The leader of the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination has denounced a “despicable” cartoon in the Washington Post that mocked Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
In the cartoon, posted online on September 9, Palin is shown “speaking in tongues” — talking on the phone at a podium in an incomprehensible language. John McCain stands near Palin and says with a grin, “She’s a Pentecostal and speaks in tongues, and only God can understand what she’s saying. But it gives my campaign a direct line to the Almighty.”
The next frame shows God in heaven holding a phone and saying to a Peter: “What’s wrong with this phone? All I can hear is some dam right wing politician spouting gibberish!”
WashingtonPost.com spokeswoman Deborah Howell said the site received some 350 complaints about the cartoon from readers who said it made fun of their faith, according to Christian Today.
And Pentecostal leader George O. Wood, Assemblies of God’s chief executive officer, said in a statement: “The cartoon is despicable. Millions of Christians today follow the example of first-century Christians who prayed in other tongues.
“The Washington Post would not think of printing a cartoon that mocked members of the Muslim or Jewish faiths. It should be ashamed.”
Palin was raised in a Pentecostal church but switched to a non-denominational church six years ago, Christian Today reported.
Wood noted that as far as he knows, Palin has never said she prayed in tongues.
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