Why "W" doesn't go to church - and why didn't we know about it?

[FrenchieCat]

The story below needs to be told. Today, I emailed it to many news organizations and my local paper.

I sent this note with the article:
The story below is catching like wildfire. Many are asking why this fact is not making it into the news ......considering that George Bush uses the Jesus Card every chance he can. Please enlighten me, as I am curious. John Kerry's religious attendance in church seemed to have been mentioned, analyzed and dissected.....yet his "secret" is kept under wraps? Why would that be?
Thank you,
xxx xxxxxxxx

WHY W. DOESN'T GO TO CHURCH.

Empty Pew - by Amy Sullivan - Post date 09.30.04
- Issue date 10.11.04

Most Americans are aware that George W. Bush is a religious man. He is, after all, the man who presided over a religious revival of sorts at the Republican National Convention. He is the man who has pioneered what could be called cardio-diplomacy, judging world leaders--and, at times, entire nations--by their "hearts." He is the subject of at least four spiritual hagiographies currently in bookstores, and one religious documentary ("George W. Bush: Faith in the White House"). Most famously, Americans know him as the man who, when asked to cite the philosopher who had the greatest influence on him, named Jesus Christ.

What most--including many of the president's fiercest supporters--don't know, however, is that Bush doesn't go to church. Sure, when he weekends at Camp David, Bush spends Sunday morning with thecompound's chaplain. And, every so often, he drops in on the little Episcopal church across Lafayette Park from the White House. But the president who has staked much of his domestic agenda on the argument that religious communities hold the key to solving social problems doesn't belong to a congregation.

It should be a politically intriguing story. Bush is one of the most explicitly religious politicians in American history. Both of his presidential campaigns have used religion to appeal emotionally to voters. The entire philosophy behind his signature slogan,
"compassionate conservatism," rests on the belief that religious communities have a unique ability to tend to the nation's social ills. And yet, after the flood of coverage around Bush's first--and only--visit to a neighborhood church during inauguration weekend in Washington, D.C., no one has bothered to report on the president's
whereabouts on Sunday mornings.

WAY MORE.....
http://catholicsforkerry.blogspot.com/2004/10/why-w.html

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

1. Bush is neither Christian nor Conservative

He's the High Priest of his own cult.

[blm]

33. Bush is NOT Christian. He just USES Christians to support his fascism.

.

[LynnTheDem]

2. And bush's own church leader opposed the invasion of Iraq.

But like bush does with intell, he also cherry-picks his religious dogma.

[Zorbet55]

3. going to church is apparently hard work.

[pacalo]

9. It most certainly is...

[Zorbet55]

16. Mr President, this is where they come to worship you

Now put your teeth in and grab your loafers off the floorboard. Man, someone throw some Old Spice on his coat. It smells like Jim Beam.

[LibDemAlways]

4. Bush is a fraud.

Every so often he puts in a church appearance for a photo op - as he did just yesterday. However, he, like that other God-fearing Christian Ronald Reagan, is not a regular churchgoer. Reagan used the excuse that it was too distracting for a President to attend church. Funny, it didn't stop Carter and it didn't stop Clinton. One Sunday when he was in Southern California near my home, President Clinton quietly attended a local church. No cameras or reporters were anywhere in sight.

You don't have to regularly attend church to live your life in accord with Christian principles. Of course, when you are a warmonger who consistently favors the rich over the poor, it's pretty clear that Christianity is the furthest thing from your mind; so it makes sense that the chimp is elsewhere most Sundays.

[zinsky]

26. Claiming to be a Christian is politically expedient for Bush

I have said on this forum several times that Bush is not a Christian, he just pretends to be. He sure hasn't studied the words of Christ, who condemned those who wage war, worship mannon (money) and hate those who are different from you.

The whole thing is a sham to pander to the misnamed religious right and Bush is no leader, no Christian and no genius.

He is a failure in everything he has ever done.

I pity the man.

[tritsofme]

5. When you're hungover from Saturday night

Church isn't the first thing on your mind early Sunday morning.

[lolly]

6. Not in Charge at Church

He doesn't attend church because he wouldn't be in control; the pastor or minister is. He would have a rough time sitting for an hour and being lectured to or taught. He does NOT like to think he has anything to learn from anyone else.

