First described on Democratic Underground and later confirmed by several readers of DU and Daily Kos, and finally confirmed by a video of the news story. East Waynesville (NC) Baptist Church has excommunicated all Democrats, or basically, all those who don’t support George W. Bush. The original posting on DU:
My Mom just emailed me the news. There’s no link yet.
She said WLOS tv just broke in to report that the East Waynesville Baptist church has officially excommunicated all its democratic members.
She said that before the election, the preacher told the congregation from the pulpit that if they didn’t vote for * they had to come to the altar to confess their sins and repent. they could’nt be members. (My Mom doesn’t attend that church—she’s United Methodist, but I know of lots who do attend).
From Mom’s email: “One of the local women who got excommunicated said on TV that it was like a cult. Another man who got excommunicated said that the rest of the congregation stood up and applauded as the Democrats were told to leave.”
Okay, I’m officially freaked out.
Man, this sort of thing makes me feel unproud to be from that area of NC. I’m actually from Asheville, which is by far the most progressive city in the southeast, but Waynesville is right next door. I know people from Waynesville, and sure alot of people there are ignorant and close-minded, but this seriously surprises me, though I guess it’s just another battle in the “culture war” that the media has convinced us is going on. How do you react to a situation like this?
From the video:
Church Member: “He told us that if we didn’t support George Bush that we needed to resign our position or go to the altar and repent, and agree to vote for George Bush.”
Anchor: “The pastor says that the actions were not politically motivated.”