Actually, one of the problems with it is (and possibly the reason that two other unions turned down the request to organize them) that the United Church has been working closely with the UAW and the unions in their social justice campaigns. To paraphrase the old British saying that the 'Anglican church is the Tory party at prayer', we can say that 'the United Church is social unionism at prayer', i.e. a continuing manifestation of the social gospel.
On a related note, there have been reports of a surge of enquiries since the election from ministers from I believe it is the Church of Christ (in any case the corresponding church in the US to the United Church here) about finding positions in the United Church in Canada. I don't know how significant this is or whether this is a direct response to the election of Bush or in response to the rise in religious fundamentalism in the US manifested in the election and its results.
Interesting times.
Paul P
ps. for those who have never watched Canadian TV ads, the "Only in Canada? Pity" subject line is taken from a series of ads for a brand of tea (only available in Canada) where upper-class British twits sit around sipping that tea, approvingly, and one says in a strong British accent, "Only in Canada, you say? Pity."
Charles Brown wrote:
There's a local that might help to develop a left counter to the right "moral" propaganda.
CB
^^^^^^
Only in Canada. Pity"
