Churchgoing DUers: get up and walk out if your minister/priest advocates for Romney from the pulpit

[scheming daemons]

... tomorrow.


make a point of it. Also, videotape it and send it to the IRS.

[still_one]

1. I would like to think most would not endorse anyone from the pulpit

[SickOfTheOnePct]

2. They won't by name

But they will by issue. I'm betting that lots of references to "check the candidates' positions against our voter guide" will be made.

[phylny]

36. Not at my church.

Never have, never will. They will urge everyone to vote, but that's where it ends.

[treestar]

57. Agreed.

Catholic churches will include as one of their prayers of the faithful something about the unborn. A sort of hint. And a prayer for our leaders, that they do what is right, etc. It's not direct.

[Ship of Fools]

24. Yep. Whether it's Robme OR Obama, I would walk.

[regnaD kciN]

3. I would, but...

...I would guess the odds of that happening at my (Episcopal) parish are close to zero.

[Freddie]

7. That would never happen at my church (Lutheran)

And if it did I would stop going there.
I know my pastor is a liberal as he often comments how much he likes the (political) stuff I put on FB but he's careful to be publicly neutral out of respect for all our church members.

[evemac]

38. Also thought the same thing as a fellow Lutheran (ELCA) n/t

[Tess49]

41. Same here. Never going to happen at my church. Also Episcopalian.

[Caretha]

4. And as you walk out

say in a very loud voice, that you are going to vote for "Who Jesus would vote for".

[Coyotl]

5. VIDEO that instead, and then report them to the IRS so they pay taxes

Or, do a video sting on them afterwards

[MountainMazza]

6. My church will not do that (thank heavens!)

Actually, my minister is definitely pro Obama....but he is very educated and believes in separation of church and state...imagine that.

[northoftheborder]

8. I have already walked out, when the minister started talking about the church needing to take on

more of the social services now being provided by the government. They have been careful not to mention candidates names, but rhetoric along the line of urging prayer for our leaders putting God back in the government, and the like...praying for the election....bringing back the constitution....etc... It makes me uncomfortable.. Also have had a Teapartier posting their meetings on a church bulletin board and personally inviting people to come.

[xtraxritical]

48. If you must do "religion" do a mainstream religion. Why put up with home schooled evangelicals?

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Fat chance of that happening in my church.

There's a little "honor system" board with various pins you can buy in our church foyer.

Among the pins for sale on the board are "Atheist" buttons & Darwin fish, as well as various versions of the predictable chalice symbols, like this:



I saw where a church event was re-scheduled because it conflicted with some event the county Democrats are holding.

There is no explicitly political stuff from the pulpit, just a lot of discussion of social justice and the like. Things like Christ might have said (or did say), even though out Solstice celebration is a much bigger deal than the Christmas service.

It's my kind of place.

[JDPriestly]

31. Ditto, Jackpine Radical.

[Warpy]

10. I never quite forgave my mother for not walking out

when a full of himself stuffed shirt of a priest gave a sermon about how the only place for women in the church was in cleaning it. It was the angriest I ever saw her but she sat there, giving the SOB her tacit agreement.

I think people really do need to start walking out on unacceptable preachers. Hit them hard in their wallets.

[mnhtnbb]

55. Too bad she didn't stand up, walk up to the pulpit and tell him

I'm not working my butt off so you can live the high life running around in your
dress pretending I won't get to heaven if I don't do it your way.

Fuck you!

And walk out.

[libdem4life]

11. and don't forget to set your clocks back...always messes up church attendance.

[meow2u3]

12. If my priest starts advocating for Robme from the pulpit

I'm going to get my cell phone out and record the homily. If he tells us to vote for Robme under penalty of eternal damnation, I'm not only going to send the vid to the IRS, I'll also upload it on Youtube - with my own comments - for the entire world to see.

If that won't embarrass the hierarchy, what will?

[goclark]

13. I'm African American

My minister doesn't say, " Vote for Obama."

He says " Don't Forget to Vote"
Then someone may quietly say from their seat " Fired Up!""
Then someone like goclarkOBAMA may quietly say from her seat , " Ready to GO!"
Then you'll hear and see other members say, " Ready To GO!"

