I remember attending a progressive/public service-oriented leadership conference two years ago where I had the opportunity to momentarily step out of my San Francisco bubble and interact with other young people around the country. As usual, I engaged in dialogue with other service-oriented idealists about the need to wake up government and inspire action among our less active young counterparts. As the participants and myself got to know each other more, the seem to be quite receptive to, if not in awe of, my Bay Area background. While hailing from "liberal utopia" sat well with my colleagues, many appeared puzzled by my religious affiliation.

"Did you say you were Catholic? Well, you're not like other church people I know."

My family and I have been active members/ministers at our church in San Francisco. It was through my church that I became increasingly aware not only of the injustices facing our community i.e. naturalization/immigration barriers, equity for Filipino WWII veterans (or rather, the slow response to equity), tenants' rights, homelessness, among other socioeconomic issues. Moreover, it was through church that I not only learned about these issues, but also about the biblical call to respond to these issues. Evangelization is not about condemning the world and knocking people over the head with a bible. Instead, there is a call to preach our faith through our actions: loving and taking care of God's creation, including the environment and its inhabitants.

Now what place does this faith talk have in the progressive movement, let alone the YP4 blog?

My passion for the progressive movement stems from personal experience and my moral compass. I did not choose to become part of the progressive movement because it seemed "cool." The need to challenge the status quo and recognize the humanity of others are progressive ideals that are inherently linked to my faith.

I realize the role of faith/religion doesn't receive much open discussion in progressive conferences, but this doesn't mean there aren't any people of faith in the progressive movement. In fact, history shows that the progressive movement is painted with numerous examples of social activists motivated by their faith: Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, and Ghandi. So why not talk about faith in the progressive movement?

The first time I met Senator Barack Obama was in 2006 when he gave he received an award for his work in integrating his faith with social justice. Here's a link to his speech:

http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal/