Posted on 11/27/2005 12:42:40 PM PST by NotchJohnson
Im mad as hell. Ive been a Catholic all my life. I was an altar boy. I went to Catholic high school. I spent ten years in the seminary, studying for the priesthood. I have a degree in sacred theology. Yet some religious conservatives suggest that I cant even walk into church anymore - without first taking a loyalty oath to the Republican party.
The election of 2004 made it official. With the help of religious conservatives, Republicans have stolen religion. Of course, its not just liberal Catholics they stole it from. Liberals, moderates and progressives of all faiths Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists are all suddenly out in the cold. Because conservative Christians have taken over the Republican party and have declared a monopoly on religion.
Well, I dont buy any of it and thats why I wrote this book.
In tackling this topic, I draw on my life as a Catholic, my degree in theology, my knowledge of Scripture and my decade spent in the seminary - as well as over 30 years of active involvement in politics as campaign manager, strategist, candidate and political commentator on television and radio. I speak to and from both worlds, and I begin with this premise:
Conservatives possess no monopoly on religion. Theres still a place in the church for liberals and moderates. On many important social issues today, conservatives have it all wrong. They twist Scripture to fit their politics, rather than base their politics on Scripture. What many religious conservatives define as moral values today is not the morality of the New Testament. Its too narrow, too selfish, and too intolerant. Conservatives have turned Jesus Christ upside-down: from a loving Messiah who hung out with the poor and dispossessed, into a cold-hearted monster who cares only for the rich and powerful. Its time to define the proper intersection of religion and politics.
Its time to end the Republican monopoly on God and God-talk.
Its time to take our religion back.
Copyright © 2005 by Bill Press
Sounds like a good church, then. If it's packing the folks in, whatever they're doing there is working. Congrats!
For him to claim, as he apparently does in his latest shallow and phony book, that his Catholicism is offended. He is fundamentally an anti-religious person. So this is sanctimonious horsesh*t.
Did I miss anything?
Congressman Billybob
Press and Carter are together on this. Should sway about four people nationally.
This guy's probably one of those morons that thinks Jesus was a socialist. What he doesn't get is that there's a big difference between Jesus' teachings (to help others out of the goodness of yourself) and socialism's teachings (government STEALING from the "rich" to give to the poor, without the explicit permission of these so-called "rich").
If there is supposed to be a separation of church and state, why should we institutionalize the Christian idea of charity? Where is this "giving" addressed in the Constitution?
Huh? Last time I checked, it was those Awful Conservatives in the red states and "bible belt" that were by far the most generous givers to charitable organizations.
It's a very nice church, aside from the crowding. I'm sure we'll get a bigger facility some day -- probably after I move!
The poor will always be with us while Jesus is not.
No, the RATS gave us that one. Remember Dean's God and guns comment?
I cant even walk into church anymore - without first taking a loyalty oath to the Republican party.
___________________________________________________
Sorry, Bill but it is NOT a loyalty oath to the GOP they want you to take, it is the doctrine of your Church they want you to support.
Once upon a time both political parties agreed that unborn children should not be murdered, what constituted a marriage, etc. Thus political parties were able to compete for voters on other issues.
But one party, your Dims, have decided to run against morality. Sure they try to hide it some, but that is what the Dim party has become. If your party is against the doctrines of your church, then to be consistent you must pick your church or your party. Sounds to me Bill that you might be yet another Republican in the awakening?
Have to wag a finger in shame at Bill for using this headline when he is from the party that is removing the word Christmas from the public eye and the colors red and green from public schools.
I don't understand what Press is complaining about. How can you miss something you never use?
I enjoy it so thoroughly. Dems embrace and espouse anything that pisses all over religion, and then bitch and moan that "Republicans" (rather than just decent people who worship in a church) have taken the religion over. I think I've heard this story before. Something about a boy who murders his parents and pleads that he is an orphan...
So if Bill's parenst had not sent him to a Catholic school and didn't want him to be an alter boy he wouldn't have a leg to stand on?
it's the liberals who have denounced Christianity, I really don't see how one could claim to be a liberal Christian and still look at themselves in the mirror.
"Yet some religious conservatives suggest that I cant even walk into church anymore - without first taking a loyalty oath to the Republican party."
Name some names and let's have their quotes, Bill.
If he lost his faith in the Democrat party, he'd be losing his religion. Yellow dog democrats die hard.
"So if Bill's parenst had not sent him to a Catholic school and didn't want him to be an alter boy he wouldn't have a leg to stand on?"
He certainly trots out all the earthly symbols to reinforce his own religious "credentials," doesn't he?:
I don't understand why everybody here gets so excited about a loser like Bill Press.Any discerning person writes him of as a fool,and the folks here at Free Republic are the most dicerning poeple I've ever seen anywhere.The guy's a jerk,and he most likely will stay a jerk until the day he dies.
Well it just reminds me of Kerry doing that.
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