Bil Boyarsky is covering the Democratic convention scene for Truthdig and his featured story today is about the abortion issue at the Interfaith Gathering held in Denver by religious leaders, including Bishop Charles E. Blake, minister of the big West Angeles Church of God in Christ here. Boyarsky calls him "one of the nation’s most influential African-Americans."

In the middle of his talk, Blake asked about children who had not yet been born.

He noted that he was “a pro-life Democrat” who had “humanitarian and philosophical differences” with many in his party.

“Surely,” he said, “we cannot be pleased with the millions ... of surgically ended pregnancies.” Abortion, he said, shows “disregard for the lives of the unborn.”

Yet, he said, he will support Sen. Barack Obama because the Democratic Party and its policies will best serve the nation “and the people of the world.” Republicans, he said, talk about “their loyalty to the unborn but they refuse to admit their responsibility to those who have been born.”

Blake’s words pointed to one of obstacles faced by the Democrats as they prepare for the fall campaign with Obama in a polling dead heat with the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain.

While abortion is not a central issue in a campaign that is now dominated by economic concerns, it is a matter of great symbolism.

Boyarsky's most recent post for LA Observed was about the Westside home invasion robber.