Posted on 05/07/2012 2:16:59 PM PDT by Mr. K
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has spent much of his career praising the socialist ideas of famed atheists such as Karl Marx and Fidel Castro. Now in the thick of a prolonged battle against cancer, however, the leftist leader is drawing inspiration from a spiritual leader: Jesus Christ.
Chavez has been praying for divine intervention during increasingly infrequent appearances on television, holding up a crucifix while vowing to overcome his illness. He says living with cancer has made him "more Christian," talk that has spurred speculation that cancer might cut short his bid for re-election in October.
Chavez's voice cracked with emotion as he bade farewell to aides and supporters in Caracas on April 30 before leaving for what he said would be his final round of cancer treatment in Cuba.
"I'm sure our Christ will do it again, continuing making the miracle," Chavez said as he raised his cross to his lips and kissed it, prompting applause from an audience of aides.
If Chavez survives cancer, political analysts say his increasing religiosity could pay election-year dividends in a country where Catholicism remains influential.
"Given that he cannot hide the illness, but he can hide its characteristics and danger, he's decided to take as much advantage of it as he can, and one advantage is the symbolic and religious issue," said Luis Vicente Leon, a Venezuelan pollster and analyst. "He'll present himself as the chosen one, the man who has been cured and healed by the Lord to continue governing the country."
The president has alternated between emotional fragility and optimism in public, mentioning God and Jesus nearly every time he shows up on TV.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Oh wait- no they don't: DIE already you P.O.S!!!
I truly hope he finds Christ before he meets him.
I truly hope he finds Christ before he meets him.
Are you saying that someone who truely turns to Christ cannot be foriven??
However one only knows by their actions, so I guess if he gets better one will see if Chavez truely is a changed human being and a born-again Christian!
“Now in the thick of a prolonged battle against cancer, however, the leftist leader is drawing inspiration from a spiritual leader: Jesus Christ.”
It’s really disconcerting when people call Christ a “spiritual leader”. Who wrote this crap, Bill O’Reilly?
Unless Jesus is who he said He was, it would be kind of ridiculous to pray to him wouldn’t it???
Given that premise, God incarnate is not a “spiritual leader”.
My Father, a World War II vet used to say; “There are no atheists in a foxhole”.
“God’s gonna sit this one out”
When he first went for treatment, he appealed to the native religions. Now that he sees his end, he appeals to Christ.
If only it was accompanied with repentance.
May Hugo Chavez meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, ASAP.
Actually it matters immensely as it is a tragedy any time even one soul goes to hell.
Christ loved Chavez so much that He died for Hugo Chavez, and would forgive him were he to truely become born-again, and of course we might know because of his change in actions toward his people (in human rights)..you never know.
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