Storm troopers in the culture war - Promise Keepers; includes related articles on the new Christian right and the pledges of of Promise Keeper - Cover Story

Humanist, Sept-Oct, 1997 by John M. Swomley

Carter is also concerned about the "men only" aspect of Promise Keepers. "In communities of color, survival has depended on men and women working in partnership toward a vision of self-determination and leadership," she said. Actually, in today's society, the overwhelming number of working-class families survive only because both husband and wife work outside the home and require partnership, not domination, in household activities.

Sensitive to such criticism, PK leaders have been talking recently about men "serving" their families, but they have not changed their patriarchal emphasis or their determination to prevent equal rights for women. A good illustration of this is the way they solicit support from and pander to male pastors while excluding women pastors from clergy events.

Instead of insisting on an equal participation of women and men in the family, Promise Keepers uses gimmicks at stadium events to indicate that, while men remain in charge, they also serve. In Buffalo this past June, PK arranged for a Des Moines, Iowa, psychologist to wash the feet of his wife and two daughters on stage. That event, which is not likely to be repeated frequently in Buffalo homes, was publicized in the Buffalo News. The local newspaper, however, ignored a warning by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence -- which represents more than thirteen hundred battered women's groups as well as state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions -- that PK's emphasis on men regaining `rightful' control of the family" threatens to undermine "years of hard work to change outdated laws and social attitudes." One conference speaker, the Reverend David Castro, did make passing mention of such issues in his altar call for the confession of sexual "sin," but there was no significant emphasis or subsequent media notice.

In Buffalo and at other stadium events, sex was promoted as one of the leading problems facing men, and this theme was reiterated throughout PK conferences and materials. Sex has always been profitable, either as an industry or as a means for frightening people into joining some moralistic movement. And Promise Keepers is certainly making its money. It not only charges fees of $60 to $70 to enter a stadium event but sells books, tapes, clothing, food, and other items. In the public inspection copy of its 1996 Internal Revenue tax return, PK lists $16,413,431 as gross sales of such inventory and a total revenue of $87,419,179. Savings and cash investments are shown at $8,309,138 and inventories it could sell at $4,187,354. A few of its leaders made salaries over $80,000. Its president received $132,512 plus benefits and expenses.

As a nonprofit organization, PK claims that none of its funds are used, directly or indirectly, for political purposes. But, this only means that it has not engaged in partisan politics or the support of candidates; it does not mean that it refrains from taking stands on or promoting positions on issues like abortion, homosexuality, and related far-right hot buttons.