wfn.org | 'George' Explores Beliefs

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3290 notes).

Note 3286 by UMNS on Nov. 14, 1996 at 15:58 Eastern (5514 characters).

SEARCH;  George, beliefs, Kennedy, Graham, Wogoman
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CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                      572(10-71B){3286}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             Nov. 14, 1996

Clinton talks about God and country
in special 'George' issue on beliefs

                 by United Methodist News Service

     If you think President Clinton puts a lot more "God bless
you's" in his speeches these days, you're right, according to John
Kennedy Jr.
     Writing in the December issue of his new magazine, George,
Kennedy gives an overview of articles in the issue that address
the question, "What do Americans believe?"
     Kennedy interviewed evangelist Billy Graham for one of the
articles.  "Friend to presidents and other politicians for more
than three decades, Graham fused religion and politics into a
uniquely American creed -- faith and patriotism," Kennedy
observed.
     Writer Nina Burleigh interviewed Clinton aboard Air Force One
during a recent campaign trip for an article titled, "In God he
trusts." The president is a Southern Baptist but regularly attends
Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington where his wife is a
member.
     In response to a question about how his faith affects
decisions on such matters as welfare reform or abortion, Clinton
said he prays for guidance, listens to his conscience, and
considers Biblical teachings.
     "First, if I have a really difficult decision and am not sure
what the right thing to do is, I pray for guidance, wisdom, some
sense of insight that goes beyond my ability to think it through,"
he said.
     "Secondly, I've learned over time that one of the
consequences of trying to live by a religious faith is that you
have a conscience, and I try not to do anything that I don't
believe in -- even if it seemed like the thing to do at the time."
     On specific issues, the president said clear Biblical
teachings are often available.  "If you take the welfare reform
example, there are hundreds of references in the Bible about our
obligations to minister to the poor, to treat the poor with
dignity and respect, not to hurt the poor."
     Asked how he reconciles the contradictions between his stands
on abortion and on gays in the military with the teachings of the
Southern Baptists, Clinton said his position on abortion is
basically the same as was adopted by the Baptists in 1971.
     "My personal position is that abortion is unacceptable except
in cases where the mother's life or health is in danger or there's
some severe problem that would prevent the child from even being a
functioning person or there's an incest problem or something like
that," he said.
     Regarding homosexuality, he said, "I believe, with all
respect, that I'm right and they (Southern Baptists) are wrong."
     "The Bible does condemn homosexual conduct, particularly in
the Old Testament," he acknowledged.  " But in the New Testament,
Christ always made a big distinction between the sin and the
sinner.  Christ condemned divorce far more harshly.
     "There are explicit condemnations of divorce, and [references
to] remarriage as adultery, that are unambiguous -- far more
unambiguous than the reference made about abortion or
homosexuality.  But we don't deny divorced people the right to
have jobs or enter into public service."
     Clinton said he considers the Bible "crystal clear that just
because people have committed sins, if they're good citizens, if
they obey the law, if they show up every day and behave
themselves, they should not be subject to unfair discrimination."
          According to the president, Southern Baptists believe
that "if you protect from discrimination someone who's doing
something the Bible forbids, you're condoning the act.  But my
belief is that that's just wrong.  If there's evidence of
discrimination unwarranted by any behavioral reasons -- that just
doesn't have anything to do with the Bible. The Bible is clear
that we should not discriminate against anybody who's imperfect."
     Asked about the role of religion in public life, Clinton said
all people should attempt to integrate their faith with all
aspects of their life.
     "It is altogether appropriate for people to try to live and
act and follow policies that are consistent with their religious
convictions," he said, "just as it's appropriate in a democracy
for voters to make judgments about whether they agree or disagree
with those things."
     At the same time, the president calls for humility.  "If you
have a religious faith that changes your life and makes you a
better person, it also makes you more respectful of other people,"
he said.
     Asked if he agrees with conservative Christians who say they
are being persecuted by not being allowed to pray in schools,
Clinton said "No. No, I have been very careful.  I have never,
ever attacked the Christian Coalition, or conservative Christians,
who fight me based on their faith or called them phonies or
radicals for their views.  They have a right to believe what they
believe, and they have a right to try to elect people who agree
with them."
     Regarding the issue of school prayer itself, the president
said "Christian conservatives can pray in school; they just can't
make other people pray their prayer."
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