The Evangelical Split

Today we get the news that a top evangelical leader was ousted for supporting civil unions:

The outspoken Christian evangelical who criticized Republican John McCain as “unprincipled” and who has emerged as a leading voice calling for conservatives to devote themselves to battling global warming resigned his longtime post with the National Association of Evangelicals after a radio interview in which he said his views on same sex marriage are “shifting.”

“I’m shifting, I have to admit,” the Rev. Richard Cizik told NPR. “In other words, I would willingly say that I believe in civil unions. I don’t officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don’t think.”

There is clearly a split developing over those evangelicals who have shifted to accepting civil unions, realizing they're on the losing side, an those hardcore phobes who are opposed to any rights for gays whatsoever. Many of you will remember my interview with Bishop Harry Jackson back in October In that post (which includes video of the full Jackson interview) I wrote about how Jackson, who is also on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals, from which Cizik was ousted, talked about a split:

What's even more interesting is that Jackson, possibly reflecting other leaders and possibly showing the beginning of a split on gay rights among evangelicals, now says he's in favor of a national civil unions or domestic partnership scheme -- because he's being "realistic" -- even as he still is opposed to gay marriage:

"My concern about John McCain stepping up and being articulate about the marriage amendments is more about protecting the definition of marriage as one man and one woman as cultural guardrails...The reason I say I will work with civil unions, etc. -- that may not have been my original position, but I think it's a reality. We have had laws in New Jersey, all over the country. The reality is gay civil unions are going to be the law of the land all over the country...You may call it movement [on my part.] I call myself a realist...I think this would be a split issue [on the Christian right], a lot of people would disagree with me. But I think we're embroiled in a battle that's unfolding."

Indeed, and today that split just got wider. Fascinating.

Evangelical Leader: Fundies Grumbling About Palin's Gay Remarks; Possible "Split" Developing on LGBT Rights

Evangelical leader and gay rights foe Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. came on the show on Friday (two video clips below) to respond to the now widely known fact that Mark Buse, John McCain's chief of staff, is gay, something Jackson believes compels McCain to speak more forcefully on the marriage amendments on the ballot in three states.

Jackson, pastor of the Hope Christian Church in Maryland and founder of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, is on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals, Ted Haggard's old stomping ground. Jackson isn't among the most high-profile Christian right leaders on the national level, but he does travel in their circles, was a participant in infamous Justice Sunday, and talks to them all, including Focus on the Family's James Dobson, Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and the rest. So, while the big honchos are being curiously quiet, when Jackson says evangelicals weren't happy with Palin's performance at the vice presidential debate when it came to gay issues -- and that there is a "split" among them about how Sarah Palin should have addressed the topic, as well as about John McCain's chief of staff -- it certainly is interesting:

"A lot of folks were upset that she didn't say there is a marriage amendment on the ballot in Florida, California and Arizona...She missed an opportunity to say I'm for marriage...She could have defined that thing clearly and she would have a lot more people enthusiastic about her campaign. There have been people [grumbling]...I do think she seemed a little wishy-washy and unclear on the marriage issue. She left making it sound like she and Mccain and Biden and Obama were exactly the same and they're not."

What's even more interesting is that Jackson, possibly reflecting other leaders and possibly showing the beginning of a split on gay rights among evangelicals, now says he's in favor of a national civil unions or domestic partnership scheme -- because he's being "realistic" -- even as he still is opposed to gay marriage:

"My concern about John McCain stepping up and being articulate about the marriage amendments is more about protecting the definition of marriage as one man and one woman as cultural guardrails...The reason I say I will work with civil unions, etc. -- that may not have been my original position, but I think it's a reality. We have had laws in New Jersey, all over the country. The reality is gay civil unions are going to be the law of the land all over the country...You may call it movement [on my part.] I call myself a realist...I think this would be a split issue [on the Christian right], a lot of people would disagree with me. But I think we're embroiled in a battle that's unfolding."

That is certainly fascinating. Perhaps some evangelical leaders are realizing they're losing ground big time and are trying to cut their losses. Below is the full interview, in two separate video clips.

On Today's Show

We'll go through the debate throughout the show, focusing in on issues and where each candidate did well or flopped. And of course, take your calls on how they did, and who won and lost and what it means to the presidential race.

And, at 4:30 EST, religious right organizer Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., head of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, an evangelical group that is pressuring John McCain to be more forceful on the marriage amendments in various states in light of his chief of staff, Mark Buse, having been revealed to be gay. We will also ask what he thought of Palin's positions on gay relationships from the debate. This will be very interesting!


Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius Satellite Radio’ s OutQ, Channel 109. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free three-day pass.

Fundie Pressure on McCain about Mark Buse

The religious right base is just beginning to turn the screws on John McCain over the revelation last week that he has a gay chief of staff, Mark Buse. Focus on the Family was inundated with calls -- we know, because many of you were calling too, and you were hearing from the people who work there. James Dobson has been silent so far, but Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. (pictured here) is leading the charge already:

A conservative Christian pastor and political activist says the revelation that John McCain's Senate chief of staff is an open homosexual should compel the presidential hopeful and his running mate Sarah Palin to "rise up" and "unashamedly" declare their support for traditional marriage....According to [Maryland Pastor, Bishop Harry] Jackson, the announced "outing" of Buse is a calculated political move. "I think this attack has come at this moment because of the issues of marriage amendments in these states and the issue of a pro-family agenda," the pastor suggests. "And I wish [McCain] was more engaged positively, because he's getting the negative attack no matter what."

And there is more to come as more people come forward. Stay tuned.