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John (McCain) the Baptist?
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ShareSeptember 17, 2007 11:53 AM
ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Sen. John McCain's campaign staff identified him as "Episcopalian" in a questionnaire prepared for ABC News' August 5 debate, notwithstanding the presidential candidate's claim that he has long identified himself as a Baptist.
On Monday, amid questions about his religious persuasion, the Arizona Republican said he has been attending a North Phoenix Baptist Church for many years.
"I'd like to add there's been some talk about my religious persuasion," McCain said in Lexington, South Carolina, speaking to reporters after a rally on the final day of his "No Surrender" tour.
"I was raised in an Episcopal church and attended high school at a high school called Episcopal High School. I have attended North Phoenix Baptist Church for many years, and the most important thing is that I'm a Christian. And I don't have anything else to say on the issue," McCain said.
McCain's presidential campaign says he has been attending the Phoenix area church for more than 15 years.
Curiosity about his religion was sparked Sunday when McCain, who has long been identified as an Episcopalian, was asked what role his Episcopal faith plays in his life.
"It plays a role in my life. By the way, I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist," McCain told the Associated Press after a rally in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
But the Senator's biography in the 2007 edition of the Congressional Directory lists his faith as Episcopalian. McCain also attended an Episcopal high school in the Washington D.C. area.
At a recent Fox News debate, each candidate was introduced with a short description that included religion. McCain's was described as Episcopalian, and neither the candidate nor the campaign issued a correction or clarification.
The ABC News questionnaire was sent out to each of the candidates participating in the Republican debate, which was moderated by ABC's George Stephanopoulos. The McCain campaign's director of advance Davis White returned the form to ABC.
The campaign stuck with McCain's statement earlier in the day.
"The Senator has made it abundantly clear that he's a Christian and that's the most important issue here," said campaign spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan.
McCain's wife, Cindy, is Baptist and so are their children. The campaign describes his faith as a private matter.
Later in the day Sunday, after his comments in Hilton Head, McCain was asked if he would be making a public declaration of his faith.
"I've made that hundreds of times," he said.
ABC News' Teddy Davis contributed to this report.
September 17, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (47)
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What a surprise as he fawns upon the "sudden baptist" following he needs. Frankly, he reminds me of a squirrel with a load of nuts in his jaw...
Posted by: daddy | Sep 17, 2007 1:04:03 PM
Sounds to me like he's a religious flip-flopper.
Posted by: uuforyou | Sep 17, 2007 5:19:34 PM
Well...since the government is blind to sponsoring a religion....this shouldn't matter ...right ?
Posted by: Doug | Sep 17, 2007 5:24:20 PM
He's a Baptist in South Carolina.
When he goes back to DC, he'll be an Episcopalian again.
Posted by: Rogueable | Sep 17, 2007 5:32:04 PM
Religious beliefs are a private and personal matter.
We are a secular society, and religion has no place in politics. There is good reason why our Founding Fathers argued for separation of church and state.
Posted by: Thomas | Sep 17, 2007 5:35:02 PM
Talk about flip-flopping on the issues. I'm Episcopalian, I'm Baptist, I'm Episcopalian, I'm Baptist... It's comforting to know he's just a normal politician.
Posted by: genlin | Sep 17, 2007 5:38:24 PM
It's funny how some people seem to think this is news.
Posted by: Dave | Sep 17, 2007 5:44:14 PM
Stubborn John McCain could have easily been President had he said,"close the border now!" But no, he has to saddle up with the likes of Kennedy and that is the story folks.
Posted by: rockychance | Sep 17, 2007 5:46:28 PM
I don't think anyone's religion should play a part in the election process. But as long as this news network and others use every opportunity to continue to make Mitt Romney's religion an issue, I think that, in fairness, they should treat the other candidates religious affiliation in the same manner. Maybe then everyone will finally recognize how pointless this argument is.
Posted by: dajetigabe | Sep 17, 2007 5:48:27 PM
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were Deists.
Posted by: Eric | Sep 17, 2007 5:49:44 PM
WHO CARES WHICH ONE HE IS? ANYBODY WHO USED "RELIGEOUS AFFILIATION" AS A POLITICAL STEPPING STONE OR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DISCREDIT SOMEONE BASED ON RELIGION NEEDS TO GET OVER IT! THAT IS NOT WHAT HOLDING POLITICAL OFFICE IS ABOUT! JEEZ.... RELIGION IS NOT SOMETHING ANYONE SHOULD BASE THEIR VOTE ON. (And, contrary to popular belief by now, I DO believe in God.)
