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"On Sundays, Americans used to close their businesses, shine up their shoes, and wear their very best clothes. Sure, they were sin-laden enemies of the Almighty and objects of His wrath, but at least they had the common decency to act like they weren't."

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The church's organist, 72-year-old Beatrice Hartford, spoke with reporters after the potluck. "In my day, we feigned respect for our parents, teachers, and pastors, even if we harbored resentment in our hearts for them and rebelled against their authority whenever we could get away with it. This country is really going downhill, and it's so sad."

"In my day, America had the decency to pretend to be a Christian nation," she added.

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