By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor
MILWAUKEE (LBM) — At least three leaders of groups represented on the digital broadcast of the Democratic National Convention proceedings either deleted or added phrases to substantially alter the Pledge of Allegiance.
The DNC Caucus and Council Meeting: Muslim Delegates and Allies Assembly as well as the DNC LGBTQ Caucus Meeting were started by reciting the pledge, but “under God” was deleted both times.
Meanwhile, the DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council began its meeting with the pledge, with an addition, “with liberty and justice for all … some day.”
Although available online, none of these controversial segments have been broadcast on network or cable stations except Fox News.
Meanwhile, the DNC platform committee passed a resolution ahead of the virtual meeting of Democrats that applauds the religiously unaffiliated while at the same time condemns people of faith who do not support a liberal political agenda.
The “Resolution Regarding Religiously Unaffiliated Demographic” cites the growth of the number of religiously unaffiliated among Democrats, calling the demographic “the largest religious group within the Democratic Party,” and praises the fact that they “share the Democratic Party’s values, with 70% voting for Democrats, 80% supporting same-sex marriage, and 61% saying immigrants make American society stronger.”
Meanwhile, the same resolution denounces those who use their “religious views” to define their “morals, values, and patriotism” and rebukes anyone who believes “religious liberty” protects these views against the competing views of the LGBT community and other opposing groups.
The resolution was championed by the Secular Coalition of America, a group that lobbies for atheists, agnostics and humanists.
