The Rev. Chuck Currie

Star Trek Demands Path out of the Darkness

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:35:47 -0700

My latest in The Huffington Post:

"Star Trek Into Darkness" does what Star Trek has always done best: holds up a mirror to the United States and asks, "Are we the moral people we want to be?"

Star Trek Demands Path out of the Darkness

Photo credit: http://www.startrekmovie.com

Support Measure 26-151 - Fluoridation - For Common Good

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:58:42 -0700

Portland has rarely witnessed a campaign as needlessly divisive as the fight over Measure 26-151, the effort to fluoridate the city’s water supply for the common good. I strongly support this effort and as ballots are out, and as many remain undecided, I want to take this one last chance to explain why.

Portland faces a dental health crisis that impacts our city’s children – and disproportionally impacts communities of color. Just compare Portland – which doesn’t fluoridate the water – and Seattle – which does. In the Portland Metro area, 21% of children suffer from untreated dental decay – a 40% increase over the Seattle area. The CDC calls fluoridation one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.

Opponents have questioned whether or not we really face a dental crisis. Some have suggested children can access free dental care at school or community clinics. The reality is quite different. Such care is scare and hard to access. In the social service agencies and churches that I’ve worked in for the past 26 years, I’ve seen plenty of people suffer from lack of adequate dental care. Fluoride won’t solve every problem – we do need a comprehensive solution to all our health care needs – but fluoridation will make a profound difference that is affordable now.

We also hear a lot about how fluoride is a chemical – a risk we just cannot afford – but fluoride is not, as one person wrote me, a by-product of nuclear waste. We already put chemicals in our water to destroy harmful bacteria. This is no different. Opponents have told me that fluoride will cause neurological damage, kill cats and dogs, and destroy plants. But every other American city that fluoridates is still standing. One of the primary financial backers of the anti-fluoride campaign is a doctor who has said HIV does not cause AIDS and tells parents not to vaccinate their children. Every major medical and dental group in the United States and Oregon has endorsed fluoridation because they know it is safe and beneficial.

Another funder of the anti-fluoride campaign is an out-of-state Tea Party group. The Tea Party believes strongly in personal choice (except regarding women's health care). We ought to be most concerned with the common good. That should be true on everything from gun control to fluoride. When you make a choice that leaves children in jeopardy what kind of choice is that? What are we saying to our city’s kids?

Portlanders should trust the medical community – along with equity groups – that have advanced fluoridation as a common sense public health measure that will help children and the elderly. Or we can give into fear. I think the world of Portland. We are a good and decent people, and good people can come to different conclusions on difficult issues.

So I hope you vote YES on 26-151, but however you vote I hope you consider the facts and don’t give into the fear, false science and push polls out there.

Rev. Chuck Currie

Why Judy Bright Supported Obamacare

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:23:22 -0700

My latest on The Huffington Post:

"Judy Bright -- a certified nurse midwife, advanced nurse practitioner, public health administrator and my mother -- died before she could take advantage of Obamacare, but as an advocate for public health and someone with a pre-existing condition, she knew the difference it would make for millions of Americans."

Why Judy Bright Supported Obamacare

Fix IRS; Citizens United

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:35:48 -0700

News that the IRS targeted conservative organizations for special review as part of the non-profit certification process is deeply concerning. It reminds me of the Bush-era IRS investigation of the United Church of Christ. The Obama Administration needs to quickly fix the problem but much of this is the messy result of the Citizens United court decision and thus the fix will require an overhaul of corrupt campaign finance laws. The Washington Post notes:

Campaign reform groups have been pressing the IRS for several years to conduct greater oversight of nonprofits formed in the wake of the Citizens United case, given that many have become heavily involved in elections.

“But this isn’t the type of enforcement we want,” said Paul Ryan, a senior counsel at the Campaign Legal Center. “We want nonpartisan, non-biased enforcement.”

Our government should work better than this. No one should be targed simply for their political views. At the same time, our election system should not be the rigged, corrupt system put in place by Citizens United.

Portland Faith Leaders Stand Up For 26-151 #YesFluoride

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:58:54 -0700

Portland faith leaders are standing up for 26-151 and Healthy Kids Healthy Portland because "one of our core principles is that the blessings of our community should be felt by all, not just a few." Fluoridation of our water will help our kids and entire city. The numbers have gotten slightly better but we still face a true crisis. Read the arguments in support of 26-151 at

http://web.multco.us/sites/default/files/elections/documents/multco_vp_26-151_for_2013-05.pdf.

Statement On The Death Of The Rev. Bob Edgar

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:44:12 -0700

I am terribly shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of The Rev. Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause and former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches. Bob was a personal friend of many years. In his different roles - minister, U.S. Congressman, advocate - he stood up for the voiceless and spoke truth to power. My prayers are with his family today as I give thanks to God for the life of Bob Edgar and for all the gifts of his ministry.

Psalm 23: Fear Not In The Valley | Reflecting On Our Week

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:28:45 -0700

Psalm 23: Fear Not In The Valley | Reflecting On Our Week from The Rev. Chuck Currie on Vimeo.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Pray For Boston, Support American Muslims

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:49:34 -0700

We continue to be shocked and deeply saddened as a national community as events unfold in Boston. There is still much that we do not know: including the motive of the terrorists. What we do know is that these violent attacks are attacks against all Americans and without excuse. Sadly, already there are people blaming all Muslims and attacks of retaliation have occurred. FOX News regular guest Erik Rush tweeted earlier this week concerning Muslims: "Yes, they're evil. Let's kill them all." All people of good faith - Christians, Jews and Muslims - must use this moment to support our nation and bring reconciliation. It is vital that we protect those unfairly targeted as our nation's authorities seek to bring those responsible for the Boston attacks to justice. We are better than the terrorists and we are better than those who would use this moment to divide our nation along religious lines with appeals to bigotry.

Sinful Senate Vote Compounds Newtown Tragedy

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:33:05 -0700

This morning in The Huffington Post I address the Senate's failure to address gun violence in America:

"The ability of a minority of in the U.S. Senate to block common sense gun violence prevention measures is a victory for the NRA, whose leadership has sided with criminals over the common good of our nation. The Senators who sided with the NRA's leadership have sinned."

Sinful Senate Vote Compounds Newtown Tragedy

Praying For Boston, America

chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:55:37 -0700

All Americans unite together in offering prayers and good thoughts for those impacted by the events that have occurred today at the Boston Marathon. We especially left up the injured, any who might have been killed, first responders, and our elected officials who must respond to whatever caused this. If this was an act of terrorism and not some sort of terrible accident those responsible must be held accountable. Right now we have many questions but the people of Boston must know that they have the love of all Americans.