Democrats Called Anti-Christian

A Republican congressman from Indiana created an uproar in the House on Monday by accusing the Democrats of being anti-Christian.

"Like a moth to a flame, Democrats can't help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians," said Rep. John Hostettler.

Hostettler made the remark during debate over a proposal introduced by Democrats that would have put the House on record as opposing "coercive and abusive religious proselytizing" at the Air Force Academy.

According to the Washington Post, Hostettler claimed that "the long war on Christianity in America continues today on the floor of the House of Representatives" and "continues unabated with aid and comfort to those who would eradicate any vestige of our Christian heritage being supplied by the usual suspects, the Democrats."

The congressman's remarks infuriated Democrats, who demanded that Hostettler withdraw his statement. The imbroglio broke out while the House conducted an otherwise routine debate on a $409 billion spending bill to fund the Pentagon budget and provide an additional $45 billion for the war in Iraq.

The dispute brought House business to a halt for about 45 minutes, when Hostettler agreed to retract his remarks. The Democratic proposal on the Air Force Academy was defeated.

The House instead approved by voice vote a Republican plan requiring an Air Force report to Congress on the steps it was taking to promote religious tolerance.

At issue was how Congress should respond to allegations of proselytizing and favoritism for Christians at the Air Force Academy.

The Air Force is investigating numerous allegations of inappropriate actions by academy officials, including a professor who required cadets to pray before taking his test and a Protestant chaplain who warned anyone "not born again would burn in the fires of hell."

Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., a co-sponor of the Democratic proposal, said a senior chaplain at the academy was transferred to Japan after criticizing what she saw as proselytizing.

Republicans said they did not want to jump to conclusions before the investigation was complete.

"We don't prejudge that there is abusive proselytizing," said Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.

"If you tell Christians they can't tell others about their faith, then they can't exercise their Christian religion," Hostettler said later. He said proselytizing involves a forced conversion to Christianity, something that did not occur at the academy.

Obey said Hostettler's "outburst ... is perhaps the perfect example of why we need to pass the language in my amendment."

Hostettler, a Christian and social conservative, made headlines last year when he was caught carrying a loaded handgun in a carry-on bag in the Louisville, Ky., airport. He pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and received a 60-day sentence, which he will not have to serve unless he has other criminal troubles before August 2006.