Contact: Diane Morrow, 800-927-1517; Tracy McCarter, 800-927-0517 ext 109

DALLAS/FT. WORTH, Texas, Jan. 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- For most secular Americans, the word "evangelical" brings a certain image to mind: a Christian who is anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-environmentalist, anti-gun control, pro-war, and, above all, a registered Republican. In recent years, a growing number of evangelicals have become fed up with this characterization, resenting both the myopic emphasis on abortion and gay rights, to the exclusion of all other issues, by the Religious Right and the tactics the group uses to accomplish their political objectives. In his new book, Red Letter Christians (February 2008, Regal), Campolo presents a different political roadmap for the evangelical community, one based directly on the radical vision contained in the words of Christ, traditionally denoted in red letters in several previous versions of the Bible.

Campolo is a prolific author, ordained minister, and Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. David's, Pennsylvania. He is a regular media commentator on religious, social, and political matters, having appeared on television programs like The Colbert Report, Nightline, Crossfire, Politically Incorrect, The Charlie Rose Show, Larry King Live, CNN Dayside, CNN News, and MSNBC News. For the past several decades, he has become famous (and, in some circles, infamous) for exposing the American church's failure to pursue justice for suffering people—both in this country and around the world.

"Some leading evangelical spokespersons focus almost all their attention on preventing gay marriages and overturning past Court rulings on abortion. While these are biblically important issues, there are more than 2,000 verses of Scripture that call us to express love and justice for those who are poor and oppressed," Campolo states. Red Letter Christians, while recognizing the great importance of the "hot-button issues," embrace a broad range of social concerns, giving special attention to legislation that alleviates poverty and injustice and provides hope for the oppressed."

In Red Letter Christians, readers will discover:

• Why Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat
• A Red Letter Christian's voting guide
• The problem of partisan politics
• The importance of being politically active

Red Letter Christians offers a progressive perspective on a list of topics ranging from abortion and gay rights to Palestine, immigration, the environment, gun control, and the national debt. Any reader, Christian or otherwise, would stand to gain from considering Campolo's innovative, controversial suggestions. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, Red Letter Christians will make you think and act.