Mixing Religion and Politics: A holy task Rev. Dr. George Regas Wednesday, November 15, 2006 7:30pm, Beckman Institute Auditorium, Caltech This event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Listen to a recording of this event (roughly 40MB MP3 file).

"The IRS has gone after All Saints Church, where I served as Rector for 28 years, for a sermon I preached before the 2004 Presidential election. They say this anti-war sermon was political intervention in favor of Senator Kerry. Since I stated I was not endorsing a candidate, this position of the IRS is one which implies the pulpit is not free to speak truth to power, to be critical of positions taken by the administration. My address attempts to address these critical issues." -- Rev. Dr. George F. Regas

Biography

Dr. Regas is a dominant voice for peace and justice in the United States. For three decades, Dr. Regas served as Rector of All-Saints Church. This dynamic and culturally diverse congregation was highly active, under the leadership of Dr. Regas, in its opposition to the Vietnam War, the escalating nuclear arms race, the covert Central America wars, and both the Gulf Wars I and II. During his 28 years of service with the church, Dr. Regas established the largest AIDS service center in the San Gabriel Valley; supervised the creation of the Young & Healthy Program, which serves uninsured and under-insured children; and established the homeless shelter, Union Station.

In 1998, Dr. Regas founded The Regas Institute. The Institute is dedicated to the study and examination of Progressive Religion that seeks to counter the dominance of the Religious Right. The Regas Institute seeks to organize and advocate locally and nationally for a Progressive Religion that speaks and acts on both economic and racial justice, as well as gender equality, gay justice and reproductive choice.

Following the September 11, 2001 tragedy, George Regas established an interfaith group in Greater Los Angeles called Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace. Its theme: "Religion Must Stop Blessing War and Violence." ICUJP has played a significant role in Southern California advocating for peace and seeking to be an alternative voice to the war on terrorism.