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Excerpt from:How The Republicans Stole Christmas
Bill Press ^ | 11/17/05 | Bill Press

Posted on 11/27/2005 12:42:40 PM PST by NotchJohnson

I’m mad as hell. I’ve 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 can’t 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, it’s 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 don’t buy any of it – and that’s 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. There’s 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. It’s 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. It’s time to define the proper intersection of religion and politics.

It’s time to end the Republican monopoly on God and God-talk.

It’s time to take our religion back.

Copyright © 2005 by Bill Press


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; bahumbug; billpress; catholics; catholicvote; christ; christianity; christians; christianvote; christmas; culturewar; gop; grinchstolechristmas; jesus; lyingliar; religion; religiousleft; religiousvote; republicans; secularhumanism; sexualizingchildren; socialism; teensex
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1 posted on 11/27/2005 12:42:41 PM PST by NotchJohnson
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To: NotchJohnson

Just don't get your pants in a bunch, Bill. Take a deep breath ....


2 posted on 11/27/2005 12:43:49 PM PST by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: NotchJohnson

Translation: We're determined to continue the baby-killing, no matter what, and the Church can't even express disapproval, or I will WHINE REALLY LOUDLY.


3 posted on 11/27/2005 12:44:55 PM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: NotchJohnson

Abortion and homosexuality are against Catholic techings. Take it up with the Pope and stop lying about dem evil Republicans.


4 posted on 11/27/2005 12:45:43 PM PST by weegee (Christmas - the holiday that dare not speak its name.)
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To: NotchJohnson

Bill, I think it's time to switch over to Decaf Coffee.


5 posted on 11/27/2005 12:46:01 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: NotchJohnson

Take it back where? I think this guy got abused.


6 posted on 11/27/2005 12:47:09 PM PST by SaxxonWoods
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To: NotchJohnson

The Democrats flushed Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church down the toilet after Roe v Wade in 1973 when they decided to perform homage to Moloch instead of the Lord of Life. If the Democrats want us back, they need to reject abortuary child murder.


7 posted on 11/27/2005 12:47:17 PM PST by Appalled but Not Surprised
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To: NotchJohnson

Bill needs to open the Church gate a crack and take a peek at the big wide world for some perspective.


8 posted on 11/27/2005 12:47:38 PM PST by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: NotchJohnson

Crock o' Crap! The churches are open today. Parking lots aren't full. You want to go to church? Just step inside.


9 posted on 11/27/2005 12:48:03 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: NotchJohnson

As a Christian and as a conservative I sure do not claim any corner on religion. I just question how someone claiming to be a Christian can possibly vote as a democrat..the agendas the Dem's. support do not seem to fall in step with biblical truths and teachings...just my opinion and I am sticking to it.


10 posted on 11/27/2005 12:48:42 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: NotchJohnson

Hey Bill, you can still have your own liberal and "progressive" beliefs.... In the Unitarian Universalist Church. I'm sure they'd love to have you and you'd fit right in.


11 posted on 11/27/2005 12:49:03 PM PST by Humidston (Sweet dreams, TC. Save me a seat, ok?)
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To: MineralMan
The churches are open today. Parking lots aren't full.

Ours is, and people are parking on the lawns. Last weekend Father warned everyone about the disastrous consequences of parking over the septic tank :-).

12 posted on 11/27/2005 12:49:32 PM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: NotchJohnson

Translation: "If we socialists can just master all this religious mumbo-jumbo talk, at least enough to dupe all the yahoos in flyover country to vote for us, we'll still be able to enact all our anti-individual and anti-religious doctrines."


13 posted on 11/27/2005 12:49:48 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: NotchJohnson

Dang, I want whatever drugs this guy is taking.


14 posted on 11/27/2005 12:50:28 PM PST by Lucretia Borgia
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To: NotchJohnson

Gee Bill when the democrats made abortion rights and gay rights a part of their party platform, they dumped the Catholics by default. What did they expect us to do? I guess they just expected people like you and Ted Kennedy and John Kerry to stay in the faith and continue to call yourself Catholic even though you know that support of these issues excommunicates you..... even if you won't leave.


15 posted on 11/27/2005 12:51:21 PM PST by badpacifist (Schadenfreude)
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To: Tax-chick

Conflicts between the Sadducees and the Pharisees are inevitable.


16 posted on 11/27/2005 12:51:24 PM PST by i.l.e. (Tagline - this space for sale....)
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To: i.l.e.

I'm sure.


17 posted on 11/27/2005 12:51:56 PM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: NotchJohnson
On many important social issues today, conservatives have it all wrong.

Abortion, homosexuality, socialism...

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. It’s too narrow, too selfish, and too intolerant.

Abortion and suicide ("right to die") are selfish decisions that offer a permanant solution to temporary problems. Teen sex isn't championed in the New Testament either.

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. It’s time to define the proper intersection of religion and politics.

Where do Republicans say that Jesus was for the rich and powerful? Just because He preached to prostitutes and tax collectors did not mean that He thought these were the highest callings.

There is no charity in being forced by Caesar's swords to pay your taxes to help the poor. Give from the heart, not because the government demands it. There is no free will in socialism.

18 posted on 11/27/2005 12:52:02 PM PST by weegee (Christmas - the holiday that dare not speak its name.)
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To: NotchJohnson
I’m mad as hell. I’ve 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.

Bill, if I'd gone through all that, and still didn't know a damned thing about God or the real world, like you, I might be unhappy, too.

19 posted on 11/27/2005 12:52:11 PM PST by RichInOC (Bill Press is not smart enough to be DNC Chairman. And that's saying something.)
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To: NotchJohnson
Perhaps Mr. Press needs to reacquaint himself with the Scripture that he professes to know so well.

One of the first things he's come to realize is that he needs to get a grip on his anger. After that, he just might realize how far he's drifted off course.
20 posted on 11/27/2005 12:52:12 PM PST by SolutionsOnly
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