[shuttertalk]

This article is an interesting read indeed, about the National Council of Churches USA, releasing "10 principles for evaluating candidates that it hopes all Christians from liberals to conservatives b will study and apply in this election year."

To summarise:

1. War is contrary to the will of God. While the use of violent force
may, at times, be a necessity of last resort, Christ pronounces his blessing
on the peacemakers. We look for political leaders who will make peace with
justice a top priority and who will actively seek nonviolent solutions to
conflict.
2. God calls us to live in communities shaped by peace and cooperation.
We reject policies that abandon large segments of our inner city and rural
populations to hopelessness. We look for political leaders who will re-build
our communities and bring an end to the cycles of violence and killing.
3. God created us for each other, and thus our security depends on the
well-being of our global neighbors. We look for political leaders for whom a
foreign policy based on cooperation and global justice is an urgent concern.
4. God calls us to be advocates for those who are most vulnerable in our
society. We look for political leaders who yearn for economic justice and who
will seek to reduce the growing disparity between rich and poor.
5. Each human being is created in the image of God and is of infinite
worth. We look for political leaders who actively promote racial justice and
equal opportunity for everyone.
6. The earth belongs to God and is intrinsically good. We look for
political leaders who recognize the earth's goodness, champion environmental
justice, and uphold our responsibility to be stewards of God's creation.
7. Christians have a biblical mandate to welcome strangers. We look for
political leaders who will pursue fair immigration policies and speak out
against xenophobia.
8. Those who follow Christ are called to heal the sick. We look for
political leaders who will support adequate, affordable and accessible health
care for all.
9. Because of the transforming power of God's grace, all humans are
called to be in right relationship with each other. We look for political
leaders who seek a restorative, not retributive, approach to the criminal
justice system and the individuals within it.
10. Providing enriched learning environments for all of God's children is
a moral imperative. We look for political leaders who will advocate for equal
educational opportunity and abundant funding for children's services

No 1 will definitely be strongly argued against in light of the US involvement with Iraq and Afghanistan...

I've always been undecided about no 7. with regards to illegal immigrants. On one had, we should love one another and lend a hand to someone in need; yet on the other hand, why should we allow people to "jump the queue", ahead of others who follow the proper processes?