what about a Christian Democratic Party of America?

[pres2032]

I've read enough posts on here and other forums on DU and heard from enough people in the real world that liberal christians certianly don't fit in the reublican party and it's really coming to pass that we also don't really fit in the democratic party either.

what do you think the possibility is of forming a Christian Democratic Party of America, similiar to the one in Germany. It would embrace progressive thinking with an emphasis on social programs. People of all religious beleifs would be welcome and unlike the democratic party, it would be ok to be pro-life. I think a Christian Democratic Party would pull a lot of christians who are progressive in their thinking, but always vote republican because of our only pro-choice stance.

what do you think?

[Frogtutor]

1. It does sound intriguing...

But with the dominance of the two major parties in our political system, I don't know that it would ever stand a chance. And worse, it might divide the Democratic voters giving more power to the Republicans.

I think I would rather work to convince people that it's ok to be pro-life and still vote Democratic; that when you weigh the virtues of each party, the Democratic party, even with the albatross of the abortion issue, still comes out ahead.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. The difference between here and Germany is that

at the time the Christian Democrats were founded (just after WWII), almost everyone in Germany was officially Christian, whether they practiced the religion or not, due to the state church system they have there and due to the fact that the Jews had all left or been killed. Almost everyone living in Germany at the time "qualified," although most of the party members were actually Catholic.

In today's Germany, with its large Muslim population and more secular society, founding a party with such a name would probably give the impression that it was anti-Muslim, since there's a lot of prejudice against the Turks and other Middle Eastern immigrants.

In today's America, starting a political party with a name like "Christian Democrats" would immediately alienate and exclude Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, atheists, and all sorts of other people.

Non-Christians might interpret the name as meaning that the fundamentalists were trying to take over the Democrats as well as the Republicans.

It would be better for liberal Christians to work within existing parties that are open to all Americans.