Find Religion

…two words that I don’t like putting into the same sentence.

With the race for the 2008 white house really starting to heat up, however, I think its important to know everything possible about all presidential candidates, including religious position. While some candidates’ religions have been widely publicized, others I, for one, know nothing about.

Here’s the bottom line: Be informed. A specific candidate’s religion may not have much weight on your overall vote, but it is important to keep it in mind. Only by knowing all of the facts can we be truly able to support the best candidates. The following is a run down of all of the religious positions of the announced candidates:

Democrats

Joseph R. Biden
Roman Catholic
Biden was raised in a Catholic household, in keeping with the traditions of his Irish-American heritage, and while he does then to keep his personal views on religion in the background, he said in one speech to the Senate, “that Americans have certain rights not because the
government gives them or because the Constitution specifically
names them, but because we exist, as children of God; that our
rights can expand with America’s proud and evolving heritage of
liberty, a heritage founded on a Constitution that is, in the
words of Justice Harlan, a living thing.” He’s a man strong in his faith, but tries to keep religion out of politics.

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Methodist
Clinton, in contrast to many of her opponents, uses religion often in both everyday conversation and in political campaigns. Reports the Boston Globe,

Addressing a crowd of more than 500, including many religious leaders, at Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza, Clinton invoked God more than half a dozen times, at one point declaring, “I’ve always been a praying person.”

She said there must be room for religious people to “live out their faith in the public square.” Read more

Clinton clearly believes that there can be a harmony between the church and state, not just a clash, so as president, you may see the issue of God come to to the table.

Christopher J. Dodd
Roman Catholic
While Dodd may may keeping talk of God out of speeches many times, he is also fighting for strong religious values. Throughout his career, he’s support the interests of Israel, and even spoke before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in October 2006, quoting the Bible and Biblical stories a number of times.

John Reid Edwards
Methodist
Although Edward’s wife was recently diagnosed with returning cancer, he is still officially in the race. When asked if religion affects his political decisions, he says,

Yes, it does. I do believe in the separation of church and state. But I don’t think separation of church and state means you have to be free from your faith. My faith informs everything I think and do. It’s part of my value system. And to suggest that I can somehow separate and divorce that from the rest of me is not possible. I would not, under any circumstances, try to impose my personal faith and belief on the rest of the country. I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think that’s appropriate. But freedom of religion doesn’t mean freedom from religion. And I think that anything we can do to promote the idea that people should express their faith is a good thing. Read more

Mike Robert Gravel
Unitarian
Gravel’s political stances include support of gay rights and support of stem cell research. On religion, his speeches can indicated that his vote is for tolerance. “Since the Second World War, various political leaders have fostered fear in the American people - fear of communism, fear of terrorism, fear of immigrants, fear of people based on race and religion, fears of gays and lesbians in love who just want to get married. Fear of people who are just different. It is fear that allows our political leaders to manipulate us all and to distort our national priorities.”

Dennis J. Kucinich
Roman Catholic
Kucinich instills religion into his daily life, including into his politics. He grew up in a Catholic home and went to Catholic school. He also says that he was very influences by the Gospels. He is also a vegan. He has said that he believes this country was founded on “An understanding of the role of divine providence. An understanding of the connection between God and nature. An appreciation for the possibility that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness flowed from a transcendent source. Things like that.” Read more of the interview.

Barack H. Obama
United Church of Christ
Obama’s grandfather was Muslim, yet he is a Christian, and has faith in America that religious and race will not be issues that hold him back from becoming the next president. He has said, “I think all of us, particularly religious leaders, have to be mindful that there are a lot of sensitivities out there.” Read more of the story.

Bill Richardson
Roman Catholic
In regards to religion Richardson, if nothing else, has shown us that he is willing to support it, creating the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives to give religious organizations helping the community access to public funds.

Republicans

Samuel D. Brownback
Roman Catholic
Brownback was raised as a Methodist, then joined a non-denominational evangelical church, before becoming a member of the Catholic church in 2002. Actually, I like to see this kind of movement from people, because it means that one is on a spiritual journey, questioning everything instead of simply accepting what they are taught in Sunday School. He has made various public acknowledgments of God, which is applauded by many religious Americans and hated by others.

John H. Cox
Roman Catholic

John Cox, an outsider candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, told a church group at the Capitol in Des Moines that he wants to bring biblical principles back into politics. Read more from the Des Moines Register

James S. Gilmore
Methodist
Gilmore was elected in Virginia with strong support from the Christian activist community, largely in part because of his stance on freedom of speech and religion. He believes himself to be the candidate most strongly promoting conservative values.

Rudolph W. Giuliani
Roman Catholic
In his remarks after the 9/11 attacks, Giuliani said, “We are defined as Americans by our beliefs - not by our ethnic origins, our race or our religion. Our beliefs in religious freedom, political freedom, and economic freedom - that’s what makes an American.” He promises to bring those same ideals to the presidential election.

Michael D. Huckabee
Baptist
Prior to his career in politics, Huckabee was the pastor of several southern Baptist church and served as the president of the Arkansas Baptish State Convention and the president of a religious television station. Out of all of the candidates, he is probably the one with the most religious knowledge and would be most likely to let religion influence all of his decisions.

Duncan L. Hunter
Baptist
Hunter announced he was throwing in his hat by saying, “God still loves our nation. We are still a people of character and strength and kindness. So, my fellow Americans, with the support of our families, with faith in God, and with confidence in the goodness of the American people, let’s begin this race for American presidency, and let’s win.”

John S. McCain
Episcopalian
I a video posted on McCain’s sight an on YouTube, McCain says, “The reason, the only reason why I’m here today is because I believe that a higher being has a mission for me in my life, a reason for me to be here. Now, that doesn’t mean that he wants me to be elected or not, but it does mean that I have a purpose. And that purpose, I think, is to live a life based on Judeo-Christian principles and honor and integrity.”

Ronald E. Paul
Protestant
Paul is the only candidate that considers himself non-denomination and fails to discuss religion, at least in any of the sources I could find. He does, however, adhere to a consistant life ethic, meaning that he is pro-life and in opposition of the death penalty, and he actively works to promote this view.

Willard Mitt Romney
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Many view Mitt Romney’s religion as a handicap when it comes to the presidential race, simply because an overwhelming number of people do not agree with stereotypical Mormon world views. Mitt Romney expresses his faith that he can overcome this opposition, but I, for one, am not so sure.

Tom Tancredo
Presbyterian
Tancredo is not the most outspoken about religion, but he also does not hide his faith and has referred to God a number of times, saying that he puts his work in God’s hands and hopes he is doing what God wants.

So that’s the rundown, briefly, of the 2008 candidates and religion. I’ll keep you updated as candidates drop out/join the race, and hopefully by the fall of 2008, you will have a clear view on all candidates’ stances on all issues, including religion.

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