Frank Schaeffer
In yesterday’s Huffington Post, Frank Schaeffer, the son of Francis Schaeffer, one of the more famous co-founders of the Religious Right wrote an editorial supporting the candidacy of Sen. Obama for the Presidency of the United States.
And, what an incredible journey it has been for Mr. Francis Schaeffer! From the son of one of the premier Evangelicals in the United States of America, and many parts of the world, to the Greek Orthodox Church. From the scion of one of the founders of the Religious Right to a registered independent who supports the Democratic candidate. From a person who made films on the philosophical development of the West to a person who writes about human rights, racism, and xenophobia. As a Latino, I particularly appreciate that last emphasis.
He has some punch lines that cut to the bone and yet are easily remembered. Of the Religious Right he says, “The Religious Right became a crude populist movement pitting the resentful rubes against the rest.” Of the Neo-Conservative movement he says, “Let’s be honest: the Neoconservative Movement is nothing more than an kill-all-the-Arabs, pro-Israel-at-any-cost, morally bankrupt lobby that actually turns out to be anti-Israel.” He spends the least time on Corporate Business Interests.
And yet, and yet, most of what he says will neither be read nor quoted, except by some folk out on the fringe of the left. The incredible anger displayed in this article is pure vitriol. Sulfuric acid would be no hotter than the words that pour from his pen. He judges; he insults; he rages; he destroys. Worst of all, he falls into the very sin that he decries, he stereotypes those with whom he disagrees as unthinking and uncaring people who are not concerned about their neighbor.
So, as a fellow Orthodox believer and a priest, I feel that I must call him to repentance. Not for his views, for his political analysis is often acute. No, rather, for his attitudes, his vitriol, and his stereotyping of others. St. Peter says to be angry but not sin. It is advice we all need to heed.
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