Milwaukee Religious Leaders Denounce Christian Nationalism

Sunday, August 6th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

(By Corrinne Hess and Margaret Faust, Wisconsin Public Radio) Milwaukee religious leaders representing Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Roman Catholic and Unitarian congregations gathered Thursday to denounce the rise of Christian nationalism and its threat to democracy.   

According to Corrinne Hess and Margaret Faust with Wisconsin Public Radio, about 75 clergy from the Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope, or MICAH, launched the "We All Belong" campaign with a rally and march.

The event kicked off what will be a series of public gatherings leading up to the 2024 election to bring awareness to Christian nationalism, a once fringe point of view that is growing in acceptance.

Christian nationalism is the belief that America should be defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. A survey conducted in February by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution found that more than half of Republicans believe the country should adhere to the ideals of Christian nationalism or sympathize with those views.

That same survey found 15 percent of Democrats hold those beliefs. While it remains a minority opinion nationwide, the study also found correlations between people who hold Christian nationalist views and anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and patriarchal views.

"We cannot allow Christian nationalism to succeed in its efforts to privilege extremist versions of Christianity above other faiths in clear violation of the separation of church and state," said Janan Najeeb, chair of MICAH Religious Leaders Caucus and president of Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition. "We want democracy not theocracy."

The Rev. Dr. Dennis Jacobsen, one of the founding members of MICAH and a longtime Lutheran pastor, said the organization has been working on social justice issues for more than 30 years. He called Jan. 6 a "punch in the gut" to democracy and said since then, the growth of Christian nationalism has continued to be a threat.

"We can’t really function with integrity unless we challenge this threat to democracy and the freedom of religion in our country," Jacobsen said. "I’ve seen a real disturbing seduction, I think, of mostly well-intentioned Christians and, from my point of view, power-grabbing preachers and really cynical politicians for their own gain. That really is very dangerous to democracy.”

Jacobsen said he has worked in central-city Milwaukee churches with like-minded parishioners. But he said many of the clergy who attended Thursday's event have divided congregations. "I particularly respect those participating today who could be challenged hard at home," Jacobsen said.

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