So, He doesn't have to --- if he mentioned the word Rmoney ~ we would be looking for for a new minister. : )

But he does talk about issues that are things dear to the hearts of Democrats---

Ex: "Take Care of the Least of These --- not just the 1 percent"

[lindysalsagal]

58. I think that's appropriate: It leaves room for individual thought

What scares me about religion is the blinding effect of bias and the refusal to apply critical thinking to politics.

[Jennicut]

14. My pastor wouldn't do that, thankfully. He is very non political in church.

Last edited Sun Nov 4, 2012, 08:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Lutheran church in Southington, CT. We do pray for a generalized "world leaders" and for all the people of the world. Nothing ever beyond that. No issues discussed except certain charities for the poor.



It's a pretty welcoming, inclusive church. My husband plays the piano and organ for the church during all the services, a job he has had since he was 17.

[JDPriestly]

39. Beautiful, simple and peaceful sanctuary. Very nice.

[Jennicut]

53. Thank you.

It's small but we like it.

It is part of the ELCA.

The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) is pretty progressive for a mainstream organization. Allowing gay marriage in it's churches where it is legal and allowing gay clergy.

[intheflow]

15. I'd bet most DUers who go to church don't go to conservative churches in the first place. n/t

[Initech]

16. Audio would be better - they might get suspicious if you start video taping.

Hiding your phone or recording device would have less of a chance of you getting caught.

[BootinUp]

17. I had to do this once.

8 years ago. It was very enraging as I recall.

[left-of-center2012]

18. Way back in 1960

I was a kid in rural Pennsylvania, yet I recall one Sunday when the minister preached how the Pope would move to Washington, DC and rule America if John Kennedy became President.

One man got up and walked out.

I later learned he only needed to go to the bathroom.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. Wouldn't happen at my church

I attend an Episcopal church whose parking lot is full of cars with left-leaning bumperstickers.

[Dorian Gray]

20. I can't imagine that happening

at my very liberal parish in Brooklyn, but stranger things have happened. But I sincerely doubt it will. Our pastor (a good friend) is pretty liberal within the church, and he avoids politics like the plague at Mass.

[kestrel91316]

21. What would be the point? IRS and DOJ are run by RWers.

(that's why repukes never get in trouble with them for this sort of thing)

[OldHippieChick]

22. I'm Presbyterian - it won't happen

Besides, I know my pastor is pro gay-marriage and a registered Dem. He just doesn't say anything political from the pulpit.

[Robyn66]

23. My pastor and church would not do that

My church and pastor are very liberal and socialy conscious so there is no danger of that. There are certainly some republicans that attend but I cant imagine even they will vote for Romney because the people I go to church with are truly kind and work very hard to help people in need.

[LeftInTX]

25. Catholics usually advocate for anti-abortion

Not for a specific candidate
Usually they remind congregations of what the Catholic Church teaches about abortion - sometimes they contrast it with social programs & the death penalty.
And leave it at that.

My son said at Mass the priest held up a copy of the NY Times and the Bible and said, both Obama and Romney are Cafeteria Christians.
So, it's even...

[RagAss]

26. Churchgoing DUers.....

why?

[xtraxritical]

49. Exactly - Christ said "go to the back room and pray to your Father in private".

[randome]

27. Better yet: Churchgoing DUers: get up and walk out.

Just my advice. I was never so relieved as a kid when I finally stood up and refused to go to church.

[Arugula Latte]

35. I second this emotion.

Church =

[auto1969]

28. AMEN brother or sister

[catbyte]

29. And threaten to report them to the IRS. That is a no-no to keep tax-exempt status.

[plethoro]

30. Excellent post. I haven't been to church in 30 years since they turned corrupt, but I know

there are a few who see the problems now.

[treehuggnlibrul]

32. Wouldn't happen at our ELCA church

and that's one of the reasons we are happy there. Our pastor is very progressive... She wouldn't preach for a specific candidate, but she has preached for gay rights, addressing poverty, tolerance, and peace. She ends every service with: "Go in peace. Remember the poor."

If I had a pastor advocate for Romney, I would walk out and not return.

[Marymarg]

33. Not in my parish.

The rector of my wonderful (Episcopal) church is a black woman. I am blessed to be in a very inclusive, accepting church. All are welcome which means that conservatives choose not to worship with us. They cannot stand the tolerance.

