...growing cooperation among conservative Christians, particularly in evangelical and Catholic churches, based on a shared agenda anchored in opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, publicly funded childcare and other social programs. Derek Rogusky heads the socially conservative Ottawa-based Institute of Marriage and the Family Canada. The group has been deeply involved in research, messaging and lobbying on a number of political issues, most notably the same sex marriage legislation. Rogusky says, “We’re seeing a real coalescing of between evangelicals and conservative Catholics. We’re starting to see them engage in issues much more than they did 10 years ago.
Other indications are "the expanding network of advocacy and lobby groups aimed at influencing public policy ", and increasing access to "the halls of power". His most controversial claim is that "the vote of evangelical Christians and Catholics who attend church weekly was a decisive factor in the election of a Conservative minority government".
Not terribly surprising, all in all, but a good thing to keep in mind if you're wondering why the Tories keep pushing micro-legislation like Bill C-484. This bill is an attempt to convey solidarity with religious right voters without being substantial enough to wake the mainstream from its slumber.
The paper on which Mr. Gruending's latest is based can be found here.
17 comments:
The biggest threat is from Catholics; those who've remained, at least outwardly, loyal to the traditions and practices and those who've lapsed and are feeling guilty, remain the biggest pool of potential recruits for politicisation. Almost half the population of Canada is nominally Catholic.
Time for progressives to pump up the volume on the pedophile scandals in the Church again. I wish there were some other way, but there isn't.
wow, for someone who is happy to see Steyn prosecuted for quoting various imams and prominent muslims, you sure lay the hate on thick for catholics ti-guy.
Do you need to go to a re-education camp?
Should I file a complaint at the HRC for your spreading of hate and contempt towards catholics? Since when are you such a racist? Yeah, I know catholicism is not a race, but apparently in this world of foggy logic which is yours, criticizing a religion is racist and should be subject to state adjudication.
I've saved your post and I will file an HRC complaint against you.
Enjoy the process which you wholeheartedly support.
Comments off until Jonathon takes his pills.
I've saved your post and I will file an HRC complaint against you.
Send a copy of it to my (progressive) Catholic parish priest. We'll both have a laugh on Sunday over it.
...honestly; these people. All mouth, no brains.
Shorter Jermo: Shrieeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
You're getting awfully shrill. My fillings are rattling.
whatever ti-guy. any pontificating on your part against anyone for being "insensitive to muslims" will be quickly rebuked by a cut & paste of your anti-catholic diatribe.
as an aside, you might be interested to know that muslims are no more keen than catholic on the whole gay/abortion thing. But of course you cant direct the same scorn as them as you do catholics - that would not be progressive.
You're just a stupid hate-filled bigot anyways.
It is a bit rich for the two of you to discuss the increased political organization of the Christian right when you are such vociferous critics of Mark Steyn.
I tend to think the religious right IS a threat in Canada. I just don't see how you can discuss the topic when you support dragging someone off to a human rights commission for doing the same thing regarding Islam. Sounds like a double standard to me.
We went through this the other day, l'il KC. Despite my uninformed opinions and poor reason, I still managed to do something of substance by challenging my own church on its attempts to impose illiberal traditions and irrational beliefs on secular society.
You think white, pseudo-Canadians with British accents shrieking at fellow Canadians who seem less foreign than he does is a better tactic. The only tactic, in fact.
So be it.
as an aside, you might be interested to know that muslims are no more keen than catholic on the whole gay/abortion thing.
Did you miss something here? My own parish priest, Catholic, is vehemently opposed to the Church hierarchy's position on civil marriage for gays and refused to acquiesce to the Bishop's demand that the petition circulated just before the vote be promoted during mass. He said, and I quote "There is a petition at the back of the church. You are invited to read it at the end of the mass."
He's a little less liberal on the sex issues, but believes good Catholics will follow their consciences in order to be good Catholics. No one's forcing Catholics to have sex or abortions, after all.
so you're a so-called catholic who doesnt actually believe in any of the catholic church's teachings, and who also spreads hatred of catholics. you may not be coherent, but at least you're consistent in your incoherence.
anyways, there's a term for those who denigrate their own to gain the favors of others, it's Kapo
i think youd be more at home in a unitarian church or something, where you could hear sermons on plastic water bottles and global warming.
so you're a so-called catholic who doesnt actually believe in any of the catholic church's teachings,
Well, let's see. I've never committed adultery, I've never had or procured an abortion, I was married in the Church and have never divorced. I believe in compassion for the meek and the poor. The only commandment I haven't observed is "keeping the Sabbath holy." As if...
Yep, I'm a pretty good Catholic, all things considered.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," as someone once said.
anyways, there's a term for those who denigrate their own to gain the favors of others, it's Kapo
Yeah, I know what kapo means, l'il feller.
i think youd be more at home in a unitarian church or something, where you could hear sermons on plastic water bottles and global warming.
Hate crime! The Unitarians are going to make shish-kebob with your balls.
By the way, Jermo Cuntiens...it didn't escape my notice that as I provided you with additional personal information, the more personal and vicious your attacks have become.
Hmm...who else operates like that? Who?
Ti-guy wrote: Time for progressives to pump up the volume on the pedophile scandals in the Church again. I wish there were some other way, but there isn't.
By all means, go ahead. I will be an Atheist that defends Catholic priests and you can play the part of a “progressive” Christian who spreads lies and hatred for “the cause”. Should be a slam dunk, right?
Of course I will pound away at the fact that public school teachers are FAR more likely to molest children. Therefore, “all” school teachers are child molesters and the public education system and school teachers “need” to be publicly humiliated and ridiculed at every opportunity, especially in the media. What’s sauce for the goose…
Here is some data on the issue. I have no doubt you will ignore it, thus proving my point – this has ZERO to do with the truth or the safety of children. No wonder you like Kinsella. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if you are him. You employ the same greasy, vial tactics and you suck as a writer.
http://www.catholicleague.org/research/abuse_in_social_context.htm
http://www.nationalsave.org/main/facts.php
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