U.S. religious left gears up to face right counterpart

U.S. religious left gears up to face right counterpart

Wed Jul 26, 2006 09:03 AM BST

By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The religious right, which helped re-elect U.S. President George W. Bush in 2004 by rallying opposition to abortion and gay marriage, is now facing a pushback from the religious left.

With a faith-based agenda of their own, liberal and progressive clergy from various denominations are lobbying lawmakers, holding rallies and publicizing their positions. They want to end the Iraq war, ease global warming, combat poverty, raise the minimum wage, revamp immigration laws, and prevent "immoral" cuts in federal social programs.

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According to scholars, the religious left has become its most active since the 1960s when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other clergy -- black and white -- were key figures in the civil-rights and anti-Vietnam war movements.

INFLUENCING ELECTIONS?

While the religious right is still more powerful, the left is setting its sights on this year's congressional elections and the 2008 White House contest.

Rising Democratic star Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois said it is imperative for his party that fellow Democrats seek to counter the influence of the religious right.

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