Sharpton: Let's Focus On Social Justice

Argues Too Much Attention Is Trained On 'Bedroom Sexual Morality'

(AP)  The Rev. Al Sharpton says it's time to get a sharper focus.

Speaking at a two-day-long meeting in Indianapolis Tuesday, the former Democratic presidential candidate criticized the Christian right for focusing too much political discussion on abortion and same-sex marriage, and said black churches should turn their attention to social justice issues like equal access to education and fighting poverty.

"We have been inundated in the faith community with bedroom sexual morality issues and not dealing with the broader moral issues of poverty, of injustice and of health care," the Rev. Al Sharpton told reporters Tuesday.

The Rev. Jeffrey Johnson, whose Eastern Star Church hosted a two-day meeting attended by Sharpton, said the issues at stake in next week's election go beyond personal morality.

"Why are half of our Afro-American boys not graduating from high school? Why is there 1.1 million more people in poverty over the past few years while we're talking about the better economy, and 11 percent of African-Americans are unemployed?" Johnson said.

Conservative Christian leaders said the problems Sharpton and Johnson cited were symptomatic of more fundamental ills.

"You've got to go beyond that and address the root causes, which is the breakdown of family and morality," said Tony Perkins, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council.

Stable homes for children will lead to better education, higher social attainment and lower incarceration rates, Perkins said.

Sharpton also condemned Indiana's new voter identification law requiring people to present government-issued documents at the polls to verify their identity.

The law will be tested in a general election for the first time next Tuesday. He compared it to poll taxes and other barriers to voting that blacks have faced in the past.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and Indiana Democrats have challenged the voter identification law before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. No ruling is expected before next week's election.

The law requires voters to prove citizenship when registering to vote and to show photo IDs when they go to the polls. The law was meant to make sure illegal immigrants weren't casting ballots.

Opponents of the law contend it discourages some people from voting, including the elderly, poor and disadvantaged who do not always carry identity documents such as driver's licenses or passports. Supporters say the law is necessary to prevent voting fraud and illegal immigrants from casting ballots.

[leoule-2009]

thank you al sharpton for speaking up about poverty! we need to bring our communities together and this is definetely a step in the right direction! Apparently, issues affecting the American poor, particularly black American poor, aren't important to many on the christian right. Instead, demonizing the poor and vulnerable is a more noble campaign like racializing welfare (crack mothers and welfare queens and the war on drugs). Christian conservatives are too power hungry, and focusing on this mythological "cultural war" of controlling media images and what people do with their bodies. Focus on the Family, step outside of yourself, and show compassion, not judgement for people who are not as privileged as yourself.

[bluestardad]

HOOSERDADDY, VOTE STAY THE COURSE, THE DECIDER WANTS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, FOLEY WANTS TO HELP WITH THE "BEHIND THING"

[grumpas]

I don't often agree with anything Al Sharpton has to say! But, he hit the nail on the head with that statement! I get sick to death of the "moral crusaders" who are going to save us from the scourge of *** out of wedlock, *** and abortion! While their corruption goes unchecked daily and is growing at an alarming rate! Christian's seem to have the misguided notion that morality begins and ends with anything sexual! I was raised that all the lying, cheating, stealing, robbing the poor to feed the rich were far bigger moral infractions than *** ever was! They need to get out of politic's and garnering political power! Start focusing on the corruption within their own groups (and it has gotten rampant)! From what I have been able to see these people are not remotely moral! They need to learn the defination of the word and start practicing what they preach!

[bluestardad]

Where is Mark Foley? Why is he not in Jail? He solicited underage children for fornication. Why has he not been charged? Why is he permitted to roam free after his 30 days in Rehab? Is there a different standard for child predators if they are from Congress? If he were on Dateline NBC he would have been arrested. Please let us know and take action, the American People are watching.

I wonder if this is Al Sharpton's way of refuting charges by Juan Williams that he is a phony, everything is about racism leader. If he is, then good, we need someone to really address issues as Juan Williams said, not spout the whiteman this and the whiteman that. Let's hope Sharpton Stays The Course

by the way, if you're an american citizen, what's wrong with bringing along your ID to prove it? That's nothing like being stalked by KKK and told that you'd be killed if you voted...come on.

[jn122736]

In my opinion requiring photo ID is wrong for many reasons.
1. it is absolutely akin to voter taxing.
2. it is a serious handicap on some voters.
3. who checks the photos and says "OK" this is you now you can vote? (How many photos have you seen that don't look very much like the actual person?)
4. they do not apply to absentee voters anyway.==

If the government dictates you must have a photo ID they

[jn122736]

Continued, should have to furnish them free at the place of registration whether it be at the county clerks office or a photo of the voter taken by any person or group registering them and then the county clerk or what ever agency is responsible for keeping registered voter records shoud mail the required photo to the newly registered voter.

[phatcrayonz]

i actually agree with rev. sharpton. we need to focus on the real issues.

of course that is said every election and still no change occurs.

[marcelde]

B USH AND R USH BOTH LOVE TO G USH

THEIR NAMES THE SAME
WE SPELL IT %u201CLAME%u201D

THEY PREACH AND SCOLD
THEIR LIES ARE OLD
WE DON%u2019T BELIEVE
ONE THING THEY%u2019VE TOLD

ITS UP TO USH
TO MAKE THEM SHUSH

CAUSE WHAT THEY GUSH
SHOULD MAKE THEM BLUSH

BUT LET%u2019S NOT HUSH
THAT ONE%u2019S A LUSH

THEY%u2019LL MAKE A FUSH
AND TALK PURE MUSH

SO KISH MY TUSH,
PILL POPPIN RUSH!