Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 19:50:37 +0100
From: Richard Bos <Richard.Bos-AT-hagcott.meganet.co.uk>
Subject: Re: A Changing Labor Movement  and the condescending saviours


Carl Davidson wrote:
> 
> First, the church
> is not monolithic, the most obvious split between the proto-
> fascist Christian right on one hand, and the liberal and
> Black church on the others. Moreover, it's just weird to
> see the conditions in the U.S. with a working class on the
> verge of radical upheaval with a church hierarchy ordering
> in minions to enter the fray with waterbuckets to put
> out the fires. If anything, the masses of religious people
> on the progressive side of the spectrum in recent decades
> have probably been more active and more advanced in their
> thinking than the labor movement.  This priest in my hometown,
> Aliquippa, Pa. who was active in the fight to save the pensions
> of steelworkers from the shutdown plants, usually had his
> political views and tactics rendered more moderate by the
> influence of the workers involved. It's equally off base
> to see this motion as something instigated by the church
> hierarchy. In most cases I know of, the local clergy active
> in the struggle are going against the tide and are viewed
> quite cautiously, if not with disfavor, by the higher ups.
> Carl Davidson, Chicago
> 
> 
> Keep On Keepin' On
> 

Marxists need all the allies they can get. I think that humanitarian 
caring Christians, Moslems, and others can help us in our struggle. We 
should not pretend that we do not have real differences, but there are 
many radical religious people who would go a long way down the road with 
us.

-- 
Best wishes,

Richard.                     
      New Worker Online http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2853




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