Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday pushed back against criticism of his Christianity, arguing that people who make such criticisms “don’t know him” because he claims to be “unfazed” by it.
“I’ve been labeled all kinds of things, but these people don’t know me,” Johnson said in an interview with “Fox News Sunday.” “Look, my family… it’s no fun to be misquoted, slandered and mocked, of course, but we know it’s part of the job, and we don’t mind. »
Fox News anchor Shannon Bream highlighted a opinion piece in the New York Times last week titled “The Embodiment of White Christian Nationalism in a Tailored Suit”, which describes “Christian nationalism” as the “belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity and that the government should take active steps to ensure that it remains Thus “.
Asked by Bream if this is an accurate vision of how government should work, Johnson replied: “No, I’m not even sure what that term means.” »
“Look, there are entire industries built on destruction, the destruction of people like me. I understand it’s part of the territory, and we don’t mind it,” Johnson said. “But look, what I believe in are the founding principles of the country: individual liberty, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, the free market, human dignity. These are essential American principles.
The editorial, written by Thomas B. Edsall, asserted that Johnson’s election to the presidency “reflects the strength of the influence of white evangelical voters within the House Republican caucus.” Edsall said these voters are “determined to use the power of government to roll back civil rights, women’s rights and sexual revolutions.”
Johnson’s religious affiliation came to the fore after his election late last month. Johnson, a Christian conservative, brought his Bible to the podium before taking the oath, saying, “The Bible is very clear that God is the one who exalts those in authority…each one of you, all of us,” according to The Associated Press (AP).
Johnson reiterated Sunday that he is pro-life and is a “Bible-believing Christian.”
“I believe in the sanctity of every human life,” Johnson said. “So, I come to Congress with my personal beliefs, but guess what? So do my 434 other colleagues in the House, each coming to Congress with their deeply held beliefs.”
Johnson noted that he had not introduced any measures regarding abortion, birth control or in vitro fertility treatments and that he was focused on government funding, addressing “massive national security priorities “, crises around the world and reform of the “functioning of Congress”.
Before his tenure in the Lower House, Johnson was a public school teacher at Liberty University in Virginia, a Christian school, according to the AP. From 2004 to 2012, Johnson served on the board of directors of the political arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, where he advocated for Republican opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights.
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