McCain: Episcopalian, Baptist, Christian, or None of the Above

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.

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.

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Have you noticed that most people who identify themselves as Christians but are unclear about their profession of faith and who don't get involved enough in any given church, even one they've attended, are really not Christians at all? About 80% of the people in the United States identify their religion as Christianity but for many of them it don't have any impact on their lives or anyone else. Does anyone here believe that 80% of Americans are really Christian? If its not apparent to those around them then they aren't. The Bible says:

Jam 2:14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jam 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jam 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit?
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

 

McCain is NOT a member of a Baptist church outside Phoenix. He's never joined the church in 20 years. This reminds me of a fact about George Washington. Washington was also a nominal Episcopalian but when they observed the Lord's Supper he went outside and sat in his carriage.

 

For how many years did white churches do the same thing against blacks. When did the Southern Baptist Convention (which split off from the Northern Baptist Convention over slavery) finally repudiate its support of slavery? The answer is June 20, 1995. It wasn't as if they didn't have the time to address this issue. They addressed many, many others. It just wasn't their focus as a Christian church to state that God created everyone of every race equal in His sight. Now that's "spewing hatred" for a long, long time.