It is my great honor to be part of Tuesday Feb 2 press conference to announce the formation of The American Prayer Hour. Why am I doing this? Because the secretive "Family" and/or "C-Street" organization of the far loony right is the sponsor of the current annual Prayer Breakfast.
The Family are closely associated with the American and Ugandan evangelical "Christians" who have been trying to impose the death penalty on gay men and women. This is my chance as a straight, fifty-seven year old practicing Christian, father of three and grandfather of three to step up and show my solidarity with my gay brothers and sisters.
It's also a chance to try and begin to restore the reputation of Christianity that has for far too long been violated by the religious right. And since in years past (in the 1970s and 80s) my family and I played such a leading role in the formation of the religious right this is the least I can do to try and correct the horrible hate and polarization we (my late father Francis Schaeffer and I) personally helped set in motion.
Please read our press release below and do all you can to help us pry a national prayer event from the grip of the half-crazed C-Street gang.
It is a scandal that so many "respectable" religious groups from the right to the left of the religious spectrum have allowed their good names to be linked to the Family and their nefarious "Reconstructionist" ambitions for America and the world that seeks to impose "biblical law" on our pluralistic society.
Multi-City Prayer Hour Offers Alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast Whose Leaders Have Apparent Ties to Uganda's Draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill
1/20/2010
What:
On Tuesday, February 2, 2010 key religious leaders will hold a press conference to announce the formation of The American Prayer Hour, a multi-city event on Thursday, February 4, 2010, with key events in Washington, DC, Dallas, Chicago and Berkeley. The American Prayer Hour events will affirm inclusive values and call on all nations, including Uganda, to decriminalize the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The American Prayer Hour provides an alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast, which is sponsored by The Family (aka The Fellowship), a group with disturbing ties to those spearheading Uganda's oppressive Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
When:
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 10:30 a.m. (EST)
Where:
The National Press Club (Washington, DC) Murrow Room
529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor - Washington, DC 20045
Who:
Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church
Frank Schaeffer, author, "Crazy For God: How I Grew Up As One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right and Lived to Take All of it Back."
Harry Knox, The Human Rights Campaign, Director of Religion and Faith
Moses, A gay Ugandan man seeking asylum in The United States
Rev. Elder Darlene Garner, Metropolitan Community Church, Vice-Moderator Board of Elders
Bishop Carlton Pearson, Senior Minister at Chicago, Illinois's Christ Universal Temple
Background:
Uganda is considering the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, put forth by parliamentarian David Bahati and initially backed by President Yoweri Museveni. If passed, the new law would unleash a vicious campaign of persecution against LGBT citizens. Bahati and President Museveni are members of The Family and are among their "key men" in Africa. The Family hosts the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. The American Prayer Hour will show that such cruelty and extremism does not represent most people of faith.
Sponsors:
Religion and Faith Program
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
National Black Justice Coalition
National Religious Leadership Roundtable
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
Metropolitan Community Churches
Full Equality Now DC
Truth Wins Out
Media Contact: Wayne Bessen, American Prayer Hour Coordinator
Phone: 917-691-5118 E-Mail: wbesen@gmail.com
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of Patience With God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)