Bachmann is a member of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church. 1 The Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of the Twin Cities area WELS Churches. 2

'"WELS" is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. 3

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod's doctrine is that the Roman Catholic Papacy is the Anti-Christ. Here is a quote from their web page ("Statement on the Anti-Christ"):

"We reject the idea that the teaching that the Papacy is the Antichrist rests on a merely human interpretation of history or is an open question. We hold rather that this teaching rests on the revelation of God in Scripture which finds its fulfillment in history. The Holy Spirit reveals this fulfillment to the eyes of faith (cf. The Abiding Word, Vol. 2, p. 764). Since Scripture teaches that the Antichrist would be revealed and gives the marks by which the Antichrist is to be recognized (2 Th 2:6,8), and since this prophecy has been clearly fulfilled in the history and development of the Roman Papacy, it is Scripture which reveals that the Papacy is the Antichrist."

Another quote from the same web page:

"And we make this confession in the confidence of hope. The Antichrist shall not destroy us but shall himself be destroyed—“Whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming (2 Th 2:8)." 4

During a televised debate sponsored by WCCO, Bachmann vehemently denied that it was her church's position that the Roman Catholic Pope was the Anti-Christ. Here is a transcription:

Pat Kessler of WCCO: We'll start with Senator Bachmann. Religion and politics that has crept into this campaign over and over again. The Minneapolis-based Star Tribune reports today, Senator, that the church you belong to is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, which, it says, regards the Roman Catholic pope as the Anti-Christ. Is this true, do you share the views of your church, and why should any Catholic in the Sixth District vote for you if it is true?

Bachmann: Well that's a false statement that was made, and I spoke with my pastor earlier today about that as well, and he was absolutely appalled that someone would put that out. It's abhorrent, it's religious bigotry. I love Catholics, I'm a Christian, and my church does not believe that the Pope is the Anti-Christ, that's absolutely false. 5

1. http://www.salemlutheran.org/

2. http://www.salemlutheran.org/

3. http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?

4. "Statement On The Anti-Christ" http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=795&contentID=4441&shortcutID=5297

5. http://wcco.com/video/?id=20927@wcco.dayport.com