September 16, 2012:

The Faith of the President

To me, one of the striking omissions from the current Presidential campaign is any significant opposition to Mr. Romney because of his Mormon faith by evangelical Protestants. Apparently, while most of them would believe he is part of a non-Christian cult, their agreement with his political and social views has trumped their faith concerns.

          In the last election, evangelical Protestants were highly critical of Mr. Obama for having been a long-time member of the United Church of Christ congregation pastored by Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Those who believe that members of the United Church of Christ mirror the opinions of their pastor don’t know much about the U.C.C.!  Of course, many conservatives are still convinced that Mr. Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya.

          Still, I am surprised by the silence from evangelicals. Some of us remember the ferocious attacks on Mr. Kennedy in his race against Mr. Nixon in 1960. Protestant clergy led by Norman Vincent Peale, pastor of New York’s Marble Collegiate Church and author of “Positive Thinking,” said that, as a Roman Catholic, Mr. Kennedy would  follow the dictates of the Pope. Strangely, no one seemed concerned that Mr. Nixon was, nominally at least, a Quaker, a faith committed to non-violence. That faith did not deter Mr. Nixon when he became President and continued and expanded the Vietnam War.

          Today, once again some people are asking if a candidate’s religious faith should be a valid reason not to vote for him. For me, I believe that a candidate’s personal character and political convictions are far more important than his/her religious persuasion. Our Constitution insists that there is to be no religious means test for the Presidency. I believe that and hope you do, too.

          Have evangelical Protestants come to appreciate the place of religious diversity in American life? I doubt it, but for now their silence is deafening.

        Love,

        Dave