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Why the Modern President Can’t Belong to a Church
TIME ^ | 12/17/2011 | Amy Sullivan

Posted on 12/18/2011 6:34:44 AM PST by SeekAndFind

The new internet era of politics has changed a lot of things about the way Presidents go about their daily lives. A stray comment captured on tape can instantly ricochet and cause havoc. Post-9/11 security concerns combined with the ability to find detailed information about virtually any location has made the already challenging job of protecting the President and his family even tougher. But the freedom to attend church and be part of a congregation while living at the White House may be the first true casualty of our new political age.

Last Sunday, the Obamas held hands to cross Lafayette Park and attended the 11 a.m. worship service at St. John’s, a small Episcopal church that is famous for hosting Presidents. It was just their third visit to a local church this year, and one of a handful of church services they’ve attended in Washington since moving into the White House. More often, Obama and his family have followed the lead of the Bush family, joining the congregation at Camp David when they spend the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland, but staying home on Sunday mornings when in Washington. In a poll last summer, two-thirds of Americans didn’t know that Obama is a Christian, a misperception that could be easily enough fixed if the President were seen trooping up the steps of a local church every Sunday. Three years into his presidency, though, Obama has clearly decided that isn’t an option for him and his family.

As recently as the 1990s, it was possible for a President to maintain a regular, low-key presence in a local congregation with minimal inconvenience to church members and no political downside. During his eight years in office, Bill Clinton and his family were fixtures at Foundry Methodist Church on 16th Street,

(Excerpt) Read more at swampland.time.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: church; obama; obamachristian; obamachurch
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1 posted on 12/18/2011 6:34:48 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Here’s the writer’s conclusion:

___________________________

It’s hard to imagine any future President being able to attend church–much less teach Sunday School–without an attendant hullabaloo. And that’s too bad. The men and women we put in that office will confront serious questions on life-and-death issues and find themselves under enormous amounts of stress.

For those for whom religion has been important, it could be helpful to have the outlet of a congregation where they could reflect and be renewed. The individuals who serve as President give up many personal freedoms in order to do so. A community of worship shouldn’t have to be one of them.


2 posted on 12/18/2011 6:35:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Just making excuses for why our Muslim president doesn’t attend Christian church services.


3 posted on 12/18/2011 6:40:49 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (Nothing will change until after the war. It's coming.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Forgive me for not reading the entire article from this rag, but this just jummped out at me:

“For those for whom religion has been important...”

This idiot makes it sound as if those of us who have faith are aliens from another planet!

And be sure that the NEXT president will get no such pass - “it’s hard to imagine any future President being able to attend chuch...”. Sure. Just let Romney or Gingrich miss a Sunday, and these idiots will be all over them.


4 posted on 12/18/2011 6:41:22 AM PST by Joann37
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To: SeekAndFind
It's this way because the voters put the moral relativists in office. They elect people with NO backbone because the voters have the backbone of a noodle.

Christianity is TOO HARD for those spoiled brats who make their own "commandments" and style their own god according to their hormones and "feelings."
So they elect politicians who make them FEEL GOOD about their amoral/immoral life.

Amen.

5 posted on 12/18/2011 6:42:50 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: SeekAndFind

If a sitting president has to deny his faith because of politics then he is truly Antichrist.
“Go away, I never knew you”


6 posted on 12/18/2011 6:45:14 AM PST by vanilla swirl (We are the Patrick Henry we have been waiting for!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
Just making excuses for why our Muslim president doesn’t attend Christian church services.

Exactly !!!

7 posted on 12/18/2011 6:48:16 AM PST by Popman (Obama is God's curse upon the land....)
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To: SeekAndFind
Twaddle.

8 posted on 12/18/2011 6:49:57 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
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To: Joann37
This idiot makes it sound as if those of us who have faith are aliens from another planet!

