Jewish Leader Blasts Right-Wing Activists
Saturday November 19, 2005
By KRISTEN HAYS
Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON (AP) - The leader of the largest branch of American Judaism blasted conservative religious activists in a speech Saturday, calling them ``zealots'' who claim a ``monopoly on God'' while promoting anti-gay policies akin to Adolf Hitler's.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the liberal Union for Reform Judaism, said ``religious right'' leaders believe ``unless you attend my church, accept my God and study my sacred text you cannot be a moral person.''
``What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God?'' he said during the movement's national assembly in Houston, which runs through Sunday.
The audience of 5,000 responded to the speech with enthusiastic applause.
Yoffie did not mention evangelical Christians directly, using the term ``religious right'' instead. In a separate interview, he said the phrase encompassed conservative activists of all faiths, including within the Jewish community...http://tinyurl.com/dum3l
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