PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2000 - OFFICIAL CANDIDATES

John Michael Fitzpatrick seems to be Catholicism's answer to fundamental Christian candidates. His campaign page bears the following statement - in fact, it's the only thing on his campaign page:

"My public policy efforts are guided by the words of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917.

I support the work of Father Gruner at www.fatima.org

In my view, some in the Church seems to be empowering the dark forces in society
in a vain attempt to hasten the Second Coming of Christ.

Pope John Paul II, release the Third Secret of Fatima."

Strange stuff.

A little digging on the Web turned up a bit more information. Fitzpatrick is a young Republican from Oregon who ran for the Senate in 1998 and came in second in the primary with 58,000 votes. He's pro-life and anti-gun control, and strongly opposes drugs, pornography and prostitution. But what about the Fatima connection? It's a fascinating story, but we're not about to risk bad juju by making any comments on religious matters. If you'd like to know more, you can read all about it on the Fatima Network site .

We can only reiterate that one of the few things about which we hold a strong viewpoint is that religion and politics should be kept as far apart as possible, and it gives us the willies when politicians start dragging religion into their campaigns. Fitzpatrick may have the best of intentions, but we're just a little leery of candidates whose primary concerns have to do with Dark Forces and the Second Coming.

And, dammit, we want to know what that Third Secret is all about - so if any of you have an in with the Pope, please ask him to give us the scoop. We promise to keep it under our hats.

- RA

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