The day after the Promise Keepers men-only Christian right-wing group held their religious gathering of over 700,000 men on the Washington Mall on October 4, Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney said that the movement would be expanded into Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and that the group would plan rallies in the fifty U.S. state capitols on January 1, 2000.

The Promise Keepers, a group funded and supported by right-wing, anti-women's rights, anti-abortion, and anti-gay organizations such as Focus on the Family and Campus Crusade for Christ, preaches that men are the "spiritual leaders" of the family and that women must submit to their husbands. Promise Keepers Founder Bill McCartney has been a featured speaker at Operation Rescue events, where he has declared that abortion has become "a second civil war." One of the Promise Keepers spokespeople is Mark DeMoss of the DeMoss family, whose foundation pours millions of dollars into religious right causes including the anti-abortion advertisement "Life, What a Beautiful Choice."

The National Organization for Women organized a press conference and counter-rally on the day of the Washington gathering, along with the Feminist Majority, Center for Democracy Studies, Equal Partners in Faith, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Human Rights Campaign, NARAL, and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "The submission of women has been at the core of all anti-women's rights campaigns," reminded Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority. "The bible has been used to justify witch burnings, slavery, the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment, and to condemn gay men and lesbians. What is new about the Promise Keepers is that they have the audacity to advocate gender apartheid and male domination in the United States at the turn of the 21st century.

"Don't be fooled by their 'touchy-feely' outward appearances," continued Smeal. "The Promise Keepers are preaching that men are ordained to lead - women to submit or follow. We have been there, done that. These are out-moded attitudes that have led time and time again to low pay, low status, and the abuse of women."

The Promise Keepers reportedly spent $9 million to publicize their event. In contrast, the National Organization for Women's 1992 march, which attracted 700,000 feminists to Washington, DC, had a budget of less than $500,000.

Promise Keepers leaders insist that the group is not political, but several members of Congress sent "Dear Colleague" letters inviting other members of Congress to join them in attending the Promise Keepers event and holding receptions for Promise Keepers attenders. Many of the Promise Keepers' funders and supporters are highly political, including the Family Research Council, a right-wing, anti-abortion, anti-gay lobbying group which placed large ads in the Washington subway system welcoming the Promise Keepers. The plan for rallies in the fifty state capitals also points to political goals. The Promise Keepers has a budget of over $100 million and says that 2.6 million men have attended their stadium rallies.

Women's groups associated with the Promise Keepers, including Suitable Helpers, Chosen Women, Promise Reapers, Heritage Reapers, Women of Faith, and Women of the Promise, have held conferences and organized local prayer groups in which they tell women that they must submit to their husbands. At a Promise Keepers rally Holly Phillips, wife of Promise Keepers President Randy Phillips, took the stage to apologize to the men for not being more submissive: "We ask you to forgive us for not showing you respect and the honor you deserve." At a Chosen Women rally, 20,000 women waved white handkerchiefs and sang "I Surrender All" to symbolize their submission to their husbands.

For more information about the Promise Keepers' funding and support, and the women's groups associated with the Promise Keepers, contact PK Watch at the Center for Democracy Studies, (212) 423-9237. €