Pensacola attorney Mike Papantonio is a spiritual man, a regular churchgoer at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church.

He's also a political man, hosting the politics-driven "Ring of Fire" radio show on the liberal-leaning Air America network.

But Papantonio doesn't believe in mixing the two -- politics and religion.

And he's taking on those who do in the acclaimed documentary "Jesus Camp," a film about a Christian camp for children, called Kids on Fire, where politics and religion go hand in hand.

Papantonio, 52, appears in interview segments during the film, lambasting the marriage of church and state.

Today, Papantonio will appear on "Good Morning America" along with Becky Fischer, who leads the "Kids On Fire" camp in Devils Lake, N.D.

"The problem with mixing religion and politics is that if the politics are doing well, the religion does well," Papantonio said Tuesday. "But what happens when the politics falter?

What happens when they find out that the leaders they put all their trust in are not exactly as they portrayed? Religion should not rise and fall with the success of a certain political movement or politician."

"Jesus Camp" premiered in May at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The movie had its official opening Friday in New York and opens in 20 other cities Oct. 6.

It will be screened Nov. 3 at the Pensacola International Film Festival. Beginning Nov. 4, the movie will show at Gulf Breeze Cinema 4.

The film was made by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the force behind the acclaimed documentary "The Boys of Baraka." It has garnered good reviews and was awarded an "Outstanding Achievement in Documentaries" at Tribeca.

"I love it -- it's cinematic, compelling and interesting," said Tom Rousch, artistic director of the Pensacola International Film Festival, which will take place Nov. 3-5. "(Papantonio) is not in much of the movie, just about 10 percent. But he comes across. He makes a great cinematic character."

Rousch said Ewing and Grady will attend the film's screening at the Pensacola festival.

"Jesus Camp" shows images which Papantonio calls "disturbing," including young children from the Christian camp praying over a cardboard cutout of President Bush and preteens protesting outside abortion clinics.

Papantonio said he's upset by Fischer's indoctrination of the kids.

"They're told to believe in (Bush) and follow him as the anointed world leader. She told them that Harry Potter should be executed because he's a warlock. These children, some 5 and 6 years old, are brought to tears," Papantonio said.

The Rev. Chuck Baldwin, pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola and one-time vice presidential nominee on the Constitution Party ticket, has not seen "Jesus Camp" but said he is wary of churches that put too much faith in a politician instead of "established biblical principles.' "

"If we mix personalities with principles, we get in trouble," he said. "It is very dangerous for conservative Christians to align themselves specifically with individual political personalities."

But Baldwin said he is not concerned that young people are urged to protest abortion and take up other conservative causes, and he bristles at charges that children at evangelical camps are being brainwashed.

"Liberals will always say evangelicals are guilty of brainwashing because they don't agree with our theology," he said. "These children are no more being brainwashed than any other young person being taught in whatever religious theology."

But Papantonio said he is concerned for the children portrayed in the film.

"You see this huge influence of guilt and the threat of hell leveled at these children." he said. "You have to question what's going to happen when these kids do reach the age of reason."

Papantonio is no stranger to political controversy.

As co-host, along with friend Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of Air America's "Ring of Fire," Papantonio regularly deals with issues such as separation of church and state.

But those at his church say he is a true man of faith.

"He takes his faith seriously and puts it into practice," said the Rev. Neil Epler, executive pastor at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. "And he's a great supporter of the church."

Epler said churches often struggle with political issues and how to address them -- or whether to address them at all.

"We are all concerned about justice issues and equality issues," he said. "But even when you address those issues, it's not so much about supporting a political movement or person. There are some issues that are beyond any political movement."

Papantonio said he is thrilled with the press the movie is receiving.

" 'Good Morning America,' MSNBC, CNN -- we'll do all those (while in New York)," he said. "There's so much interest in the movie. It's a movie that's raised a lot of controversy. It's on everyone's radar."