2006年VOA标准英语-Experts: Republican Party Losing Hold on Christ

By Leta Hong Fincher
Washington, DC
26 October 2006
 
watch Politics & Religion
 

Evangelical organizations worried about conservative discontent with the Republican Party are rallying their followers¹ to vote in November's midterm elections. At the same time, new, progressive Christian² groups are reaching out to religious voters from the left. Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service is investigating alleged³ church involvement in partisan⁴ activities. 

--

They call themselves "values voters" -- Christian conservatives who helped secure Republican President George Bush's victory in the 2004 election. But this year, many "values voters" appear unmotivated to turn out on Election Day.

Christian conservatives complain Republicans in Congress have not lived up to their commitments on issues such as restricting abortion⁵ or banning gay marriage.

Reverend Louis Sheldon is head of the Traditional Values Coalition⁶, a lobbying group in Washington D.C. that represents tens of thousands of churches. "They [Republicans] have overlooked what the base is and they've walked away from it."

Even before the sex scandal involving former Republican Congressman⁷ Mark Foley, political analysts⁸ say religious conservative support for the Republicans had waned⁹.

John Green is an expert on religion and U.S. politics at the Pew Forum¹⁰ on Religion and Public Life in Washington D.C. "There's some real question as to whether Christian conservative voters will be as enthusiastic as they were in past elections for a whole variety of reasons, not the least of it being the decline in President Bush's popularity. So the leaders of Christian conservative organizations want to make a real effort to make sure that those folks are enthusiastic and turn out to vote in large numbers."

One way to ensure conservative voter turnout is to rally opposition¹¹ against same-sex marriage. 

Tony Perkins is head of the conservative Family Research Council, which recently sponsored a summit of almost 2,000 "values voters" in Washington D.C.  Topics included how to get church voters to the polls and how to persuade pastors¹² to preach a social conservative agenda.                         

"We see America on this collision course between religious freedoms and the homosexual agenda. At their core these are spiritual battles that we're engaged in. And we need America's spiritual leaders to be at the forefront of this fight."

Critics argue voter-turnout drives sponsored by the religious right violate tax law, which says churches cannot endorse¹³ or oppose candidates for public office.

Reverend Barry Lynn is head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Lynn's group recently mailed letters to more than 100,000 churches in 11 states warning them against getting involved in political campaigns. "Houses of worship cannot become cogs in anyone's political machine."

The Internal Revenue Service has stepped up investigations¹⁴ into alleged church involvement in partisan activities. In a recent case, the I.R.S. issued a summons to the liberal All Saints Church in the western state of California, over a sermon denouncing the war in Iraq days before the 2004 election. 

Still, the I.R.S. actions appear to have had little effect on efforts by the right or the left to woo religious voters. New, progressive organizations have emerged to challenge the religious right on moral values.

The liberal evangelical magazine Sojourners has distributed tens of thousands of voter guides called "Voting God's Politics." The brochures discuss issues such as helping¹⁵ the poor, global warming, and withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Jim Wallis is editor of Sojourners and a founding member of the liberal group, Red Letter Christians¹⁶. "The monologue¹⁷ of the religious right is finally over and a new dialogue has just begun. That's good news for the churches, and I think for politics, and really for both parties."

That may be wishful thinking, according to religion and politics expert Green. He says, despite Christian conservative disaffection with the Republican Party, the religious left lacks the organizational power of the religious right--at least for the moment. "After all, religious conservatives spent about 40 years figuring out how to do politics effectively, and they've really become very good at it. So it may take a little while for progressives and liberals to reach to the same level of organization."

Green adds many religious moderates have not yet decided¹⁸ which party they will support in the elections. And they, too, will help determine who wins in November.

1 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

5 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 waned   

v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• However,my enthusiasm waned.The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. 然而，我的热情减退了。我在做操上花的时间逐渐减少了。 来自《用法词典》
• The bicycle craze has waned. 自行车热已冷下去了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

11 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

12 pastors   

n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers? 我们有没有尊敬牧师、宣教士，以及主日学的老师？ 来自互联网
• Should pastors or elders be paid, or serve as a volunteer? 牧师或长老需要付给酬劳，还是志愿的事奉呢？ 来自互联网

13 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

14 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

15 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

16 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

17 monologue   

n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白

参考例句：

• The comedian gave a long monologue of jokes.喜剧演员讲了一长段由笑话组成的独白。
• He went into a long monologue.他一个人滔滔不绝地讲话。

18 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。