Influential Latino Pentecostal Pastor Breaks Silence, Endorses Biden
First-time endorser Rev. Eli Valentin calls electing Biden a “moral imperative”
Para leer el respaldo oficial del Rev. Valentine a Joe Biden en español, consulte a continuación.
Last week on a national “Believers for Biden” campaign faith event, hosted by Dr. Jill Biden, Rev. Elieser Valentin made a major announcement: he was breaking his decades-long approach to not publicly support any Presidential candidate, by fully endorsing Vice President Joe Biden to be the next President of the United States.
Reflecting on common pastoral practice to avoid partisan politics and “awkwardness” with parishioners, Rev. Valentin said that “Awkwardness is no longer an excuse,” urging other faith leaders to do likewise and publicly support Biden.
Citing the brutal and immoral treatment of Immigration detainees and dearth of leadership during the Covid-19 crisis, Rev. Valentin described the choice this November in strict moral terms.
I do not make this endorsement strictly as a partisan decision that must be made; a vote for Joe Biden is a moral imperative that the American electorate must take come November — Rev. Eli Valentin
Rev. Valentin is a sought after teacher, author, preacher and consultant based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, along with being regular contributor to Univision.
Read his full endorsement, here:
Yesterday, a 51-year-old Latino died while in ICE custody in Miami. With this man’s death, the number of individuals that have died while in ICE custody has doubled since last year. The American electorate must soundly reject the moral bankruptcy of any administration that allows this to happen.
That is why I am endorsing Joe Biden for the presidency. This is the first time I am personally endorsing a candidate for public office. I am a Christian minister. Though I have previously served as an advisor to numerous elected officials across the country, and thus have had no qualms serving politicians while being a religious minister, I have never before publicly endorsed a political candidate. Why? Chiefly to prevent any awkwardness with parishioners who view things differently.
Awkwardness is no longer an excuse. Far more important than any discomfort is telling the truth and speaking up for justice for our fellow humans. That is my moral imperative. I hope that speaking up for our fellow humans is what you will do too.
I do not make this endorsement strictly as a partisan decision that must be made; a vote for Joe Biden is a moral imperative that the American electorate must take come November (or earlier for those that are allowed to vote early).
Joe Biden has a plan that will ensure that deaths of immigrants do not occur at our federal government’s hands. He also has a plan that will bring about much-needed justice for Latino families: he has a solid economic development proposal, and a bold initiative to end the health and educational disparities that exist among Latinos and all people of color compared to the white majority. As President, Joe Biden will make sure that those that have been victimized as a result of the ugliness of systemic racism be given a fair opportunity to thrive and succeed.
Latinos need Joe Biden as the next president of these great United States. More than that, the whole country and indeed the entire world needs Joe Biden as our next president. Let’s make it happen.
Hi Adam,
Hoping you are doing well and staying safe! Here’s a Spanish translation:
Ayer, un Latino de 51 años murió mientras estaba bajo custodia de ICE en Miami. Con la muerte de este hombre, el número de personas que han muerto mientras estaban bajo la custodia de ICE se ha duplicado desde el año pasado. El electorado estadounidense debe rechazar rotundamente la bancarrota moral de cualquier gobierno que permita que esto suceda.
Por eso apoyo a Joe Biden para la presidencia. Esta es la primera vez que apoyo personalmente a un candidato a un cargo público. Soy un ministro cristiano. Aunque anteriormente me desempeñé como asesor de numerosos funcionarios electos en todo el país y, por lo tanto, no tuve reparos en servir a los políticos mientras era ministro religioso, nunca antes había respaldado públicamente a un candidato político. ¿Por qué? Principalmente para evitar cualquier incomodidad con los feligreses que ven las cosas de manera diferente.
La incomodidad ya no es una excusa. Mucho más importante que cualquier incomodidad es decir la verdad y defender la justicia para nuestros semejantes. Ese es mi imperativo moral. Espero que hablar en nombre de nuestros semejantes sea lo que ustedes también hagan.
No hago este respaldo estrictamente como una decisión partidista que debe tomarse; un voto por Joe Biden es un imperativo moral que el electorado estadounidense debe tomar en noviembre (o antes para aquellos a los que se les permite votar temprano).
Joe Biden tiene un plan que asegurará que las muertes de inmigrantes no ocurran en manos de nuestro gobierno federal. También tiene un plan que traerá justicia muy necesaria para las familias latinas: tiene una propuesta sólida de desarrollo económico y una iniciativa audaz para terminar con las disparidades de salud y educación que existen entre los latinos y todas las personas de color en comparación con la mayoría blanca. Como presidente, Joe Biden se asegurará de que aquellos que han sido victimizados como resultado de la fealdad del racismo sistémico tengan una oportunidad justa para prosperar y triunfar.
Los latinos necesitan a Joe Biden como el próximo presidente de los Estados Unidos. Más que eso, todo el país y de hecho el mundo entero necesita a Joe Biden como nuestro próximo presidente. Hagámoslo realidad.
Rev. Eli Valentin serves as senior pastor of a Latino Pentecostal congregation in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he has been a lecturer at Union Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, and Hunter College (CUNY). Valentín has served as a political advisor to numerous elected officials across the country and is the editor of Sermons from the Latino/a Pulpit and the author of the forthcoming Reinhold Niebuhr: A Political Life.
Faith 2020 is a group of friends and neighbors choosing hope over fear this November to defeat Donald Trump. Learn more at faith2020.org
