September 3, 2004
By Fernando Oshige

GENEVA - A prominent Lutheran leader criticized US President George W. Bush for his frequent use of religious language for political purposes.

"He can talk about his faith and his personal relationship with Christ as he sees fit: the problem arises when he uses religious terminology to justify political actions," said US Lutheran Bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation Mark Hanson, at a press conference.

Few US presidents, according to observers, have been as openly religious as Bush, and this has generated controversy, in particular among Conservative Christians and progressives. While the first applaud the president's religious gestures and expressions, others accuse Bush of being influenced by fundamentalist Christian and the religious right.

The use of religious language on the part of the president became more notorious after the September 11 attacks and the following "preventive" attacks against Iraq and Afghanistan. For the Bush administration, these countries, together with North Korea, form part of the "axis of evil" and some have catalogued terrorists as the personification of Satan.

"The concept of evil is a good example," said Hanson, as when we baptize our children in our Lutheran Churches in the United States, we ask the parents if they renounce the forces of evil. The majority do not speak of evil again, perhaps until confirmation.

Suddenly we hear condemnations against "evil" from the White House, as if it is always something that comes from outside, and this term is confusing, said Hanson.

Hanson emphasized that US citizens want to be seen in the world as generous people, lovers of liberty, committed to democracy and peace building. Today, however, the world sees us as people anxious for power, with a will to dominate the world and arrogant, he said.

For these reasons, Hanson emphasized the right of the Church to make is prophetic voice heard in the world, to talk about the negative impact of economic globalization and to contribute to building a world of justice and peace with the international community.

ALC News Service