Guns, God and Country

Sarah Palin's pastor says whoever criticizes President George W. Bush will go to hell.

Did he include Sen. John McCain, the man who wants to succeed Mr. Bush?

I started not to blog tonight because the Republican convention bored me so badly. But then I came across this story about Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin's pastor.

According to the piece, published in The Huffington Post, Palin's preacher chastised those who criticized President Bush following the federal government's failure during Hurricane Katrina. "I hate criticisms towards the President," said Ed Kalnins, the senior pastor of Wasilla Assembly of God, "because it's like criticisms towards the pastor -- it's almost like, it's not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That's what it'll get you."

Well, McCain has criticized President Bush on the war, spending as well as to his slow response to Hurricane Katrina. Does that mean McCain is going to hell?

According to Palin's pastor, yes.

Palin was baptized and attended the church well into adulthood, The Huffington Post report says, and she continues to contribute to the church in a myriad of ways.

Media reports say that Pastor Kalnins preached that critics of President Bush will be banished to hell; questioned whether people who voted for Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted to heaven; charged that the 9/11 terrorist attacks and war in Iraq were part of a war "contending for your faith;" and said that Jesus "operated from that position of war mode."

Kalnins has preached that the 9/11 attacks and the invasion of Iraq were part of a "world war" over the Christian faith, one in which Jesus Christ had called upon believers to be willing to sacrifice their lives.

Kalnins also asserted that Palin's election as governor was the result of a "prophetic call" by another pastor at the church who prayed for her victory.

You can read the full article for yourself. But in fairness, I should say Kalnins and his church have a variety of different ministries that help the poor and children.

But so did Jeremiah Wright and Trinity United Methodist Church, where Sen. Barack Obama attended until recently. Having community service ministries didn't help Trinity or Wright.

Do you think we'll get back-to-back news reports about Palin and her pastor the same way we were bombarded with flack from the Obama-Wright debacle? Somehow I doubt it.

For Palin's part, we already know that her religion leads her to believe that life begins with conception, to be against abortion as well as against the teaching comprehensive sex education in schools.

But did you also know Palin believes the U.S. invasion of Iraq was God's will? And that her energy policy also reflects personal religious beliefs?

For example, Palin asked for prayers in getting a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state of Alaska. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

Two days before McCain picked her for the Republican Vice Presidential slot, Palin signed a bill clearing the way for the pipeline.

Divine intervention or just more politics?

If I were McCain, I might watch my back and/or do some praying of my own.