Posted by: LetsKeepItReal | Sep 17, 2007 5:55:18 PM
I wonder now he is in the south telling them he is a Baptist, that he will go up north and thell them he is Catholic and over to Utah, to tell them his a Mormon!
Posted by: John | Sep 17, 2007 6:24:18 PM
Who cares? Ten thousand years ago ALL of our ancestors were ignorant, dressed in smelly animal skins, and chanting and dancing around fires to protect themselves from spirits and demons. The only thing that's changed today is the fire - it's been downsized to candles.
Posted by: Rick | Sep 17, 2007 6:26:43 PM
When he goes to Boston, he will them that he is Irish Catholic, c'mon folks my last name is McCann, vote for me!!! I am as Irish Catholic as they come and I love Boston College!!
Posted by: John | Sep 17, 2007 6:27:21 PM
There is no point in asking for the domination of any political candidates.
Those who extol the virtue of their religious assosciation are mostly chritian in names only.By their actions you could guess their true beliefs.
Posted by: Johnson | Sep 17, 2007 6:27:51 PM
What's the difference?
Posted by: JT | Sep 17, 2007 6:34:24 PM
Obviously Mr. McCain is NOT a Baptist. His wife and children are members of North Phoenix Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist Church. However in another interview, Mr. McCain notes he was not baptized so therefore he cannot be a member. However, if he says North Phoenix Baptist Church is his church home, I take him at his word. There is just that small detail that may be the problem about his membership, ie the reason folks do not believe he is a Baptist.
Posted by: Mari, Mesa Arizona | Sep 17, 2007 7:05:35 PM
Get your facts straight. If you have been baptised by a protestant church you do not need to be rebaptised to be a member of a Baptist church.
I am involved in politics in Phoenix and know for a fact that John has attended that Baptist church for years. So you leftist fascists need to get off his back!
Posted by: Mark | Sep 18, 2007 2:05:04 PM
As I posted before, and ofcourse was immediately "censored" by this blog --
I stated that John McCain is NO HISTORIC BAPTIST !
In the 2000 Presidential Primary in South Carolina; he slammed BOB JONES UNIVERSITY: WHICH IS AN HISTORIC BAPTIST/FUNDAMENTALIST JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PROTESTANT PRIVATE SCHOOL/COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY.
He ACCUSED BJU OF BEING "RACIST and "Anti-[Roman]'Catholic'".
His intent being to de-rail George W. Bush's Primary Victory.
And also his gaining "Roman 'Catholic'" favor (really VOTES) in a "Future" Presidential Run -- AS IN THE PRESENT 2008 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RACE !
John McCain is as "Baptist" as George Bush Sr. is "Pentecostal" !
Posted by: ConstitutionalConservative | Sep 19, 2007 4:44:55 PM
"Get your facts straight. If you have been baptised by a protestant church you do not need to be rebaptised to be a member of a Baptist church.
I am involved in politics in Phoenix and know for a fact that John has attended that Baptist church for years. So you leftist fascists need to get off his back!
Posted by: Mark | Sep 18, 2007 2:05:04 PM"
Dear John: I am a Southern Baptist Pastor, and although some of our churches do not require rebaptism from episcopalian churches, I am quit sure North Phoenix surely would.
You see we do not consider his first preconversion sprinkling to be genuine biblical baptism because baptism in the NT was only after salvation and always by immersion. It is important because it sybolizes our salvation. When we received Jesus we were baptized by The Holy Spirit in to the larger body of Christ, we were incorporated into the larger church. Our water baptism is a symbol of that, and of our Lord's own death, burial and resurrection.
So Mr. McCain might be a baptist by persuasion, a baptist by attendance but he is not a Baptist by membership unless and until he decides to join that church that way.
This does not speak of his salvation. He may indeed be saved. But salvation is not a private matter. It is a personal one, but one that all of us are commanded to share openly with as many people as possible. It is not a choice. If we are to be obedient we must tell people of our on faith and encourage them to come to Jesus as well. Jesus commanded us to do so.
Thanks for listening.
In Him,
Pastor, Mike
Posted by: Mike Janz | Sep 25, 2007 2:36:32 PM
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