More than 40 religious and civil rights groups, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and American Baptist Churches USA wrote a withering letter to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann condemning her allegations that high-level U.S. government officials have connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Video courtesy of Jim Graves for Congress

Catholic Bishops and Others Protest Bachmann Allegations over Muslims in Government

By Kevin Diaz

July 26, 2012

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and 41 other religious and civil rights groups wrote to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann Thursday to protest her allegations connecting high level U.S. government officials to the Muslim Brotherhood.

“We write to raise our voices in protest,” the groups said in a letter to Bachmann and four Republican colleagues who have joined her effort.

Bachmann, who requested that Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin be investigated, has run into a torrent of criticism from Democrats as well as some prominent Republicans in Congress. She has ignored calls for apologies, and instead has broadened her allegations by saying that Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison also has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Bachmann actions, the groups’ letter states, “question the loyalty of faithful Americans based on nothing more than their religious affiliations and what is at best tenuous evidence of their associations.

“As such,” the letter continues, “your actions have serious implications for religious freedom and the health of our democracy.”

A Bachmann spokesman said she had no comment.

Read letter to Bachmann and four others at Star Tribune “Hot Dish Politics” blog

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Related reports

Michele Bachmann’s Muslim Brotherhood claims condemned by Catholic bishops, 41 other groups (Amanda Terkel‎, Huffington Post, July 26, 2012)

Religious, secular groups decry Bachmann’s Muslim Brotherhood accusations (Catharine Richert, Minnesota Public Radio News, July 26, 2012)

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Related reports on this site

Bachmann Bears False Witness (Nov. 20, 2008)

Michele Bachmann ‘Lies in Christ’ (Aug. 31, 2009)

Catholics: Condemn Bachmann (Nov. 1, 2010)

Michele Bachmann Leaves ‘Antichrist’ Church (July 16, 2011)

Michele Bachmann’s Muslim Brotherhood Conspiracy (July 18, 2012)

Michele Bachmann’s Record of Reckless Conspiracy Theories (July 24, 2012)

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Recommended reading

The Muslims Are Everywhere! A Response to Michele Bachmann (Rabia Chaudry, Huffington Post, Aug. 2, 2012) — Ms. Bachmann, I want to apologize for doubting your claims, and I’m so sorry that everyone is ridiculing you, including pillars of your own party. … You’re right that we’re everywhere, and you’re right that many of us are guided by our Islamic faith. It’s estimated that by 2030 the number of Muslims in the U.S. will double so it’s only going to get worse. There are already a number of Muslim mayors in the U.S., soon there may be Muslim governors, and maybe one day even a Muslim president. And no, President Obama doesn’t count. … Full story