The right-wing revival show comes to Philadelphia.
By Max Kardon
Photos by Zachary Gabrielski, Temple University
Monday January 9, 2006
The right-wing Family Research Council’s Justice Sunday III kicked off with stirring gospel music and quickly segued into equally stirring accusations of "judicial tyranny" and American Civil Liberties Union activism. The 90-minute event, which a FRC spokeswoman specifically claimed was "not an endorsement for [Supreme Court Nominee Samuel] Alito," nonetheless blasted a particularly loud trumpet for the prospective new justice, whose confirmation hearings began Monday.
Conservative Christian all stars Rick Santorum, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, and several others appeared at Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia. All spoke briefly to the crowd and to a national audience on SkyAngel TV and through live church simulcasts. Pastor Herbert Lusk and the FRC’s Tony Perkins were the default MCs for the high-energy evening.
All of the speakers painted a picture of an America under siege from activist judges and hostage to the left-wing agenda of the Supreme Court over the last 60 years. The liberal excesses of the Rehnquist court came under particularly harsh fire, especially Lawrence vs. Texas, which struck down a state law banning consensual sex between members of the same gender.
In a sermon laced with political overtones, Dr. Falwell told the heavily African-American congregation that he wished his "grandkids could grow up in the same America that I did." He notably failed to mention whether that includes the Jim Crow segregation laws that were prevalent in the America he grew up in. Dr. Dobson used his time to rally the crowd against what he referred to as "Nazi-esque partial birth abortion.” He described in great detail doctors "sucking out the brains" of fetuses "brimming with life."
Senator Santorum also came down hard on abortion and what he charged was the liberal agenda of the federal judiciary. Claiming that modern-day judges had overstepped the bounds envisioned by the founding fathers, he added, "[Thomas] Jefferson’s nightmares have come true." Several speakers made heavy use of the rhetoric of the civil rights era and struggles for freedom worldwide. Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led the congregation in chants of "We Shall Overcome."
Later in the evening, images of her uncle were projected on a giant screen.
The protestors massed outside the church on Broad Street remained peaceful, if occasionally loud. Many of the assembled took pains to point out that Greater Exodus Baptist Church received one of President Bush’s faith-based "matching grants," which will match funds raised by the church. They reported no conflict with the police or those attending.
Congregants at the church were proud of the event and the exposure – several invited this correspondent back to services next week.
Reverend Jerry Falwell reminisces over the America that was – racist, homophobic and sexist.
Philadelphians showed the religious right-wingers that they wouldn’t go unanswered.
Senator Rick Santorum also spoke about American history, the founding fathers and the Constitution – which he described in language normally used for the Bible. Santorum believes the Constitution is under attack because the Supreme Court has interpreted it expansively in recent years. His fundamentalist interpretation treats the Constitution as literal Holy Scripture rather than a living document.
Max Kardon graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003 and recently returned from a year teaching English in Thailand.