Church and State

In last weeks Blog, entitled Values Voter Summit, I outlined Christian Pastor Robert Jeffress controversial speech preceding Texas Governor Rick Perry’s address. Jeffress publically regarded Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith as a “cult.” United States presidential candidates have always been scrutinized based on their religious values and traditions. Granted, ones religious values often mirror their moral principles, which may influence their stance on political issues. However, should religion play a substantial role in the election process within a country where church and state are constitutionally mandated to be separate?

Dr. Dewey Wallace, a professor who specializes in “Christianity and religion in America” at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. explains the inherent subjectivity of deeming a religion as a “cult” (Becky Perlow). Dr. Wallace explains, “They even use the term ‘Cult’ for the Mormons, which is a tricky word to use. In my classes, I define a cult as ‘Someone else’s religion.’ No one ever invites you to ‘Join me in my cult on Sunday morning’” (Becky Perlow).

The nation’s reluctance to elect a presidential nominee to office based on their religious views is not a recent issue. For instance, Thomas Jefferson, recognized as the founder of the “separation of church and state” ideology was criticized during his campaign as an “anti-Christian Diest” (Becky Perlow). Dr. Wallace provides another example, “Ronald Reagan became the darling of the evangelicals, and let me tell you something: He was one of our least church-going presidents. As a president, he went to church only about five or six times. I was here all the time and I counted them,” says the grey-haired professor with a smile. “The paper would report he had gone to church somewhere or other… [But] they loved him because he went down to Oklahoma and told them he was against evolution and teaching evolution in public schools… He did things they liked” (Becky Perlow). In various other cases, presidential candidates have abandoned their religious values in order to secure their seat in office. Both Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon were technically unable to take the presidential oath of Office due to their Quaker beliefs, however they both disregarded their values to become president (Becky Perlow).

John F. Kennedy’s Catholicism was also questioned during his campaign for presidency. The Catholic candidate re-asserted his competency during a noteworthy speech in Texas, “Contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me. There are the real issues, which should decide this campaign, and they are not religious issues. For war, and hunger, and ignorance, and despair know no religious barrier” (Becky Perlow).

Works Cited: CNN Washington News Assistant Becky Perlow. http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/14/friday-reflections-should-religion-matter/?hpt=po_bn2