ARTICLES - HOT OFF THE FAGGOT

House Republican: Pope should stay out of politics - I AGREE!


Pope Francis blesses the faithful on April 15, 2014 during his weekly general audience at the Vatican. (Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty)
Pope Francis blesses the faithful on April 15, 2014 during his weekly general audience at the Vatican.
Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty
 
 
It was just five months ago that Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said he wants leaders from the faith community to “rise up and engage America in the public square with Biblical values.” The likely Republican presidential candidate added, “The time has come for pastors to lead the way and reset the course of American governance.”
 
This is not an uncommon sentiment in GOP politics. As the party continues to move sharply to the right, Republican hostility towards church-state separation has become the norm. In culture-war debates over gay rights and reproductive rights, for example, the right routinely argues that policymakers should heed the appeals from religious leaders.
 
More generally, conservatives express alarm about the left trying to push voices from the faith community “out of the public square.” It’s these religious leaders, the GOP argues, that should help guide public debate.
 
With this in mind, it seemed almost miraculous to see this Politico piece yesterday.
After Pope Francis moved to recognize a Palestinian state, some gung-ho defenders of Israel suggested the pontiff should stick to preaching and stay out of politics.
 
“It’s interesting how the Vatican has gotten so political when ultimately the Vatican ought to be working to lead people to Jesus Christ and salvation, and that’s what the Church is supposed to do,” said Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), a hawkish defender of Israel.
Note, a variety of lawmakers expressed public disagreement – and in some cases, deep disappointment – with Pope Francis’s move towards officially recognizing Palestinians. And to be sure, there’s nothing wrong with a spirited debate, with some American policymakers on one side and the Catholic leader on the other.
 
But that’s not what Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) said, exactly. Rather, he suggested Pope Francis should stay out of the debate altogether – the Vatican can focus on spiritual matters, the South Carolinian argued, and stay out of politics.
 
Imagine that. When church leaders condemn abortion, congressional Republicans shout, “Amen.” When the pope enters a foreign policy debate, suddenly we effectively hear, “Mind your own business, padre.”
 
Indeed, when President Reagan worked with Pope John Paul II on a variety of issues, Republicans saw it as an important diplomatic partnership. But now that it’s President Obama and Pope Francis who are often aligned – on climate change, on Iran nuclear talks, on diplomacy with Cuba, on economic inequality, on pay equity for women – and some GOP officials suddenly aren’t pleased at all with the Vatican’s interest in contemporary politics.
 
Over at Daily Kos, Laura Clawson added, “Republicans have shown time and time again that they have no problem whatsoever with religion in politics. Now we know how particular they are about whose religion and whose politics. Catholic leaders in politics are fine as long as they’re threatening to deny communion to Democrats over abortion, but let a pope talk about economic inequality and poverty and suddenly Republicans discover that they’d really prefer it if religious leaders would keep quiet and let politicians speak for them.”
 
Francis will deliver a speech to a joint session of Congress in the fall, at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). It’s bound to be interesting.
 
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/house-republican-pope-should-stay-out-politics?cid=sm_fb_maddow

Faith of the Republican Presidential Contenders

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (Roman Catholic),
Former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (Roman Catholic),
Florida Senator, Marco Rubio (Roman Catholic),
Texas Senator, Ted Cruz (Roman Catholic),
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (Evangelical),
Former Texas Governor, Rick Perry (Evangelical),
Ben Carson, retired surgeon (Seventh-day Adventist),
Former executive Carly Fiorina (Episcopalian).

First Ever Video Visitation With The "Most Dangerous Man Alive" - Pastor...

Adventist Church in North America Issues Statement on Ben Carson's U.S. Presidential Bid

“Care should be taken that the pulpit and all church property remain a neutral space when it comes to elections.”







Editor’s note: The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s North American Division has released this statement about the May 4 announcement of Dr. Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon and Adventist member, that he will seek the Republican Party nomination for U.S. president.



As the 2016 United States election cycle begins, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is aware of the increased interest in the presidential candidacy of Dr. Ben Carson.

Dr. Carson’s story is well known to most Adventists, and he is a well-respected physician.

The Adventist Church has a longstanding position of not supporting or opposing any candidate for elected office. This position is based both on our historical position of separation of church and state and the applicable federal law relating to the church’s tax-exempt status.

While individual church members are free to support or oppose any candidate for office as they see fit, it is crucial that the church as an institution remain neutral on all candidates for office. Care should be taken that the pulpit and all church property remain a neutral space when it comes to elections.Church employees must also exercise extreme care not to express views in their denominational capacity about any candidate for office, including Dr. Carson.

We also want to remind our church members, pastors, and administrators of the church’s official position on the separation of church and state. The church has worked diligently to protect the religious rights of all people of faith, no matter what their denominational affiliation.

“We should therefore work to establish robust religious liberty for all and should not use our influence with political and civil leaders to either advance our faith or inhibit the faith of others.

Adventists should take civic responsibilities seriously. We should participate in the voting process available to us when it is possible to do so in good conscience and should share the responsibility of building our communities. Adventists should not, however, become preoccupied with politics, or utilize the pulpit or our publications to advance political theories.” (From an official Seventh-day Adventist Church statement, adopted by the Council of Interchurch/Interfaith Relations of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in March 2002.)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church values Dr. Carson as we do all members. However, it is important for the church to maintain its long-standing historical support for the separation of church and state by not endorsing or opposing any candidate.

http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story2602-adventist-church-in-north-america-issues-statement-on-ben-carsons-u.s.-presidential-bid