(4 Oct 1997) English/Nat
In a soul-searching quest for spiritual renewal, hundreds of thousands of Christian men prayed and sang in Washington D-C on Saturday, eager to own up to their failings and halt a nation's moral decline.
No matter what their colour - they had the same creed - and called for the renewal of Christian values under the name of the Promise Keepers.
However, the fervent religious message has been construed by women activists as a right-wing step to turn back women's rights.
They came to Washington on Saturday to keep a promise - to be better men in their home, in their church, in their cities and towns and have called themselves the Promise Keepers.
Thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington D-C on Saturday and were welcomed with hand shakes and a free Bible, commemorating the event.
UPSOUND: " Everybody needs a Bible"
What began in 1990 as an ecumenical Christian prayer group, is now a movement of up to half a million people.
Organisers of the Promise Keeper's rally say they're gathering to pray and sing for a renewal of basic Christian values.
They say it's an effort to bring America's men back to God, to be better fathers, husbands and better leaders in their community.
UPSOUND: (English)
"I pray that they walk by that they're lead here Jesus - uncontrollably lead here God - they may hear your word."
And the symbols of America's different Christian denominations were evident as was the presence of the nation's indigenous leaders who had travelled from across America to be at the rally.
UPSOUND: (English)
"Today, as Native American brothers we stand together in Christ Jesus."
But critics say those symbols represent a troubling movement -- a movement to turn back the clock on women's rights.
The National Organisation of Women held its own rally in Washington D-C highlighting its concerns over what they deem to be the Promise Keeper's right-wing political agenda.
Liberals worry Promise Keepers will become a powerful conservative political force.
Women's groups are concerned about the message to keep women subservient and in the home.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We will be together with our gay and lesbian sisters with the civil rights movement and the women's movement and we urge the Promise Keepers to change and to not urge the submission of women, nor, the submission of any group in our society."
SUPER CAPTION: Eleanor Smeal, President, Feminist Majority Foundation
The Centre for Democracy Studies in New York is not only wary of the Promise Keepers message but casts the movement as an extreme right-wing political cause.
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