Posted on 06/24/2004 7:24:12 AM PDT by presidio9
Let's keep religion out of the presidential election campaign. Or is it too late?
Not since 1960 when John F. Kennedy's Catholicism was a big issue has religion played such a prominent role in a national election.
Kennedy confronted the issue head-on when he appeared before the Presbyterian Convention in Houston during the campaign and assured the ministers that he would not be taking orders from the Vatican if he were elected.
Last Friday, the nation's Roman Catholic bishops gave priests the option of denying communion to any politician who supports abortion rights. The bishops issued a statement declaring that lawmakers who support abortion rights are "cooperating in evil."
The bishops' policy affects Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., a Catholic and former altar boy who is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Kerry has sought to make it clear that he is a secular politician who doesn't want to be viewed through a religious prism.
"I am not a spokesperson for the church and the church is not a spokesperson for the United States of America," he said recently. "I'm running for president and I'm running to uphold the Constitution which has a strict separation of church and state."
The divisive question of the role of church and state in public life rose again at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan when his son, Ron Reagan, took a sharp dig at President Bush.
Reagan's comments came during the burial ceremony at the Reagan Library in Ventura, Calif., following a long day of eulogies for the late president during which Bush had described Reagan as a religious man.
While his father was "deeply and unabashedly religious," his son said, "he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians -- wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage."
Ron Reagan admitted that after the 1981 assassination attempt on the president, his father began to believe his life was spared for a purpose.
"But he accepted that as a responsibility, not a mandate," said Reagan. "And there is a profound difference."
Asked later if his remarks were intended to be critical of Bush, Reagan said: "If the shoe fits."
Bush has reportedly sought political support from the Vatican for his opposition to gay marriage, according to the National Catholic Reporter newspaper.
The president appealed to Vatican officials on his trip to Rome earlier this month "to encourage American bishops to take a more active role in promoting their shared social agenda," particularly against gay marriage, the newspaper reported.
The newspaper said Bush had made the request to Cardinal Angelo Soldano, the Vatican's secretary of state, "for the Vatican's help in encouraging them to be more outspoken."
Such activities could run afoul of the church's tax-free status that bars participation in political affairs.
The Bush campaign also is working to cultivate some Protestant groups, particularly Southern Baptists.
A born-again Christian who has placed a religious imprimatur on many aspects of his public life, Bush sometimes gives the impression that he is on a Messianic mission.
When Bob Woodward, the Washington Post writer, asked Bush if he ever sought the advice of his father, President George H.W. Bush, the younger Bush replied, "There's a higher father I look to."
Bush has gone farther in pushing religion than his predecessors by creating a "faith-based" office in the White House. The office is devoted to funneling federal funds to religious charities in competition with traditional government-sponsored social programs.
Bible classes are held weekly in the White House compound. Bush supports the Christian right's policies on such issues as abortion, gay marriages, the withholding of funds from international family planning groups and stem cell research.
Bush was raised in an Episcopalian household and became a Methodist when he married Laura. But his religious fervor grew the guidance of the Rev. Billy Graham and conservative friends who helped him stop drinking.
It will be a sorry state if the voters have to decide which candidate is holier than thou, rather than which candidate stands for the best policies.
No coincidence that this screed from Thomas comes on the heels of the sensational David Brooks column in the NYT that said only 7% of Kerry supporters consider themselves religious and that this was a number that made Kerry unelectable. All of the political establishment is buzzing about Brooks' column and they know it is true. Kerry has a HUGE religion problem in this race. Religious voters simply are not supporting him, and there aren't enough non-religious voters to elect him. Hid feeble efforts at appearing to be a practicing Catholic have backfired, while Bush appears in a black church in Philadelphia to genuine standing ovations. So the liberals are now desperately trying to get religion off the table in the campaign. It won't work.
Kerry needs to reread his copy of the Constitution......"Congress shall make no law..." about religion.
**Helen Thomas: Let's Keep Religion Out Of Presidential Race**
Helen,
Anything you suggest -- we will do the OPPOSITE!
All joking aside (the "God kills a puppy" think actually made me burst out laughing!), Helen is completely ignorant and biased on this issue.
"The newspaper said Bush had made the request to Cardinal Angelo Soldano, the Vatican's secretary of state, "for the Vatican's help in encouraging them to be more outspoken.""
Encouraging someone to be outspoken on an issue for which their outspokenness is renowned, is not a violation of the Constitution. It is free speech. The Cardinal did not wear a Vote for Bush frock when he said what he said.
Furthermore, the church is not singling out Kerry for it's criticisim: it applies to all practicing Catholics, and it is entitled to do so under the free excercise clause of the First Amendment. The church doesn't have a "pick and choose" policy for its members, but it does have a "pick another religion if you don't like this one" policy. One that Kerry should listen to in his rush to co-opt religious votes from the President.
"Such activities could run afoul of the church's tax-free status that bars participation in political affairs."
Best not go down that road Helen, unless you want to jeapardize most black churches (particularly the ones that exclusively invite Dems to speak or sermonize), Planned Parenthood, NARAL, PETA, the Sierra Club etc., etc. All have endorsed or made partisan statements in favor of Dems, and are subject to scrutiny by the IRS for these actions.
Bring it on, Helen!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHH!!!!
Helen wears the used ones as hijabs.
Exactly! However, we all know that if it was a winning issue for Kerry, these people would be trumpeting it. So what else is new.
The establishment is genuinely frightened about the resurgence of Christianity in this country, aren't they? From President Bush to the success of "The Passion" they seem unable to control their hysteria.
This is a positive development. I'd be far more concerned if they didn't consider Christianity, and the values it champions, a strong force in this nation.
Where's the Helen Thomas/Sea-Hag photo? Gotta have that!
..."stands for the best policies". I agree with that...
Helen must have had her hair done recently. I'm so used to seeing the writhing snakes she normally has.
A fine example of Arab womanhood. That's why they wear veils.
bttt
In a word, no. Religion and God are a large part of my families life and we won't have Them relegated to a basement behind closed doors.
Well, Kerry is looking for a VP...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.