God and politics
While Kerry’s differences from Catholic teachings have been widely noted, less attention has been paid to Bush's positions that are opposed by his United Methodist Church:
- Bush strongly believes in capital punishment. The United Methodist Book of Resolutions says: “There can be no assertion that human life can be taken humanely by the state.”
- Jim Winkler, head of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, denounced the buildup to war in Iraq in August 2002: “I ask United Methodists to oppose this reckless measure and urge the president to immediately pursue other means to resolve the threat posed by Iraq.”
- As governor of Texas, Bush signed a law allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons. His church supports banning ownership of handguns.
- Bush opposes legal abortion except in cases of rape or incest or if the life of the woman is in danger. The church accepts legal abortion as long as it is not used as a form of birth control or to select a baby’s sex.
- The church opposes Bush’s initiative to distribute vouchers that parents can use to send their children to private and religious schools, saying vouchers diminish support for public schools and breach the wall between church and state.
- Bush says he believes gays should not be allowed to serve in the military. His church says they should.
--- MSNBC