Has any religion or religious leader criticized Bush?

[Annette]

Surely someone in religion sees his madness. I have a religious republican friend who says you can't be religious and vote for Kerry. She bases this all on the abortion issue. Has anyone seen or heard any religious criticism of *?

[noahmijo]

1. The Pope, religious leaders in South Africa...

Actually I can't think of ANY religious leaders that haven't bashed Bush except of course for Jerry "Satan in Disguise" Falwell and Pat Roberts and Jimmy "Hide da hooka in mah closet" Swaggart.

[CatWoman]

2. The Pope

Desmond Tutu

The Dali Lama

even his own pastor ...............

[Annette]

5. Then, is he tooted as being so religious and devout?

I don't get it!! My friend says her church tells them that they should vote Republican!! I don't understand why people think he is religious!!!

[4morewars]

14. Does that church pay taxes ?

No? Then they need to STFU ! Or pay up ! Endorsing a political entity is grounds for revocation of tax free status.
The reason people believe he is religious, is because he says he is !

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

21. I also

read an article where it says Bush doesn't even go to church, but yet Clinton found plenty of times to go to church. Here's the article: http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=vKO1twmWG2Uvnyi2qoWQfW%3D%3D I apologize if it's already been posted here. I think it has? Share it with all your Christian friends who love Bush and hated Clinton!!! Oh and also while Clinton was President he and his family were regulars at the church and it had nothing to do with security because they had metal detector's people had to walk through before entering (which is understandable). :eyes: at Bush. I guess he's too busy doing all his "hard work" to attend church even on Sunday's. I may not go all the time but I do every Sunday. Heh heh.

[AverageJoe]

3. The Pope sez Chimp's the Anti-Christ

Pope fears Bush is antichrist

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MKY/is_9_27/ai_108881880




New Catholic Times, May 18, 2003

WASHINGTON DC -- According to freelance journalist Wayne Madsden, "George W Bush's blood lust, his repeated commitment to Christian beliefs and his constant references to 'evil doers,' in the eyes of many devout Catholic leaders, bear all the hallmarks of the one warned about in the Book of Revelations--the anti-Christ."


On edit: Got rid of some extra crap I didn't mean to post....

[cheshire]

15. I agree with the pope, * is the pure evil and Satan spawn.

[flvegan]

4. HH Dalai Lama

Wrote this pre-emptive criticism (sort of):

Your Excellency,

I am deeply shocked by the terrorist attacks that took place involving four apparently hijacked aircrafts and the immense devastation these caused. It is a terrible tragedy that so many innocent lives have been lost and it seems unbelievable that anyone would choose to target the world trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. We are deeply saddened.

On behalf of the Tibetan people I would like to convey our deepest condolence and solidarity with the American people during this painful time. Our prayers go out to the many who have lost their lives, those who have been injured and the many more who have been traumatized by this senseless act of violence. I am attending a special prayer for the United States and its people at our main temple today. I am confident that the United States as a great and powerful nation will be able to overcome this present tragedy. The American people have shown their resilience, courage and determination when faced with such a difficult and sad situation.

It may seem presumptuous on my part, but I personally believe we need to think seriously whether a violent action is the right thing to do and in the greater interest of the nation and people in the long run. I believe violence will only increase the cycle of violence. But how do we deal with hatred and anger, which are often the root causes of such senseless violence? This is a very difficult question, especially when it concerns a nation and we have certain fixed conceptions of how to deal with such attacks. I am sure that you will make the right decision.

With my prayers and good wishes

The Dalai Lama
September 12, 2001
Dharamsala, India

[jilln]

11. always happy to see vegans!!!

x

[flvegan]

18. 4 years on Saturday

World Farm Animal Day, Oct 2nd. Still a newbie vegan.

[TexasSissy]

6. I saw some leading religious leader - a known pastor or something -

in an interview a couple of years ago speaking against Bush's infusion of religion into the administration. He believed in separation of religion from government. Yes, you CAN be devout and vote for Kerry. Kerry is devout.

All that is necessary is to believe in the separation of church and state, which our founding fathers believed in. Bush is a radical right wing extremist. Could it be that our religious leaders have jumped on the bandwagon of "me first," in addition to greedy Wall Streeters? The real reason pastors are supporting Bush? It's because he has included them in "faith based" programs to received federal funds.

It's a "show me the money" mentality. Has nothing to do with faith.

[sangh0]

7. "God Is Not a Republican" campaign

at http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.election&item=petition_flash

[TexasSissy]

25. No, she's not a Repub. She's nonpartisan, I expect.

[sangh0]

26. The rest of the slogan is "And not a Democrat either"

Check it out.

www.sojo.net

[readmylips]

8. Go Himself....

the more bushie and his kkristian pray, the worse things get for them.

Today, Bremer and Rumsfelt are at an all time high, flip-flopping and eating whoppers.

[genius]

9. The Pope thinks he's the anti-Christ. That's why, for the 1st time in

Cathoic history, the Pope said it was okay to vote for a pro-choice Presidential candidate.

[cheshire]

10. Desmon Tutu on the Daily show. He held his head and almost prayed.

[Minimus]

12. Desmond Tutu on The Daily Show last night

did not come out and say he disliked bush. But it was implied he did not care for his policies.

[Jon8503]

13. They Need To Start Taxing The Church's That Are Organized

for Bush. This is my own opinion but I believe that the reason Bush all of a sudden has mentioned that could do away with the IRS, it is because that way the Church's would not have to worry about staying tax exempt. Bush & the repukes would like to have them as basic organizational basis for the party without any tax consequences.

