Religious tensions flare after chaplain's ouster

[riversedge]

Source: The Hill


By Scott Wong and Mike Lillis - 04/27/18 06:25 PM EDT

.....................................

Impromptu remarks by Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), a Southern Baptist preacher who’s also serving on the bipartisan search committee, have only stirred tensions further.

The chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, Walker told reporters Thursday he thought the next chaplain should have a family with “adult children” so they can better relate to and counsel lawmakers with spouses and kids.

Democratic and some GOP lawmakers felt the comments were blatantly anti-Catholic since many Catholic priests, like Conroy, take a vow of celibacy.
.......................

Walker, seen as someone with leadership ambitions, sought to clean up the comments both in the private GOP meeting and publicly with reporters. What he had meant to say, he said, was that he hopes to recommend someone who has experience “shepherding a flock” and working with families.......................

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/385280-religious-tensions-flare-after-chaplains-ouster

---

Says Walker has been making the rounds to lawmakers to clarify his remarks.

Link to tweet

[jpak]

1. NOOOooo Popery!!!!1111

yup

[Hestia]

2. Every day in every way, you think they can't go any lower then bam! They still haven't found the

floor for being the biggest dick and raging asshole.

[SergeStorms]

3. When you have to visit everyone in the House....

to explain "what you meant" by your comments, chances are you blew your chances at being the leader of the 'god squad' in The House of Representatives.

Sorry, but we have some nice parting gifts for you.

[msongs]

4. how bout a liar, cheat, thief, serial adulterer who likes to grab em by the P****?

know anyone like that?

[LiberalFighter]

5. Has anyone really benefitted from having an on site minister?

[3Hotdogs]

6. Sometimes they keep the news reporters away when you are having a bad day.

Beyond that, I can't think of anything else they are good for.

[paleotn]

11. Nope.

[Jedi Guy]

14. I imagine so.

Religious folks often ask their pastor or minister to play the part of psychologist and counselor, apart from the normal things, like helping someone through the grief of losing a loved one. For instance, the pastor of my parents' church has been a sort of marriage counselor for some of the couples in the church.

Not all pastors are necessarily good at this, mind you, and they're definitely not a replacement for a mental health professional if one is dealing with depression or something along those lines. But as the proverbial shoulder to cry on, sometimes a pastor can be helpful.

As a for instance, before I left home, the pastor at my church helped me get through some rough patches in life. To those who are not religious or atheist, I can see how it'd seem strange.

[truthisfreedom]

7. Why does this smell as if he was too Jesus-like?

Too much support for the meek and the poor?

[watoos]

8. They need to find

one of those Dominionists who believe that the rich are God's chosen people, then all will be ok.

Mike Pence can say grace until they find one.

[JI7]

9. They want a right wing bigot

[paleotn]

10. Religious war!!!

Among the Rethugs! Bring it on! Of course Walker believes shit like that. Since when has the SBC NOT been anti-Catholic? I was taught from early childhood that Catholics (and virtually everyone else) were heretics, bound for hell. They're just not as open today with that dark side of Baptist thought. That is until Walker opened his big mouth.

Sheparding a flock? Working with families? What the hell does he think Catholic Priests do? They do the same shit as SBC pastors, you fucking idiot! And Baptist pastor's record of child molestation is no better or worse than the Catholics.

[barbtries]

12. how about you just skip the religious part of congress?

separate the church from the state. let those who need their religion go get it on their own time.

especially republicans, i mean really! christian don't make me laugh.

[rurallib]

13. My God is bigger than your God!

Hey Republicans - there's 5000 religions in the country or something like that. Put 'em all in a hay and draw one out.

Then announce that we won't have a chaplain because of the separation of church and state,

[ucrdem]

15. Now I get why Ryan isn't running again.

His constituents have probably had it. If he caved on this what wouldn't he cave on?