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Brownback complains about Catholic slur
Yahoo News ^ | July 31, 2007 | LIBBY QUAID

Posted on 08/01/2007 10:09:01 AM PDT by NYer

WASHINGTON -

Republican presidential hopeful Sam Brownback said rival Mike Huckabee should apologize for a supporter's "prejudiced whisper campaign" against him for being Catholic.

The supporter, a pastor in Windsor Heights, Iowa, sent an e-mail to Brownback supporters pointing out that Huckabee is an evangelical Protestant and Brownback is not. Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, is an ordained Baptist minister.

"I know Senator Brownback converted to Roman Catholicism in 2002," Rev. Tim Rude, pastor of Walnut Creek Community Church, wrote in the e-mail. "Frankly, as a recovering Catholic myself, that is all I need to know about his discernment when compared to the governor's."

In the e-mail, Rude calls Huckabee "one of us."

Evangelical Protestants have a history of suspicion toward Catholics, although it has lessened significantly in the decades since the National Association of Evangelicals warned against electing John F. Kennedy, a Catholic, to the presidency in 1960.

Issues such as abortion have brought the faiths closer, although some suspicion remains.

Rude apologized Tuesday, saying he never meant to sound critical of Catholicism.

"I was careless in the first place with my words," Rude said in a statement. "I frankly agree theologically more with a Southern Baptist. In no way do I think a Catholic would not make a great president. In fact, if Governor Huckabee drops out of the race, I will support Senator Brownback."

Brownback, a Methodist until he converted, said through a spokesman that Huckabee should apologize. With days to go before the Aug. 11 Iowa straw poll, a traditional measure of strength, Brownback's campaign has sparred with several other campaigns.

"Governor Huckabee should apologize and denounce this prejudiced whisper campaign," Brownback spokesman John Rankin said. "Political campaigns should focus on the issues that Americans care about, not make bigoted slurs aimed at a person's faith and character."

Huckabee's campaign did not apologize; spokesman Eric Woolson said Rude is not a campaign staffer and was expressing a personal opinion in what he believed was a private e-mail.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brownback; catholic; evangelical; huckabee; papist; switchback
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1 posted on 08/01/2007 10:09:04 AM PDT by NYer
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To: Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
as a recovering Catholic myself

Protestant Pastor Apologizes for Anti-Catholic “Whisper Campaign”

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 08/01/2007 10:11:22 AM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: NYer
If we don’t get passed the religious litmus tests, we are going to inaugurate Missus Clinton in 2009. Note: The above post should not be taken to imply that Brownback or Huckabee have a shot at the nomination. It just means we can't rip eachother apart over doctrine and then unify in November.
3 posted on 08/01/2007 10:12:22 AM PDT by NeoCaveman (Dems '08 choices are a Manly woman, a Womanly man, or a Child Senator)
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To: NYer

What was Henry Kissinger’s famous quote about the Iran-Iraq war? It applies in Huckabee & Brownback’s case.


4 posted on 08/01/2007 10:14:07 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: NYer

People can support or oppose candidates for whatever reasons they choose—that’s what America is all about, right?—but the Rev. Mr. Rude (good name) is a bonehead.


5 posted on 08/01/2007 10:14:44 AM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (Fred Thompson 2008)
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To: NYer

“Recovering Catholics” are usually the most ignorant about Catholicism, and most virulent critics.


6 posted on 08/01/2007 10:14:45 AM PDT by perez24 (Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap.)
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To: NYer
Frankly, as a recovering Catholic myself

Reverend Rude is well named.

But Reverend Scumbag would be even more apt.

7 posted on 08/01/2007 10:14:56 AM PDT by wideawake
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To: NYer
"Frankly, as a recovering Catholic myself, that is all I need to know about his discernment when compared to the governor's."

I don't know anything about his being a "recovering Catholic" but I can attest to this guy being a bigoted arsehole.

