New Christian think
tank challenges conservative Christian right claims of moral superiority
Policy paper issued October 6, 2005
AUGUSTA - The Christian Policy Institute, a newly formed think tank with an evangelical perspective, issued its first briefing paper Tuesday. In the paper, CPI's founder, Rep. Stan Moody, D-Manchester, challenges the Christian Civic League of Maine and the Christian right on their claims of moral superiority in public debate by pointing to research illustrating that on issues like divorce, sexuality, abortion, and racism - Christians fair no better, and in some cases worse, than non-Christians.
"A common theme in the politics of the Christian right is the claim that they are the sole representatives of family and moral values, and therefore have a special right to stand in judgment," said Moody. "But the reality is that conservative evangelicals are no more capable of adhering to moral absolutes than non-Christians, and have no greater right to judge their neighbors."
The Institute released the paper, titled "A Matter of Perspective," in response to statements posted on the Web site of the Christian Civic League of Maine, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Civic League drew attention by stating that the chaos in New Orleans was a consequence of the moral depravity of the liberal mainstream.
"Sexual permissiveness, divorce, abortion, and the chaos in New Orleans can be laid at (liberals') doorstep," stated the Civic League's online journal from September 9, 2005.
In the Institute's report, Moody surveys data on issues ranging from divorce rates, racism and the history of abortion. He illustrates, for example, that contrary to the claims and assumptions of many conservatives, data shows Christians have higher rates of divorce than non-Christians. Moody notes that in the "Bible belt" states, the rate of divorce was up to 50 percent above the national average. The state with the lowest divorce rate in the country was politically liberal Massachusetts.
On the issue of abortion, the report also points out that California, the first state to legalize abortion, was at the time presided over by then-Governor Ronald Reagan, and that the first states to follow suit were the so-called Bible belt states.
Moody says the League's statements following the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, as well as their efforts to deny equal rights in housing and employment for gays in lesbians, and are example of how they have put their divisive politics ahead of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.
"The cornerstone of the Christian life is love of God and wanting for our neighbor the best of what we want for ourselves, regardless of our neighbor's lifestyle," said Moody. "A whole generation is listening and growing up thinking that to be Christian you must view your neighbor as a soul that needs to be saved rather than a person that deserves to be loved. That is a tragedy for everyone involved, the Church, and especially for America."
Moody founded the Christian Policy Institute in an effort to bring a different Christian voice and perspective to the public debate. In particular, Moody says it is part of the Christian mission of the Institute to speak out against the persecution of minorities, including gays and lesbians, and to defend the poor.
A Baptist minister, Moody holds a master's and a doctorate in Theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Trinity Theological Seminary, respectively, as well as a bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maine. He is a Registered Maine Guide, a past town selectman in his hometown of Manchester, and a life-time resident of Maine. He is the author of several books, including No Turning Back: Journal of an All-American Sinner (Barbour, Uhrichsville, OH, 1989) and Crisis in Evangelical Scholarship (ACW Press, Phoenix, 2001).
Formerly a Republican Representative, Moody re-registered as a Democrat in 2003, in part because he felt his religious convictions were increasingly in conflict with the rhetoric of the conservative right.
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