Rep. Mike Johnson, the newly elected Republican House speaker, used to conduct a seminar in churches premised on the idea that the United States is a ā€œChristian nation.ā€ This ministry, as he has referred to it, is yet more evidence that Johnson is committed to a hardcore Christian fundamentalism that shapes his views of politics and government.

The seminar, titled ā€œAnswers for Our Times: Government, Culture, and Christianity,ā€ was organized by Onward Christian Education Services, Inc., a company owned by his wife, Kelly Johnson, a Christian counselor and anti-abortion activist who calls herself a ā€œleader in the pro-family movement.ā€ The website for her counseling serviceā€”which was taken down shortly after Johnson became speakerā€”described the seminar, which featured both her and Johnson, as exploring several questions, such as, ā€œWhat is happening in America and how do we fix it?ā€ The list includes this query: ā€œCan our heritage as a Christian nation be preserved?ā€ There were different versions of the seminar running from two-hour-long lectures to retreats lasting two days.

  • dhork@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    60
    Ā·
    1 year ago

    I find it really weird that they are now walking back all this stuff about his christofascism. When Johnson was asked about some of this directly, he claimed to not remember many of the things he wrote. And here, when they realized all the attention it was getting they took it down.

    Theyā€™re doing damage control over some of his core beliefs, which can never be good for someone who has a political job with a National profile.

        • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          Ā·
          1 year ago

          Theyā€™re not yet at the point of totally blowing off whatā€™s popular. They know they still need to be careful if they want their Gilead plan to work out.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      Ā·
      1 year ago

      I remember some of the magoos gnashing their teeth, crying, and almost literally tearing their garments over the early leak about the abortion decision. They were beside themselves - not just over the ā€œleakā€ either, but about what they thought it would do to the partyā€™s chances.

      I think many of them donā€™t really want to show the naked fascist face of the party - just yet.