8 posted on 08/01/2007 10:16:51 AM PDT by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
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To: NYer
Why should Huckabee apologize for something he had nothing to do with?
9 posted on 08/01/2007 10:18:53 AM PDT by joebuck
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To: NYer
Although I am a non-practicing Catholic, I'm very sensitive about the expression "recovering Catholic" and find it offensive. "Recovering Catholics" almost always cite one of two issues as reasons for their alleged childhood trauma: (1) the doctrine of hell, which is shared by evangelical Protestants; and/or (2) the Church's strict sexual morality which, in theory, is also shared by evangelical Protestants, except on the issue of contraception. But even on that issue, it wasn't very long ago that evangelical Protestants also looked with disfavor on contraception.

So I'm not sure why this particular pastor thinks his version of Protestantism is all that different from the kinds of beliefs rejected by most "recovering Catholics."
10 posted on 08/01/2007 10:22:52 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: NYer
Those who claim to be or identify with “recovering Catholics” are for the most part those who cannot accept the fact that Church Dogma is and will remain the interpretation of God’s words, not be subject to redefinition and revision through a plebiscite process.
11 posted on 08/01/2007 10:44:01 AM PDT by Natural Law
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To: NYer
Governor Huckabee should apologize

No, he shouldn't. He didn't say anything wrong, and is not responsible for the actions of the preacher in question.

I think this puts Brownback on the same level as Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.

12 posted on 08/01/2007 10:54:09 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: NYer
"Frankly, as a recovering Catholic myself, that is all I need to know about his discernment when compared to the governor's."

What a Rude thing to say...

13 posted on 08/01/2007 11:01:17 AM PDT by Redbob (WWJBD -"What would Jack Bauer do?")
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To: NYer
I am not seeing a reason for Huckabee to apologize....he did not send the email. This is petty and divisive.
14 posted on 08/01/2007 11:08:13 AM PDT by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: NYer

I know what, Christians better get it together and fast.

We have evil itself to face.

I’m not playing this game.


15 posted on 08/01/2007 11:08:31 AM PDT by AliVeritas
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To: joebuck

As a Catholic, I ask the same question. Huck just needed to advise him re: hurting the campaign... and more to the point, splintering Christians period. We’ve had enough of that. All I can do is pray.


16 posted on 08/01/2007 11:13:42 AM PDT by AliVeritas
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To: PAR35

Not exactly... all they have is race, no scripture.
They bow to the shakedown and dollars.
When was the last time God came out of their mouths?


17 posted on 08/01/2007 11:16:21 AM PDT by AliVeritas
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“’I know Senator Brownback converted to Roman Catholicism in 2002,’ Rev. Tim Rude, pastor of Walnut Creek Community Church, wrote in the e-mail. ‘Frankly, as a recovering Catholic myself, that is all I need to know about his discernment when compared to the governor’s.’”

“Rude apologized Tuesday, saying he never meant to sound critical of Catholicism.”

Lying hypocrite.


18 posted on 08/01/2007 11:23:04 AM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: NYer
"I was careless in the first place with my words," Rude said in a statement. "I frankly agree theologically more with a Southern Baptist. In no way do I think a Catholic would not make a great president. In fact, if Governor Huckabee drops out of the race, I will support Senator Brownback."

Since it is Pastor Rude who issued the insult and Pastor Rude who apologized I do not think Gov. Huckabee needs to apologize. The Governor can make some innocuous comment of support of the truths shared by all Christian faiths, and single out the Catholics for extra kudos their continual and ongoing pro-life stance. Then this should blow over.

Let me also that "recovering Catholic" is a very pejorative term. I do not consider myself a recovering Protestant. I am a Christian, relying on the Holy Spirit to show me the riches of Jesus' wisdom. With that wisdom, I have been lead to the Roman Catholic Church (I know now that the Blessed Mother had been praying for me also). The Holy Spirit meets all of us where we are, to lead us on to a closer relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and Himself.
19 posted on 08/01/2007 11:23:23 AM PDT by Talking_Mouse (O Lord, destroy Islam by converting the Muslims to Christianity.)
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To: NYer

I remember reading an article once about Trinity Church in Boston, a very left-wing mainstream Episcopal Church, where the pastor described the “recovering Catholics” in his congregation. I was very offended by that, but understood it coming from left-wing liberals who hate the Catholic Church. But to hear this from a believing Evangelical makes me think that the old “whore of Babylon” anti-Catholic mentality is not yet dead in Evangelical circles...


20 posted on 08/01/2007 11:26:39 AM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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