[FailureToCommunicate]

34. Our entire congregation is planning on getting up and leaving tomorrow...

And walking nearby to support Rep Ed Markey speaking on ***gasp***climate change!

(AND we spend the morning today making energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades to the church buildings)

[grantcart]

37. 15 years ago I came back from 20 years in Asia and swent to my home Church,

Once a liberal bastion I was their prominent favorite son, voted to national committees and made an elder at 18, Student Body President at the nearby Presbyterian college, and went to Seminary.

The minister started a nonsensical sermon about angels (non biblical, he talked about SEEING angrels). Congressman Nethercut sat beside me and I got up and walked out.

That was the final straw that broke the Camel's back.

I have never been able to go back to any Church.

[Thinkingabout]

40. This has been happening in southern baptist churches for years.

This is the reason I have changed to another religion. They only have a short period of time to speak about Jesus and they chose to talk about political issues. Shame on them.

[lunasun]

42. Eyeball rolling is not a protest . Nonaction is dangerous for everyone.

[ncgrits]

43. Good god, what kind of church do you think I go to? LOL

Good upstanding Episcopalian here! One of my rectors is a woman. My bishop is African American. Our Presiding Bishop is woman. And a few years ago we ordained an openly gay bishop. I don't think I need to worry about hearing anything endorsing Romney at church. Not all Christians are the stripe you are worried about. Thank God.

[liberal_at_heart]

50. Cool church ncgrits

I think Episcopalians and Unitarians are the hope and future of Christianity.

[Don C. Nuttin]

44. God, I wish the God I worship was as smart as you.

Thank you for deigning to instruct us, oh prescient one.

[zwyziec]

45. Answer: What is Secularism and Unionism?

What are the answers to these questions?

What should you do:

a) when your bishop or preacher tells you to vote for Romney or you will lose your soul?

b) when your employer or boss tells you to vote for Romney or you will lose your job?

My wife and I have twelve years of catholic grade and high school education and we also have four years of Jesuit college education.

We have been honored by our bishop and Pope Benedict with the highest award the Roman Catholic Church gives to lay people, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award.

I was a parish administrator of a large parish for five years. We both were involved with numerous ministries.

But when the Bishops started saying they would deny Communion to Kerry and Kennedy because they supported a woman's right to make her own health decisions, and when our parish published a vile, reprehensible article vilifying Ted Kennedy after he died for the same reasons, and when we see the Evangelicals pushing their divisive agenda, we decided that we can no longer be called "christian". We tore up that weekly bulletin in church, walked out and stopped giving to the diocese and parish.

We support taxing all religious organizations on their property, their profits and their donations. We joined the Freedom From Religion organization that is active in legal actions to support the separation of church and state. We urge everyone to join www.ffrf.org and get active in supporting their agenda against all forms of church interference in politics.

Get up. Walk Out. Stop donating. After all, you are considered "sheep" the dumbest animal in the barnyard. That's what they think of you!

[xtraxritical]

52. I went to the Jesuit Catholic University of America in Washington D,C.

I'm not even Catholic it's just that CUA is as well regarded as Georgetown University (and I could take classes at either school). I was required to take religion as part of the curriculum so I took comparative religion classes. They were cool and I learned much about many of the worlds religions. Catholicism was never favored in any classes that I took. This was in the 1970s, maybe things have changed. I'm sorry to see them get so politicized these days

[Xyzse]

46. I already did last week.

Will do so again this Sunday if they tried.

[hoosierspud]

47. It won't happen in our church.

United Methodist Church in the Northwest is one of the most liberal diocese in the country.

[William769]

51. Should also do the same if they preach against marriage equality. n/t

[quaker bill]

54. Being the Clerk of the Meeting

I am about as close to a minister as my type of Quaker gets. No worries - no problem. We don't have a pulpit anyway.

[nichomachus]

56. Don't walk out

Just stand in protest -- and stay standing.

That really bugs the shit out of them. Sometimes, they may ask you why you're standing. Then, you can say your piece. I've done it.

If you walk out, they may just think you had to pee or something.

[Bucky]

59. That would be pretty unlikely at my Unitarian congregation.

[etherealtruth]

60. My guess is that churchgoing DU'ers tend not to be a member of congregations ...

... that are likely to experience this.