[sandnsea]

11. Exactly, arrogant little ass n/t

[OneBlueSky]

7. Bush's "faith" is just one more campaign gimmick . . .

much like the "ranch" in Crawford, the Texas accent, and "compassionate conservativism" . . . all as phoney as Faux's "fair and balanced" slogan . . . that about half the country can't see through it is disconcerting in the extreme . . .

[RafterMan]

8. It doesn't matter

I hate to be seen "defending" Bush, but it doesn't matter if he goes to church.

One of the central ideas of protestantism (in its original form) is that faith and salvation are direct, personal and unmediated -- that is, there's no need for the church or clergy. Of course many protestant sects formed churches and required churchgoing, but the idea is still out there. It's probably something someone from "catholicsforkerry" would be uniquely unqualified to judge.

It is no contradiction for Bush to say he obtained salvation through bible study, not church, and no contradiction for him to say he's a very religious man who never goes to church. It may even be viewed as enhancing his religious credentials. The people to whom that attack should matter most will see it as a reflection of the attacker's ignorance.

[sandnsea]

10. Oh excuse me

First, you have absolutely no idea what Ono, the catholicsforkerry poster, has gone through in order to support John Kerry.

Second, don't give me any sort of bull that Protestants aren't expected to go to church. Whenever I've participated in a Protestant church, the minister and elders are always on my door Sunday afternoon if I don't show up. And it's always Protestants, you know, Baptists, Pentacostals and the like, that hound me to go to church. That has NEVER happened to me with Catholics or the Catholic Church. Salvation is much more private and personal with Catholics than other Christian religions. This view of Bush and church has absolutely nothing to do with Catholicism and the only ignorance I see is somebody who is mistaking Catholic bashing for an opinion.

Finally, it is the absolute utmost of hypocrisy for Bush to stand up there and spout his faith and for his party to use church going against Democrats, only to find out the rat bastard doesn't go to church at all. I'm not surprised, I agree with the above poster, he's too arrogant for church, couldn't stand somebody telling him the Bible doesn't say what he thinks it says.

[incapsulated]

12. What sandnsea said. Plus..

From that Frontline I watched on Bush and his "religion", he went to church regularly when he was in Texas. So what gives now, huh?

[RafterMan]

14. I watched the show too

And it said he found salvation in bible study, not church.

He can go or not go. It won't matter a bit.

[RafterMan]

13. Could you rein in your hostility a little?

I could care less about your religious views. I happen to be an athiest. Call it "bashing" if you like, but it's the core of the Catholic/Protestant dispute. Read a book.

As for your protestant point, did you not read: "Of course many protestant sects formed churches and required churchgoing, but the idea is still out there." If they believe Bush is saved, his lack of churchgoing -- which is fairly widely known -- will not harm him a whit.

[sandnsea]

18. No

You realize the poster didn't write the article, right? It was written by the editor of the Washington Monthly, I don't think Catholic bias had anything to do with it. So when you pop up with anti-Catholic garbage to defend you're position, I'm not going to be nice. I'm not known for being nice around here and you're not likely to change that.

The core of the Catholic/Protestant dispute? The core of the dispute is whether you're permanently saved, abracadabra, or whether you have to work at it. But that's for another day.

His lack of churchgoing is not widely known, I don't know anybody who knows he doesn't go to church. And with the fundies who believe in him, church-going is their whole reason for being. The entire base of the Republican Party is centered on churched people vs. non-churched people. I'm surprised as an atheist you don't know that and haven't found it intrusive and offensive to your freedom to live as you choose. So you've got a President who's shoving his brand of Christianity into the government at every turn, doesn't even bother to follow the Bible's instructions that we meet together, and you don't have a problem with that? Weird to me.

[RafterMan]

19. It's not "anti-catholic garbage"

How am I supposed to give their point of view without giving their point of view? Would you be more comfortable if I loaded it up with spurious sarcasm?

"The core of the dispute is whether you're permanently saved, abracadabra, or whether you have to work at it. But that's for another day."

Yes, and Bush was "saved" abracadabra. It's the same point. A saved protestant not going to church is not held to be the same state theologically by protestants as a catholic without confession is held by catholic doctrine.