To Obama, the left, progressives, liberals, we ARE ALIENS. They think we are truly nuts and off our rockers. But, that is okay by me. I know the true HIM, thus am not worried. For the Bible TOLD me the end of the story, and it ain't them! It is Him with us.

9 posted on 12/18/2011 6:50:11 AM PST by RetiredArmy (The End of Days draws near. In this time, you should be drawing closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Excuses...


10 posted on 12/18/2011 6:51:30 AM PST by csense
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To: SeekAndFind
This article is just one lie after another and meant to cover up for the fact that Obama hates all Christians and particularly Catholics.

Two thirds of Americans do not believe Obama is a Christian for the simple reason that Obama is NOT a Christian. He is extremely hostile to Christians and Christianity.

Obama's mother and grandparents were Communists opposed to Christian principles and throughout his life Obama never practiced Christian principles.

His only experience with a church was that of Rev Jeremiah Wright. Wright preached the same leftist anti-white hatred that Obama believes and also provided Obama and others with access to “down low” homosexual experiences.

Obama was never baptized a Christian. His only religious training was as a Muslim.

Time magazine has again showed it is just a disinformation rag for Obama and will print any lie to help keep him in power.

11 posted on 12/18/2011 6:51:54 AM PST by detective
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To: Joann37
Amy Sullivan: long-time liberal, noblesse oblige, Democrat, TIME RAG writer, eastern college grad, head-in-clouds, arrogant, trying to educate us folks who are on the right side of brains, morality and Christianity.
12 posted on 12/18/2011 6:52:35 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: SeekAndFind

Wipe off your chin, Amy.


13 posted on 12/18/2011 6:53:23 AM PST by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: SeekAndFind
TIME...Tops In Making Excuses...for obama.

I wonder why those same principles don't apply to the golf course, or roaming around Hawaii eating ice cream, or traveling all of the USA/World campaigning at OUR expense?

What a crock of ka-ka.
14 posted on 12/18/2011 6:53:55 AM PST by FrankR (What you resist...PERSISTS!)
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To: cloudmountain

Another Hussein Whore, what a surprise.


15 posted on 12/18/2011 6:56:30 AM PST by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: SeekAndFind

Near as I can tell, Sheik Obomba doesn’t belong to any church. Rev. Wright’s establishment doesn’t count as such.


16 posted on 12/18/2011 6:59:55 AM PST by Fresh Wind ('People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook.' Richard M. Nixon)
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To: SeekAndFind

Why can’t a military chaplain conduct a service in the White House? A service at the location of their unit is how many servicemen attend worship on the weekends.........


17 posted on 12/18/2011 7:01:49 AM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: SeekAndFind
I don't know why the MSM wastes the time and energy to pretend Obama is a christian to try and sway the evangelical vote...

The evangelical voting bloc are the only ones who really care about the spiritual condition and belief of the POTUS

Any evangelical christian knows Obama who is so ardently pro-death .. isn't a christian anyway

The only way I would think Obama is a christian if he come out and announcing he was de-funding planned parenthood and ask Congress to repeal Roe V Wade....and I still would not vote for him...

18 posted on 12/18/2011 7:02:06 AM PST by Popman (Obama is God's curse upon the land....)
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To: SeekAndFind
The individuals who serve as President give up many personal freedoms in order to do so. A community of worship shouldn’t have to be one of them

Yet far too many think that this God our nation was founded on is anathema to a "civilized society". While Bush disappointed in many areas, I still cherish the memory of him talking about following the instructions and holding up his Bible as the "Instruction Manual". Bill Mahre may respect the Godless, the greater portion of the People do not.

19 posted on 12/18/2011 7:02:32 AM PST by trebb ("If a man will not work, he should not eat" From 2 Thes 3)
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To: UriÂ’el-2012
Whoa Nelly! It's all trash. Don't buy into it for one second.

Photobucket

20 posted on 12/18/2011 7:03:28 AM PST by BobP (The piss-stream media - Never to be watched again in my house)
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