[SoftballMominVA]

Unfortunately, I saw this coming months ago. Michele Bachman is a member of the WELS synod, (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod). I am a member also. The website of the WELS clearly states that as a church body we believe the pope is the AntiChrist.

http://www.wels.net/about-wels/doctrinal-statements/antichrist?page=0,5

I will also say that as a member with 3 ministers in my direct family, Bachman is going to have to toe a very fine line. If she disavows doctrinal statements, her church and/or synod can withhold fellowship from her. I know people like her here on FR and I do too, but it is possible she's only electable at a local level where her support base contains a large number of WELS members - as her current base does. This doctrinal statement is not a core belief of the church, but it IS a doctrinal statement so it is important, else it wouldn't exist. This whole thing has been brought up before in earlier races and it fizzled out. I'm praying for her that she can weather the storm the drive-by media is going to unleash.

[Claud]

Thanks for your inside viewpoint on this.

So I guess the media is going to push this issue to, as people have already said here, divide Catholics and Lutherans on this issue and torpedo her candidacy.

I wear my traditional Catholicism on my sleeve as most people on the Religion forum know. But I think this is a ridiculous issue.

Even *if* she personally believes the Pope is the Antichrist, how will that affect the way she governs? Can anyone give me 3-4 policy/administrative decisions that will flow from it?

[stayathomemom]

I’m WELS too. Just wait until “they” find out only men can vote in congregational meetings!