Thousands Gather for Religious Rally

Thousands of men car-pooled, bused and biked into the capital as organizers of a huge religious rally finished transforming the National Mall into a giant outdoor church. Leaders of the Promise Keepers, sponsor of today’s six-hour event, said they expect hundreds of thousands of men to participate. One million Bibles and 250,000 boxed lunches were ready to be distributed. The Promise Keepers are reaching for the national spotlight after years of building their ranks. But some critics questioned the group’s alleged links to right-wing politics and its attitudes toward women. Promise Keepers leaders say the movement is purely spiritual and has no open or hidden political agenda.