Richard Cizik (photo: National Association of Evangelicals)

An influential evangelical leader is coming under fire for saying in a National Public Radio interview he believes in homosexual civil unions and that Christians who oppose same-sex marriage and abortion may still find reasons to support Obama.

Richard Cizik is chief lobbyist and vice president for governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, representing 45,000 U.S. churches from 59 denominations. He told NPR Dec. 2 he is "shifting" on "gay" marriage, he has an aversion to Sarah Palin and that he voted for Obama in the Virginia primary, LifeNews reported.

"I happen to think in the primary he was the best choice," Cizik said.

Cizik refused to reveal which candidate received his vote in the general election, but in a September interview with the Colorado Independent, Cizik expressed disapproval of John McCain's campaign. McCain "is not the John McCain of 2000. ... He seems to be waffling on issue after issue," he said.

Cizik told NPR a candidate's character and party values are more significant to him than specific issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

"It would be possible for evangelicals to disagree with Barack Obama on same sex marriage and abortion and yet vote for him."

Cizik, named one of Time's most influential people, called Palin's stance on the environment "ignorance." He also said she lacked humility, unlike Obama. Prior to the election, he told the Independent, "Not everyone in the evangelical movement is fawning over Sarah Palin."

(Story continues below)

When NPR asked Cizik about whether his views could change on "gay" marriage, he said, "I'm shifting I have to admit. In other words I would willingly say that I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don't think."

According to the report, Cizik suggested Christians should redirect their focus away from the debate about "gay" marriage.

"Maybe we need to reevaluate this and look at it a little differently," he told NPR. "I'm always looking for ways to reframe issues. Give the biblical point of view a different slant."

Ingrid Schlueter, co-host of Crosstalk Radio, said Cizik appears to be more concerned with appeasing NPR's listeners than supporting Christian principles.

"As an adoptive parent of two children given life by their birth mothers, I find it abhorrent that Mr. Cizik would sanction Christian support for the most radically pro-abortion president in the history of the nation," she said. "The moral anarchy in America worsens daily largely due to the refusal of evangelical Christians to stand for biblical truth in all areas of life. Those who are at war with God, the author of life, should be publicly confronted by evangelical Christians. Instead, they are aided and abetted in their evil by craven leaders like Cizik."

---

Related offers:

"The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised as Freedom"

"The Gay Agenda: It's Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation"

"See how Americans and their Constitution have been betrayed by judge-made law"

---

Previous stories:

Supremes Talk show terminated after Prop 8 discussion

Supremes to review 'gay' lawsuits against Prop. 8

Watch church lady meet same-sex 'marriage' protesters

Watch sparks fly as 'gay' activist mob swarms Christians

'Gays' demand endorsement of lifestyle

School holds surprise 'Gay' Day for kindergartners

School takes 1st-graders to see lesbian teacher wed

'Gay' marriage battle goes to kindergarten

'Bride,' 'groom' can't marry in California

County surrenders in same-sex marriage war

Counties to Supreme Court on 'gay' marriage: Drop dead

'Gay' rights group to Supremes: Don't let people vote

It's voters vs. black robes in November

County clerks urged to ignore same-sex marriage ruling

'Gay' marriage ruling to spark lawsuits nationwide

Whoa! Marriage laws aren't changed – yet

Supremes asked to give voters a chance

City clerk suing not to wed 'gays'

California battle over same-sex marriage not over

Black robes trash traditional marriage

California's 'judicial fiat' condemned – by judge

Plan pushes for last step in eliminating marriage

Court asked to protect 1-man, 1-woman marriage

Pro-marriage groups: 'Don't trust courts!'

Gov. Arnold 'terminates' man-and-woman marriage plan

Gov. Arnold says 'marriage' can be terminated

California handing out marriage privileges

'Marriage' to become museum piece

Homosexual marriage minces west to California

Court will decide if California voters were right

Vote or pay us damages, group tells lawmakers

7 more states say no to 'gay marriage'

Same-sex rulings will 'echo' across U.S.

Senate rejects 'gay marriage' ban

California Senate OKs 'gay' marriage

Mayor faces trial for same-sex marriages

60% of polled Americans: No homosexual marriage

It's 'gay' marriage in Massachusetts

Poll: Massachusetts opposes 'gay' marriage

'Gay' marriage ruling's consequences 'dire'

'Gay' marriage ban struck down in Massachusetts

Bush to block 'gay' marriage

Poll suggests backlash on 'gay' issues

Court strikes down Texas sodomy law

Supreme Court hears 'right to sodomy' case

High court to give 'gays' their own 'Roe'?