Top Evangelical lobbyist, Richard Cizik quits after telling NPR he’s shifting away from opposition to gay marriage
Terry Gross of NPR: As you identify more an more with the young [Evangelical] voters and their priorities, have you changed [your position] on gay marriage?
Richard Cizik of NAE: I’m shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willing say, I believe in Civil Unions. I don’t officially support redefining marriage from it’s traditional definition, I don’t think. We have this tension going on in the movement between what is Church-building and what is nation-building. And I lean in this spectrum, at times — maybe we should concentrate on building our values in our own movement.
We have become so absorbed in the question of gay rights and the rest that we fail to understand the challenges and threats to marriage itself — heterosexual marriage. Maybe we need to reevaluate this, and look at it a little differently. I’m always looking for ways to reframe issues, give the Biblical point of view a different slant, if you will.
Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals on the December 2 broadcast of NPR, responding to the “Fresh Air” host’s question if he’s still opposing gay marriage as he told her two years ago. During the interview, which has led to him reliquishing his position at the conservative Christian organization, he also strongly backed environmentalism which most Evangelical leaders oppose. (NPR)
“It was time for him to go. He no longer represents the view of evangelicalism. He has not represented those views for some time.”
Tom Minnery, of the anti-gay organization Focus on the Family responding to the resignation of Richard Cizik from the National Association of Evangelicals. (Associated Press)
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