---

Group decries mixing religion and politics
FORT WORTH, Texas - (KRT) - A growing number of theologians, ministers and citizens are taking issue with statements made by evangelical Christian leaders suggesting that God has chosen sides in the presidential election.

An advertisement published in The New York Times to coincide with the Republican National Convention begins, "God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat."

As of Friday, more than 59,000 people have pledged support for the advertisement, according to Sojourners, a Christian Internet magazine that helped sponsor the ad. A Sojourners spokeswoman said the magazine did not ask for supporters' political affiliations.

The advertisement quotes Pat Robertson saying that God told him President Bush would win the election "like a blowout." It quotes Jerry Falwell, saying it is the responsibility of evangelical Christians, pro-life Catholics, traditional Jews and Reagan Democrats to re-elect Bush.

The advertisement has also run in newspapers in Falwell's and Robertson's hometowns....