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Title/Topic Excerpt and link
Labour gets religion - in a bad way
6 November, 2006
Bruce Logan		 LEFT SHOULD fight right, biblical verse for verse" claimed a keynote speaker at the Labour Party's 90th conference. The Religious Right was the dragon in the wings and must be kept off the stage. A well-attended workshop attempted to explore religion and politics. click here for complete article

 
Onward Christian Voters is party's new theme tune
October 30, 2006
Audrey Young		 Labour is seeking to embrace its Christian membership in response to attacks by the Exclusive Brethren.
Christian Cabinet minister David Cunliffe said Labour wanted to reclaim principles of justice, compassion and high moral values that were "part of our heritage as a social democratic party".
He described himself as a lapsed Anglican and said his father was a vicar.
"I think what you will see is more attention being paid by Labour to matters of religious principle and respect for all faith."   click here for complete article

 
Left should fight right 'biblical verse for verse'
October 29, 2006
Irene Chapple
 		 "LEFT SHOULD fight right, biblical verse for verse" claimed a keynote speaker at the Labour Party's 90th conference. The Religious Right was the dragon in the wings and must be kept off the stage. A well-attended workshop attempted to explore religion and politics.
"The issue for [the Labour Party] is tapping into social justice Christianity which has principles identical to our own," says the Prime Minister.
What can explain this sudden rush of religious blood to the collective Labour Party head? click here for complete article

 
Brethren aim to 'moralise' govt, conference told
NZPA
October 28, 2006		 ROTORUA - The Exclusive Brethren are part of a right-wing international religious campaign to "moralise" governments ahead of the coming of Christ, delegates at Labour's annual conference were told today.
Paul Morris, professor of religious studies at Victoria University, said there had been a recent change in the Brethren's thinking.
"It is that Jesus will only return when Christian governments rule," he said.
"The aim is to moralise governments so that Christ will arrive."
 click here for complete article

 
Labour masterclass in spotting the elusive Brethren
October 25, 2006
Audrey Young
 		 The Labour Party conference this weekend will offer a workshop on "the Exclusive Brethren and the religious right in politics".
President Mike Williams said yesterday that "sunlight is the best disinfectant" and that he wanted Labour activists in electorates to know the work of the religious right in order to know when they were a victim of it.
Mr Williams said he had been given advice about the religious right two years ago when he met Howard Dean, the chairman of the United States Democratic Party and a former presidential hopeful.
"He said to me 'beware of the religious right'. Ten years ago we took no notice of them.
"Now they are growing claws." click here for complete article


 
Christian left finding its voice
May 28, 2006
By CARYLE MURPHY and ALAN COOPERMAN, The Washington Post
 

The religious left is back.

Long overshadowed by the Christian right, religious liberals across a wide swath of denominations are engaged today in their most intensive bout of political organizing and alliance-building since the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements of the 1960s, according to scholars, politicians and clergy members.
click here for complete article