Question of Faith Important for Candidates and for Voters
by Bill Fancher
October 8, 2004
(AgapePress) - Claims that John Kerry has had some kind of religious awakening are being met with a good deal of skepticism. Meanwhile, two conservative activists would like the presidential debates to pose questions that might clear up for voters any question about the candidates and the influence of their personal faith on decision making.
A recent report on PBS centered around Senator Kerry's alleged "religious awakening." But not everyone has been buying to those claims. Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council, who has dealt with Kerry, says he is very cautious about the report. In fact, he says "any claims [by Kerry] that he has had some kind of religious awakening are terribly suspicious."
According to Schenck, the presidential candidate's actions do not seem to match those values taught in the Bible. "John Kerry's words have always been in conflict with his life, with his actual practice -- and this is no different," the Christian activist says.
"Jesus Christ said that a man is known by his fruits," Schenck continues. "In other words, the fruit of his life -- what his life produces." The National Clergy Council spokesman points out that Kerry has produced support for pro-abortion causes, pro-homosexual efforts, and both sides of the marriage debate. That, he says, is "hard fruit to hide."
If two conservative Christian activists have their way, the remaining presidential debates would provide a good opportunities for both major party candidates to talk about the role of their faith in their political lives. Associated Press reports that conservative icon Paul Weyrich and the president of the Interfaith Alliance, the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, want some religious questions asked in the presidential debates.
Gaddy and Weyrich are urging the moderators of Friday night's debate and the final one next week to ask President Bush and Democrat John Kerry how faith impacts their policy-making. Their joint letter suggests questions like, "How do you balance the principles of your faith and your pledge to defend the Constitution, particularly when the two come into conflict?"
Gaddy says he would like to see Bush and Kerry asked about faith-based initiatives and how religion affects their view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Catholic Vote, Muslim Vote
Meanwhile, a campaign by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops may be the reason that the majority of the Catholic vote has turned from Kerry to President Bush.
Five months ago, a Barna Research poll found that 48 percent of Catholics favored Kerry and only 43 percent supported Bush. That has changed drastically, according to a new poll by Barna that indicates the president now has 53 percent of vote compared to 39 percent for Kerry.
That was the goal of a campaign by the Conference of Bishops that was launched last month. Organization spokesman Frank Pavone says any politician who supports abortion supports the same evil inherent in terrorism.
"What difference does it make if you use forceps or commercial airplanes?," Pavone asks. "What difference does it make if the victim is five inches long or five feet tall?" Pavone says anyone who supports legalized abortion is not fit to serve public office. If the Barna poll is correct, it appears more and more Catholics are agreeing with him.
While the Catholic vote may now be favoring President Bush, the Muslim vote appears to be split between the two candidates. According to Associated Press, with more than 1,200 Muslim and Arab-Americans taken into custody after the 9/11 attacks and a war still raging in Iraq, many Muslims oppose George Bush's re-election. But their voting for John Kerry is not a slam dunk either, says AP.
Many Muslim-Americans say they support the president on moral issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, but strongly favor Kerry because they oppose the war in Iraq and feel he will end it sooner than Bush will. Many also support Kerry because they think he has a stronger commitment to civil rights in the United States.
The Bush and Kerry campaigns are both courting Muslim voters, particularly in swing states like Ohio and Florida, as well as Michigan, which has the nation's largest Arab-American population.
Associated Press contributed to this story.
