The Beginning of the End of the Religious Right?

In his article The Beginning of the End of the Religious Right? Cal Thomas discusses what he notes to be the decline of the religious right in terms of political potency. Specifically, he mentions the aging Dr. D. James Kennedy and his closing of The Center for Reclaiming America, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Thomas argues that Dr. Kennedy represents a generation of religious leaders, now fading away from the political stage, who have guided their followers astray, away from the primary message of religion. He states that since their return to the political arena in the 1960‘s, the religious right has yet to make lasting accomplishments in America due to its focus on politics rather than the ideas and values that form Christianity.
The author does not seem to be questioning the future of the religious right as the title suggests, but rather indicts the religious right with allowing political interests to blur the lines of purpose and meaning in Christianity. Concerning a return to its core focus by the religious right, Thomas says, “One hopes that will be preaching the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ, unencumbered by the allures of the political kingdoms of this world, because that is where the greatest power lies to transform lives and ultimately nations. It does not lie in the Republican Party…” In an effort to appear neutral he also accuses the “Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons” of forsaking their messages of faith in God for messages of faith in the Democratic Party. He is condemning the way religious leaders on both sides have become so intricately involved with politics.
Thomas goes on to explicitly state specific areas where the religious right has gone wrong, and the alternatives he believes are necessary. Of religious leaders he says, “…too much attention has been paid to individual personalities, rather than to the One these preachers had originally been called to exalt.” Of issues like poverty, environment, and social injustice he argues, “Politics can never completely cure the ills of any of these, but the message Christians bring about salvation and redemption can.” Here it becomes blatantly obvious where his allegiance lies. He is writing not necessarily as conservative but as a Christian sympathizing with conservatives, who believes the teachings of the Bible are what the religious right should truly follow if they wish to affect American politics. In his closing Thomas states that, “The new doors can produce a more effective politics, if what's on the other side is based on a message that has less to do with partisanship and more to do with the One who transcends all politics…” It is very clear that he hopes the religious right does indeed adopt this way of thinking and achieve political influence by this means. He does not want the religious right out of politics, he wants them to be motivated by their religion rather than by power.