John F. Kennedy once said, “I do not speak for my Church on public matters — and the Church does not speak for me.” That may have been true for JFK in 1960, but in recent years religion has played an increasingly larger role in American politics. With the line between private and public faith becoming increasingly blurred, how much should religion matter when electing those politicians who so directly affect our lives?
Has this year’s presidential campaign become too religious you ask? Absolutely. Anyone watching the coverage of this election is likely to assume the candidates are running for pastor-in-chief instead of commander-in-chief. Although the presidential election is still months away, the candidates are engaged in a knock-down drag-out fight, and religion is often used as a weapon in that fight.
We should ask candidates about religion, we just need to ask the right questions. What role will a candidate’s faith play in creating public policy? What are the boundaries between religion and government? The Interfaith Alliance has developed a number of resources for voters, candidates and houses of worship to guide them through the election year.
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