Edwards: Jesus would be appalled at Americans

By Stone Martindale Mar 6, 2007, 2:06 GMT

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards speaks at the Democratic National Committee winter meeting in Washington February 2, 2007. REUTERS/Jim Young

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has said Jesus would be "appalled" at how the United States has ignored the plight of the suffering, and that he believes children should have private prayer time at schools in a candid interview with Beliefnet.com.

Edwards also said Jesus would be most upset with Americans selfishness and the country's call to war "when it's not necessary."

"I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs," Edwards told the site. "I think he would be appalled, actually."

Edwards also said he was against mandated prayer in public schools, but he added that "allowing time for children to pray for themselves, to themselves, I think is not only OK, I think it's a good thing."

The former North Carolina senator discussed how he lost touch with his faith during college, but that it "came roaring back" after the accidental death of his 16-year-old son, Wade, in 1996.

Edwards frequently links his efforts to fight poverty as part of his walk the talk morality.

Edwards was interviewed by David Kuo, a conservative Christian who served as deputy director of President Bush's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives until 2003. Kuo wrote a book, "Tempting Faith, An Inside Story of Political Seduction," that said Bush aides privately called conservative Christians "nuts," "ridiculous" and "goofy."

Edwards told Kuo he will keep two bloggers on his staff despite their writings criticizing the Catholic Church. Edwards said he also found the writing offensive, but "decided to forgive them and stand by them, knowing there would be potential political consequences for that." The bloggers later quit the campaign