Homosexual Groups Slam U.S. Surgeon General Nominee in Bid to Keep Traditional Religious Believers Out of Public Office
"Criticism of Dr. Holsinger has not been about his qualifications. It disturbingly has been an objection to his faith and an attack on the role of traditional religion in public life."
- Mark Tooley, IRD Director of UMAction
Contact: Loralei Coyle 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with The Institute on Religion and Democracy
WASHINGTON, June 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- On May 25th, President Bush nominated Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr. for the post of Surgeon General. Holsinger, a Kentucky cardiologist who plans to focus on combating childhood obesity, has come under attack by several homosexual activist groups that have condemned his leadership in the United Methodist Church, which officially disapproves of homosexual practice.
IRD Director of UMAction Mark Tooley commented:
"Seemingly, critics of Dr. Holsinger want to prohibit all traditional Christians from holding public office.
"Homosexual activist groups such as the Human Rights Campaign have declared Dr. Holsinger 'unworthy' because he has participated in church discussions that offend their politically correct sensibilities.
"The demands from these radical critics have far reaching implications; among them, that potential office holders should be disqualified merely for holding traditional Christian or Jewish beliefs. Their demands are the ultimate in bigotry.
"Over 160 million Americans belong to churches, almost all of which share The United Methodist Church's stance on marriage and sexual ethics. But radical homosexual groups want to disqualify and brand as a bigot anyone among the 160 million Americans who actually believe in their own churches' teachings.
"Criticism of Dr. Holsinger has not been about his qualifications. It disturbingly has been an objection to his faith and an attack on the role of traditional religion in public life."
The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches' social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.
