Faithful America

What is Faithful America?
History
Contact Us
Press Inquiries

What is Faithful America?

Faithful America is an online community of tens of thousands of citizens motivated by faith to take action on the pressing moral issues of our time. We come from diverse faith traditions but share a unifying commitment: to restore community and uphold the common good in America and across the globe. In service this core commitment, we seek to:

end poverty and promote economic security for all
promote peace and restore America's commitment to human rights and diplomacy
prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change
counter hate speech and misinformation in the media pertaining to people of faith
work for welcoming communities where immigrants and people of all faiths are welcome

By speaking out, mobilizing and taking action in the public square, we are building a powerful grassroots movement to put justice and the common good back at the center of the American values debate. At this critical juncture, when our actions or inaction will have profound and permanent global consequences, our faiths demand nothing less.

History

Faithful America was founded on June 15, 2004, when Americans of faith raised $100,000 to place an advertisement on Arabic-language satellite television expressing regret to Muslims for the abuse committed by Americans at Abu Ghraib prison.

The advertisement said:

A Salaam A'alaykum ["Peace be with you" in Arabic]. As Americans of faith, we express our deep sorrow at abuses committed in Iraqi prisons. We stand in solidarity with all those in Iraq and everywhere who demand justice and human dignity. We condemn the sinful and systemic abuses committed in our name, and pledge to work to right these wrongs."

Since its foundation, Faithful America has mobilized its tens of thousands of members to take action on issues ranging from poverty to health care to Iraq. Our campaigns have provided African children with malaria-preventing mosquito nets, gathered thousands of signatures on petitions to the White House, and enabled thousands of people of faith to lobby their elected representatives in Washington to make moral decisions on issues from Guantanamo to Darfur.

Strategic advice from Res Publica and True Majority helped Faithful America establish itself as a valuable source for faith-based online activism. Faithful America was previously hosted by the National Council of Churches in Christ (NCCC). In August 2007 Faith in Public Life became host of this vibrant online community.

Faith in Public Life (FPL) is a communications and organizing resource center dedicated to helping faith leaders reclaim the values debate in America for justice, compassion, and the common good. FPL increases the strength and visibility and faith movements with cutting-edge media and infrastructure-building strategies. FPL's website, www.faithinpubliclife.org is a valuable resource to activists, faith leaders and journalists, with an active blog and daily news clips from media outlets around the country.

Contact Us

Faithful America
c/o Faith in Public Life
1101 Vermont Avenue, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 435-0260
admin@faithfulamerica.org

Press Inquiries

Katie Barge and Dan Nejfelt
(202) 435-0260
dan@faithfulamerica.org

Faithful America Relaunches!

Welcome to the new Faithful America, redesigned and relaunched! Faithful America is now operated by Faith in Public Life -- a resource center for faith leaders dedicated to reclaiming the values debate in America. We could not be more thrilled to take action together in the weeks and months ahead. Together, we can make a difference.

Questions? Ideas for campaigns? Contact us. We are all in this together.

Now, let's get to work!

--Katie, Jen, Dan, Beth, and Ron

Out-polling the Exit Polls

New poll demonstrates political diversity of evangelical voters

February 19, 2008 -- Faith in Public Life and the Center for American Progress Action Fund commissioned a poll in two Super Tuesday states, Missouri and Tennessee, to demonstrate what our television network pollsters are missing. Their poll, released last week, showed:

One-third of all white evangelical voters in both states participated in the Democratic primaries.

There were 160,000 evangelical Democratic voters in Missouri and 180,000 evangelical Democratic voters in Tennessee. That's as many or more than all African American voters, all voters over 65, or all voters who said the Iraq war is the most important issue facing the country in those states.

Majorities of evangelical voters in both states support a broader issue agenda that goes beyond abortion and same-sex marriage to include ending poverty, protecting the environment, and tacking HIV/AIDS.

Click here for full analysis at progressiveandreligious.org.

News outlets are picking up the story...

Peter Steinfels column, New York Times, "Evangelical Democrats, Exit Polls and a Matter of Balance", 2/2/08

Washington Post, "The Invisible Primary Voter: Evangelical Democrats", 1/9/08

Chicago Tribune, "WWED: What will evangelicals do?" 2/13/08

Jefferson City News Tribune (Missouri), "Poll finds evangelicals vote in both parties", 2/12/08

Can you sign the Faithful America petition asking the media pollsters to stop stereotyping people of faith?

The petition says: "The presidential primary exit polls, sponsored by ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox and the AP, must stop stereotyping people of faith. We call on the media pollsters to ask all voters -- Republicans and Democrats -- the same religion questions on the exit poll surveys."

We will deliver the petition with your name and comments to the networks' pollsters in the next two weeks -- before the March 4 primaries in Texas and Ohio.