I know this may sound far out but I believe there is always a method or reason for their madness.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. At Elizabeth Edwards' Town Hall meeting

the other day there was a Methodist (?) minister in her audience who gave a GREAT speech for Kerry/Edwards and against the chimp. :hi:

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

22. Good to know! :D

My grandfather is an elder of the Church (we're Church of Christ) and he agrees we have to vote Bush out. I was surprised personally but happy!!! :D

[ArtVandaley]

17. Bush/Knights of Columbus

I saw a few clips of Bush addressing the Knights of Columbus a few months ago, and he kept mentioning how he had met the Pope and what an "awesome experiance it was" and things like that. What he failed to mention was that at that visit with the Pope, the Pope condemned Bush's actions in Iraq and his staunch support of the death penalty. When Bush was governor of Texas, the Pope called him personally on several different occassions to ask him not to put certain people to death, and Bush basically said "Fuck you."

[DeepModem Mom]

19. Yep -- His own Methodist Church...

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1020-02.htm

Iraq War 'Unjustifiable', says Bush's Church Head
by Ed Vulliamy in New York
Published on Sunday, October 20, 2002 by the Observer/UK

President George Bush's own Methodist church has launched a scathing attack on his preparations for war against Iraq, saying they are 'without any justification according to the teachings of Christ'.

Jim Winkler, head of social policy for United Methodists, added that all attempts at a 'dialogue' between the President and his own church over the war had fallen on deaf ears at the White House.

His remarks came as the US continued its efforts to achieve agreement on a UN resolution that would open the way for a tough program of weapons inspections in Iraq. France is believed to be concerned that the current draft resolution might still act as a trigger for military intervention without a full Security Council debate if Iraq fails to comply.

Winkler is general secretary of the Board of Church and Society for the United Methodist church, which counts the President and the Vice-President, Dick Cheney, among its members. The church represents eight to nine million regular churchgoers and is the third biggest in America....

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

23. It's pretty sad

when your OWN CHURCH doesn't back you up. :eyes:

[polmaven]

34. In our own defense

We United Methodists also claim John Edwards as one of us. A redeeming factor, doncha think? :hi:

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

20. I heard not too long ago

when all the war started the Pope wrote him a letter, but of course he didn't even consider his view point. :eyes:

[progressivebydesign]

24. Oh plenty!!!

Many, many leaders and churches are totally against Bush's pre-emptive war, and his policies. Don't let the vocal minority fool you...

[JPZenger]

27. Criticism from Religious Leaders

http://www.pww.org/article/articleprint/5454/

"The founder of the Interfaith Alliance, the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, a Baptist preacher from Louisiana, said he was “horrified” when Bush claimed God’s endorsement for his invasion of Iraq. “How dare any politician, including the president, even implicitly suggest that God is a kind of mascot for the nation,” Rev. Gaddy said. “Affirmation of a particular faith must never be made a litmus test for measuring patriotism.”

Parker said it is frightening that Bush would claim he is taking the nation to war “because God wants him to. Graveyards all over the world are filled with victims of people who thought they were doing God’s will.”

Dr. Calvin Morris, executive director of the Chicago-based Community Renewal Society, told the World, “It is ironic, and dangerously so, that the present Bush administration rails against the religious fundamentalism of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, while asserting a similar fundamentalism of its own. This administration needs to realize that God is not an adherent of American foreign policy, but a God above all nations and ideologies.”

The National Council of Churches (NCC) and its general secretary, the Rev. Bob Edgar, has spoken out against the Iraq war and occupation. The NCC released a pastoral letter to its 36 member churches with 40 million members on May 11 condemning the “cycle of violence” in Iraq “brought home to all Americans and indeed the world in the horrific pictures of prisoner abuse. …We are convinced that current policy is dangerous for America and the world and will only lead to further violence. We therefore call for a change of course in Iraq … to turn over the transition of authority and postwar reconstruction to the United Nations.”

[Zynx]

31. The Catholic priests I have listened to at our local churches are

opposed to this war and to Bush's economic policies.

[Supersedeas]

28. How about a religious Bush appointee to add to the list

John J. DiIulio, Jr., former head of the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiative

See this for some background:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16133-2004Mar22.html

<<snip>>

<<In a broader context, Clarke sounded concerns expressed by O'Neill and John J. DiIulio Jr., the former head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives: that Bush is running an insulated White House driven by conservative ideology and politics. DiIulio, the first former Bush official to publicly criticize the president, said in a 2002 magazine interview that "it's the reign of the Mayberry Machiavellis." >>

[Xipe Totec]

29. Archbishop Desmond Tutu criticized Bush, Blair

LONDON - U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair should apologize for waging "an immoral war" against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said in a speech.

In an evening lecture delivered in Westminster, central London, the Nobel laureate said Bush and Blair would reap a revival in credibility if they apologized for waging a war that left the world "a great deal less safe."

(snip)

"Weak and insecure people hardly ever say 'sorry.' It is large-hearted and courageous people who are not diminished by saying, 'I made a mistake.'

http://www.dailylobo.com/news/2004/02/17/News/Archbishop.Criticizes.Bush.Blair-609199.shtml

[Annette]

30. Is it true that as long as the minister, priest says the view is his/hers

personal opinion and not necessarily that of the church's, then they can preach about "their candidate" during services? That's what my ultra-conservative friend said.

[Annette]

32. I'm kicking this cause I want to see if anyone knows the answer to this

[polmaven]

33. The United Methodist Council of Bishops

was VERY critical of Bush's unjustified war, and of his refusal to meet with them before he made his decision. Bush claims to be a strong UM, and yet completely snubbed the leaders of his own church.