You were right to do so.
I did the exact same thing during the Vietnam war, and for the same reasons.
You should have waved it in his face and told him when the sermon turns to politics the funding stops, and put it back in your pocket.
liberalism and politics have no place in church period
You should have stood up and used one hand under your other arm's armpit to make farting noises before leaving.
You did the right thing.
Actually, when he starts talking politics, you have a right to express your political opinion as well. You should have risen and asked for rebuttal time...an excercise in being "fair and balanced." He is there to instruct you in the faith, and when he spouts his own political ideas, he is abusing his position. If more Christians did this regularly, we'd have less liberal propaganda being ladled out from the pulpits of this country.
Did I read that right? You handed your offering on the way out? Can I ask why?
JMJ, of course you did the right thing and no need to apologize for the vanity. This needed telling.
I would suggest you follow up and meet with the priest or send him a written letter.
I took issue with a priest's comments right before Clinton's reelection and handled it by going to Confession and telling the same priest I had hatred in my heart for the clergy who are endorsing this vile man and preaching Democrat politics. He was stunned.
It's very frustrating when clergy put forth the liberal/leftist POV. As a Jew, I have encountered this in synagogue.
Be sure to call or e-mail the Pastor concerning this. He may be unaware that Cindy Sheehan has in fact had her meeting with the President. He, like most Americans, likely gets his news from the major media, and he is probably not even aware of all of the facts surrounding the situation. Educate him!
You did what Jesus would have done.
It seems that a lot of churches are becoming somewhat liberal and it's hard for me to stomach their views.
I would have left as well.
Why follow people who use their position to promote their personal agenda? Are you familiar with the "God Complex"? Evidently the pastor is.
I would have left much sooner. But I haven't had the stomach for "The Church" for 30 years.
You followed your heart and mind and for that owe no one an apology.
Frankly, if it were me I would have requested a meeting with the man to express my feelings regarding his preaching HIS politics in Church.
I'd have walked out too, and we could all go to the IHop together and talk about it :-)
I'm not surprised--but it wont happen in my church!
I was about 5 or 6 years old and attending my former Catholic church with my parents (this would have been 1973 or so). The teenage CYO kids came up the aisle doing a barefoot"expressive dance" thing, and singing "All we are saying, is give peace a chance."
My dad took us all out. This wasn't the only example of our priest's liberal behavior and encouragement, including the tolerance of an openly gay man as a deacon (he's still a deacon in the DFW area, by the way).
My dad didn't really go much to church after that, and I'm no longer Catholic.