JWB and God

[L Verge]

As for being a vegetarian, his visits to oyster bars would answer that question. Booth was raised and educated as an Episcopalian, and so far as I know, there has never been any evidence to show that he converted to Catholicism as his sister indicated somewhere. There is a reference to him supporting a Catholic event on behalf of the Surratts. Perhaps that is where the medal came from that he was said to have. It was not unusual, however, for Catholics and Episcopalians to share the same medals and beliefs.

Back to the original question, however, you don't have to attend a particular church or support a certain denomination to be a Christian and to believe in God. While he certainly committed the worst crime known to man in 1865, accounts by his sister, his friends, and even references to his loving children (and playing with them the day before his death at Garrett's farm) indicate to me that he was a caring and charitable person. I had mentioned before that he saved Union officer Adam Badeau during the NY Draft Riots. He did the same for a black friend of Edwin's at that time.

War changes many people, and Booth is certainly a poster child for that. His hatred and actions were directed at people that he thought had changed his beloved country for the worst. In doing so, he "usurped" God's power. God is the final judge -- of course, we don't know what happened to Mr. Lincoln upon reaching the pearly gates...