The Religious Reich
During the 2004 election campaign, I was stunned by the news that some members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy had suggested that politicians who had evidenced being pro abortion should be denied communion until they cleaned up their act.
Amid questions of how Catholic leadership will respond to the pro-choice senator, Kerry's archbishop -- Boston's own Sean O'Malley -- has refused to clarify a statement last summer that pro-choice Catholics are in a state of grave sin and cannot take communion properly.
At the tail end of the Teri Schiavo media circus, I was deeply saddened by this article , in which it was announced that Judge Greer had been asked to leave his church.
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer left his church last week after the pastor wrote him a letter suggesting "it might be easier for all of us" if he leave.
Greer, whose orders on the Terri Schiavo case have brought him criticism, is a Southern Baptist who attended Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater.
Then, today I learned of an even more horrendous action taken by a church. As noted at Daily Kos,
The minister said if you supported John Kerry or the Democratic Party, you are against the Church. 9 members said the minister led the charge to excommunicate them because of issues of abortion and homosexuality.
He said they had to repent and agree to vote Republican. 40 other members resigned in protest.
Agree to vote Republican? Wha?
Back in my youth, I recall the brouhaha that broke out when it became clear that the Roman Catholic John F. Kennedy would be the Democratic nominee for President. The conservatives howled about the US of A suddenly becoming a Vatican puppet. "Separation of Church and State!" shrieked more than one anti-Catholic bigot. When Kennedy won the presidency, I had hoped that would put that kind of wingnut litmus test to rest.
Yet, here we are with a new breed of Pharisees clamoring against people whose views are different than their own divinely inspired truths. Now, however, it is more vicious. Instead of trying to short-circuit an election campaign, the new Whited Sepulchres are denying the very spiritual sustenance Christians require to face the dangers and temptations of modern life, and the basis for that denial of service is a tendency to vote against a particular political party or a failure to adhere to certain clearly prescribed political views.
Outfuckingrageous.
Update (May 8, 2005, 1:40PM)
It appears that all the attention that Rev. Chan Chandler has received for his ousting members of his congregation with Democratic leanings has had an unsettling effect.
The Rev. Chan Chandler didn't directly address the controversy during the service at East Waynesville Baptist Church, but issued a statement afterward through his attorney saying the church does not care about its members' political affiliations.
Isn't it interesting that the statement was issued by his lawyer, rather than mentioned in his sermon during the service? I can't help but wonder whether the threat of losing a tax exemption is involved.
Moron.
Amid questions of how Catholic leadership will respond to the pro-choice senator, Kerry's archbishop -- Boston's own Sean O'Malley -- has refused to clarify a statement last summer that pro-choice Catholics are in a state of grave sin and cannot take communion properly.
At the tail end of the Teri Schiavo media circus, I was deeply saddened by this article , in which it was announced that Judge Greer had been asked to leave his church.
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer left his church last week after the pastor wrote him a letter suggesting "it might be easier for all of us" if he leave.
Greer, whose orders on the Terri Schiavo case have brought him criticism, is a Southern Baptist who attended Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater.
Then, today I learned of an even more horrendous action taken by a church. As noted at Daily Kos,
The minister said if you supported John Kerry or the Democratic Party, you are against the Church. 9 members said the minister led the charge to excommunicate them because of issues of abortion and homosexuality.
He said they had to repent and agree to vote Republican. 40 other members resigned in protest.
Agree to vote Republican? Wha?
Back in my youth, I recall the brouhaha that broke out when it became clear that the Roman Catholic John F. Kennedy would be the Democratic nominee for President. The conservatives howled about the US of A suddenly becoming a Vatican puppet. "Separation of Church and State!" shrieked more than one anti-Catholic bigot. When Kennedy won the presidency, I had hoped that would put that kind of wingnut litmus test to rest.
Yet, here we are with a new breed of Pharisees clamoring against people whose views are different than their own divinely inspired truths. Now, however, it is more vicious. Instead of trying to short-circuit an election campaign, the new Whited Sepulchres are denying the very spiritual sustenance Christians require to face the dangers and temptations of modern life, and the basis for that denial of service is a tendency to vote against a particular political party or a failure to adhere to certain clearly prescribed political views.
Outfuckingrageous.
Update (May 8, 2005, 1:40PM)
It appears that all the attention that Rev. Chan Chandler has received for his ousting members of his congregation with Democratic leanings has had an unsettling effect.
The Rev. Chan Chandler didn't directly address the controversy during the service at East Waynesville Baptist Church, but issued a statement afterward through his attorney saying the church does not care about its members' political affiliations.
Isn't it interesting that the statement was issued by his lawyer, rather than mentioned in his sermon during the service? I can't help but wonder whether the threat of losing a tax exemption is involved.
Moron.
posted by Diane at 8:27 AM
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