most racially divisive presidential campaign in decades. In South Carolina, he consistently referred to President Obama as the "best food stamp President in American history" and singled out African Americans as content to live off of food stamps rather than work for a...

As the #OccupyWallStreet movement continues to flourish as a national symbol of outrage at economic injustice and inequality, faith leaders are bringing a new dimension to the demonstrations in New York. I'm an ordained Presbyterian (PCUSA) minister, and I traveled to Wall Street last weekend with a lay Catholic friend...

Inflammatory rhetoric in politics is commonplace, and religion is by no means exempt from the hostility. But once in a while a politician makes such an offensive, ignorant attack that it sparks religious voters to forcefully respond. Such confrontation is needed for the health of our public discourse.

That's what's...

Below are the remarks I gave at a press briefing on June 3 responding to the Faith and Freedom Coalition's conference in Washington, DC, at which conservative operatives worked not only to promote their usual social agenda, but also to portray their radical economic policies as moral.

Thanks everyone for...

In an op-ed this week, Rep. Paul Ryan claims the GOP budget he authored would help poor and vulnerable Americans. In reality, this budget violates the principles laid out by major faith groups including the Catholic Bishops and would shred our safety net while preserving tax giveaways for...

When Congress passed the Affordable Care Act last year, it was thanks in no small part to faith leaders who spoke out in favor of the principle that all people deserve access to quality health care. People of faith also consistently set the record straight in...

Conventional wisdom about faith and politics usually (and falsely) divides "values voters" motivated by opposition to abortion and gay marriage from an electorate focused on kitchen-table issues like jobs and taxes. This misleading script became a major media story after the 2004 presidential election when a flawed exit...

Rep. Peter King's hearings about the "radicalization" of the American Muslim community was just the first in a series of similar inquiries. Moving forward, I hope King takes to heart the sincere and fair-minded critique of his inflammatory rhetoric and sweeping generalization about the Muslim community. Controversial topics and contentious...