McCain Confused About His Own Religion

Or maybe it's just rank political posturing.

"Straight Talk" McCain, who for years has claimed to be an Episcopalian, and even listed himself as such in Senate biography pages, suddenly declared at the beginning of this campaign that he's been a Baptist for 15 years.

McCain, as recently as in a June interview with McClatchy newspapers, has consistently described himself as an Episcopalian. He was raised in the denomination and attended the prestigious Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. Biographical sketches in several well-known congressional directories -- information that is usually provided by members of Congress or their staffers -- list McCain’s faith as the Episcopal Church.

But he has now acknowledged that for years he and his family have attended North Phoenix Baptist Church when at home in Arizona. North Phoenix is one of the largest congregations in the Phoenix area.

In the June interview, McCain said that, while his wife and children had been baptized into the Baptist faith, he had not chosen to enter into believer’s baptism. "I didn't find it necessary to do so for my spiritual needs," he said.

The AP reported that McCain indicated in his South Carolina comments he was an “active member” of the North Phoenix church. However, the vast majority of Baptist churches stipulate that in order to attain full membership individuals must have made a public profession of faith followed by baptism by immersion.

By press time for this story, Dan Yeary, the church’s pastor, did not return several telephone and Internet inquiries about McCain’s membership or the church’s baptism policy.

I honestly don't give a damn what religion he follows, but a little bit of consistency and honesty would be nice. Suddenly declaring you are a Baptist during a presidential campaign swing in Baptist-heavy South Carolina sounds to me like typical play-to-the-base pandering.

Of course, McCain shouldn't expect any flak from this religious dustup. Pastor Dan Yeary is a right winger who preaches against abortion and gay rights, so he's right in the mainstream of Republican America. And so far McCain hasn't been called to account for his flip-flopping ways.