Evangelical quits after gay-union uproar

A top official for the National Association of Evangelicals resigned Thursday after his earlier remarks favoring same-sex unions caused an uproar among evangelicals.

The Rev. Richard Cizik, the NAE’s vice president for governmental affairs for 28 years, stepped down after protests over a Dec. 2 interview on National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” show with Terry Gross.

During the 20-minute interview, he criticized former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin for a lack of humilty, affirmed civil unions for gay adults and mentioned “the inescapable loss of clout” of evangelicals within the Republican Party.

“Two years ago,” Miss Gross said, “you said you were still opposed to gay marriage. But now as you identify more and more with the younger voters and their priorities, have you changed on gay marriage?”

Mr. Cizik responded, “I’m shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say I believe in civil unions. I don’t officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don’t think.”

He also said he voted for President-elect Barack Obama in the Virginia primary because “I happen to think in the primary, it was the best choice.” He would not divulge who he voted for in November.

In other remarks during the interview, he talked about the environment and suggested that the U.S. government could supply contraceptives to the public.

“Wait, wait. I think I heard you say government supplying contraception. That’s got to be controversial among evangelicals,” Miss Gross said.

“Among some it may be, but I don’t think so,” Mr. Cizik said. “We are not, as I have said previously, we are not Catholics, who oppose contraception per se.”

A statement released Thursday by NAE President Leith Anderson said Mr. Cizik’s responses “did not appropriately represent the values and convictions of NAE and our constituents. Although he has subsequently expressed regret, apologized and affirmed our values, there is a loss of trust in his credibility as a spokesperson among leaders and constituents.”

Formed in 1942, the organization represents 45,000 churches in 60 denominations.

The NAE board waited to oust Mr. Cizik because he was attending a conference in Paris after the NPR interview and was not available for consultation. As reaction to the NPR interview grew, Mr. Anderson released a Dec. 5 statement, saying, “Our NAE stand on marriage, abortion and other biblical values is long, clear and unchanged.

“He and I have recently met together and mutually concluded that his resignation is a difficult but appropriate decision,” Mr. Anderson wrote.

A call to Mr. Cizik for comment Thursday was not returned.

He has been in trouble previously with his evangelical confreres about his views. More than two dozen evangelical leaders tried to get him fired last year because of his activism on global warming.