People who believe Bush is saved will continue to believe it after they hear he doesn't go to church. Go spread the news if you don't think it's widely-enough known. It just won't make any difference.

"...and you don't have a problem with that?" Of course I have a problem with it. But my problem doesn't hinge on whether he goes to church or not.

[sandnsea]

20. Apparently you missed it

The article was written by The Washington Monthly, nothing to do with Catholicism. Because it was posted by a Catholic, you jumped to the conclusion that Catholic beliefs about attending church or being saved or some such nonsense had something to do with the reason it was posted. It didn't. Anybody can recognize hypocrisy, no matter what religion or none at all.

[RafterMan]

21. Try your argument

with the "Bush is saved" crowd and see where it gets you.

Best of luck.

[sandnsea]

22. Hey, already converted several

Didn't even need to use that, wait until I tell them he doesn't even go to church. Bah, they'll be against him for sure. Church is very important to rural American believers.

[SoCalDemocrat]

15. I think it's completely relevant

Bush claims to be inspired by God, talk to God, etc.

He claims to be a man of God and led by his faith. Well I think we deserve to know where he's getting all this inspiration. If he has a spiritual leader, then that individual likely has a considerable amount of influence over the President.

What if his spiritual leader is in a bad mood and gets Bush riled up about Armageddon hours before he has to make some decision about whether or not to invade Iran?

What type of faith/preachings are influencing our leader.

People need to know this, especially in the case of someone like Bush who is so moved by faith.

[DeadHead67]

17. George Bush is what happens when. . . .

. . .an individual Christian is not closely connected to the rest of the Christian COMMUNITY. That community helps to moderate some of the more peculiar behavior which occurs when one reads SCRIPTURE and interprets it without REASON or 2000 years of christian TRADITION. Scripture, Reason, and Tradition are the three legs of the stool which is the seat of Wisdom in the Anglican tradition. No man is an island, and no christian is meant to exist in a vacuum without the rest of the Body. George has a 'messiah' complex, methinks.

[venus]

25. well put

all true religions require (when possible) observance of the Sabbath in fellowship. one doesn't have to be in any particular place to be saved however, but regular worship with others is part of the ritual. 'ritual' and 'required' are not quite the words I'm searching for here, but rather "where two or three are gathered in my name .... ". Bush is a hypocrite for not attending church because he uses religion as a banner. I think his staff tipped him off to this article and previous DU discussion boards becaue he made service this past Sunday. ha!

[zinsky]

29. Amen

Well said!

[rullery]

23. There is much diversity in doctrine among Protestant churches.

Some posters here have said that Protestants believe that once you are saved, that's it. It doesn't much matter how you live after that. I would point out that this is the Calvinist doctrine, followed by Baptists, Pentecostals, and many Evangelicals.

This doctrine has never been subscribed to by many other Protestant churches, such as Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, and many others. Also the liturgical Protestants (Lutherans, Anglicans) are now accepted by the Roman Catholic Church as brothers in the faith; indeed, as "catholic" but not Roman.

Now, as far as Bush is concerned, I understand that he is supposed to be Methodist, having adopted Laura's faith. If so, then the Calvinist doctrine should not apply to him. In any event I figure that he does not attend church because he feels uncomfortable there. Perhaps God does speak to him there, and Bush's conscience is troubled by knowing that he has killed so many innocent people in an unnecessary war of his own choosing. He feels condemned by God.

[Machiavelli05]

24. AWOL seems like a hobby for him

AWOL from military service
AWOL from Presidential service (record number of days on vacation)
AWOL from Church
Some would probably also point out he is also AWOL from reality - but that one is slightly more subjective.

[DemBones DemBones]

28. Good point, Good meme. nt

[depakid]

27. Gee, Reagan didn't either and his wife used the occult

to plan the minutae of his schedule. But does that matter to the fundies (or anyone else?). Certainly not. To speak the truth about Bush and Reagan is blasphemy.

[hexola]

30. Clinton was in church way more than Bush

Not sure where I heard this yesterday...probably CSPAN or MSNBC...

[DemoTex]

31. Another DUer was asking about this kind of thing in another thread.

Kicking in hopes they see this.

[deadparrot]

32. Well, of COURSE he doesn't go to church. Being president is HARD WORK.

[roseBudd]

34. Because he is TWO-FACED

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