Barack Obama
discussed Darfur, the Iraq war, gay rights, abortion, and
other issues on Tuesday with Christian leaders, including
conservatives who have been criticized for praising
the Democratic presidential candidate.
Bishop T.D.
Jakes, a prominent black clergyman who heads a Dallas
megachurch, said Obama took questions, listened to
participants, and discussed his ''personal journey of
faith.''
The discussion
''went absolutely everywhere,'' Jakes told the Associated
Press, and ''just about every Christian stripe was
represented in that room.''
Jakes, who does
not endorse candidates and said he also hopes to meet
with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said
some participants clearly have political differences
with Obama. The senator's support for abortion rights
and gay rights, among other things, draws opposition
from religious conservatives. Some conservatives have
criticized Jakes for praising Obama.
Jakes said the
meeting, at a law firm's offices, seemed designed to
prompt a wide discussion rather than to result in
commitments from either Obama or those attending.
Others familiar with the meeting said some
participants agreed to attend only because it would be
private.
Rich Cizik, vice
president for governmental affairs of the National
Association of Evangelicals, an umbrella organization for
evangelical churches and ministries, said Obama asked
participants to share ''anything that's on your mind
that is of concern to you.''
''I think it's
important to point out this isn't a group of people who
are endorsing Obama,'' Cizik said in an interview. ''People
were asked for their insider wisdom and understanding
of the religious community.''
Mark DeMoss, a
spokesman for the Reverend Franklin Graham, said Graham
attended and asked Obama whether ''he thought Jesus was the
way to God or merely a way.'' DeMoss declined to
discuss Obama's response.
Graham, who
succeeded his father as head of the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association, found the senator
''impressive'' and ''warm,'' DeMoss said. (AP)