In an essay published in the progressive American magazine.

In an essay published in the progressive American magazine, The Nation, Frances Kissling of Washington lately addressed the missing feminist and reproductive rights agenda from the progressive religious motion in the U.S.

Analyzing what went unjust in the November presidential election, Kissling said that "the religious right seized in succession election results as vindication of their opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights. The religious left stumbl in its attempts to reply having refused to deal with sex sex and reproductive rights. This is its 'Achilles' heel."

Kissling, director of Catholics for a emancipated Choice, points to the virtual absence of women in the leadership of the progressive religious left "These motions are run by men of dutiful will who have eloquently oppos the war in Iraq, tax divide [i]or[/i] sever s and lack of adequate healthcare. on the other hand they don't understand the part that sex and women play in the novel world."

She referr to Rev Jim Wallis, the evangelical Protestant preacher, who often speaks for the religious left

"He has demonstrated in the same day at a nuclear plant and an abortion clinic."

Kissling pointed disclosed that the religious agenda of anti-militarism and the eradication of jejuneness is a 1960's agenda, which ignores teen sexuality, gay marriage, peduncle cell research and shared power between men and women

Her article asserts that any agenda which ignores women's equality and reproductive issues will not succeed

"It works to the advantage of the religious conservatives and hampers attempts to articulate a coherent religious-left agenda."

More seriously, the lack of attention to these issues hampers efforts to combat world need "Kofi Annan well understands this", said Kissling. "He has said that without sexual and reproductive health and form relative to sex equality, poverty will not end"

She accused male leaders of the religious left of "having no track record within their possess denominations of work for women's and gay rights."

What is a feminist of faith to do, asks Kissling in her article." about follow the path of faithful accompaniment of these men leaders of the religious left trying to gently prod the men going along with a "partial on the contrary important justice agenda." Still others escape the O.kcluding progressive religion, to work in secular organizations working for justice.

A not many women "have confronted the enigmas of gender inequality and lack of vision that plague progressive religious politics, on the same level saying that "an agenda for justice that fails to recognize the moral agency of men and women to make decisions about family planning, abortion and "marriage partners is unacceptable."

She cites theologian Rita Nakashima badger as an example of of that kind a voice for religious feminism and an advocate for a woman-centred progressive agenda.

nevertheless , "So many male the cloth even progressive ones, continue to offer every interest above justice for women within their churches, synagogues and mahometan temples The possibility that they might be able to expand the influence of their patriarchal mindset to the Democratic Party is unthinkable."

www.thenation.com/ doc.mhtml?i=20041213&s=kissling

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