By Ewen MacAskill
The Guardian
A video has emerged showing Sarah Palin playing a central role in a church service in Alaska in which witchcraft is denounced.
Thomas Muthee, a Kenyan who is a regular preacher at Palin's local Pentecostal church in Wasilla, made a passionate plea to defeat witchcraft and other supposed enemies of Palin during a sermon three years ago.
The role of the witchfinder in the life of the vice-presidential candidate running mate raises new questions about how much his team investigated her background before naming her as John McCain's running mate.
The video below shows Palin standing in front of him at the service, head bowed, her hands held by two members of the congregation.
Muthee, in the sermon, calls on church members to try to gain footholds in centres of influence, such as politics and the media, and praises Palin for her bid to become governor of Alaska. He spoke about the hindrances she faced from her enemies. "In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, every form of witchcraft is what you rebuke. In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, father make away now," Muthee said.
In a video that emerged last week Palin, in a speech to the church on June 8, thanked Muthee for his help in getting her elected governor. She said his invocation was "very, very powerful".
The Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, faced weeks of damaging reports this year over links to controversial Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright, who was accused of being unpatriotic. The links between Palin and Muthee have the potential to damage her.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that Muthee, while in Kenya, led a campaign to find the source of alleged witchcraft after a series of fatal car accidents in Kiambu. He blamed a local woman called Mama Jane, who is reported to have been forced to leave.
Muthee, in a promotional video, said: "We prayed, we fasted, the lord showed us a spirit of witchcraft over the place."
McCain's team has largely kept Palin away from the media. But she faces a debate with her opposite number, Joe Biden, next week.
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sarah palin is very beatifull woman on earth. but i doubt about her admnistration's ability. JOHN mecain has elected her as his running mate simply ti snatch hillary clonton's supporter's votes. nothing more and less. we know John mecain is the closest friend of G Bush, so why did not mecain share his ability for Bush ? Mecian is telling us every time that he was PFW IN VITENAM for five years, so what? we knew he was sitting in prison for five years, but prison is prison, but not university
September 25th, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Wow! what a support!
Our Ethiopin SARAs, the Pentecostal women in Ethiopian politcs needs a prayer help too, anti-witchcraft prayer.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Pentacostee Muthee,
You are talking about societal education however you do no what you are saying even, you better study comparative religion first to talk about other religion. To mention one point atleast from your speech you said I quote "Muslim worship Mohammed" … You may know nothing about muslim so let me advice you the best thing is go and read instead of opening your mouth and expose yourself for the puplic your shortsightedeness.
To come to my point Muslim will not worship phrophate Mohammed … Muslim worship one and only one lord that is Allah.
Having said that I completely agree with the comment given by my friend on number one about Palin. Mccain is just playing game to fulfill the gap but as we see the poll survey recently he will not suceed.
Bye Elias,
Tedy
September 26th, 2008 at 1:26 AM
I am always dumb-founded to find out there are quite a number of people who still believe that witchcrafting is still exist with power to commit horrible incidences in this day and age. What surprises me most is a lot of these believers are well educated individuals. Such genuine or pseudo convictions are prevalent in the religious communities. Do you remmeber sometime in the late eighties or early nineties when Oral Roberts climbed up onto one his campus towers bidding with every one that if couldn't get the millions dollars he needs thena dn there he would be snatched away home by God? Do you remember?And we were told someone coughed up that million dollar just before 'his God' kdnap him away. I said 'his God' not my well proven 'Tewahdo God'. What a nitwit!!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 2:53 PM
This is what most of Ethiopian Orthodox & other Christians do when some body is possesed. The name of Jesus Christ is above all names & all of us should follow the bible.
What I am trying to say is don't get surprised if the Americans make News from this incident. America is going far from God.
Praying in God's name is normal for all Chrstians
September 27th, 2008 at 7:23 PM