Ties tighten between religion and politics

[CShine]

America, despite its signature wall of separation between church-state, is also a place where religion and politics are often deeply entwined - a phenomenon rarely more in evidence than in the current election cycle. The signs go beyond a presidential race in which a "religion gap" is seen by pollsters as a crucial divide for Democratic candidate John Kerry to close.

Consider that in just the past week:

• A bipartisan group of lawmakers this week launched a "faith-based caucus" of House members who back efforts to make it easier for federal grants to reach church-affiliated social programs.

• At a retreat in Denver, the US Association of Catholic bishops considered how far to use denial of communion as a goad to pressure politicians of the faith to vote in line with church doctrine.

• A national group of evangelical Christians pondered their role in national affairs - and whether their alignment and influence should be less closely tied to the Republican Party.

<snip>

"This country is the most religious developed democracy in the world," says pollster Celinda Lake. "On the one hand, Americans want separation of church and state, but on the other they feel comfortable with 'In God we trust' and 'One nation under God.' It's a core value."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0625/p03s01-uspo.html

[rkc3]

1. Keep in mind...

Bush wants a secular government in Iraq, but he's perfectly content to bring religion to his government - apparently as long as the religion is good for his people he likes it.

[damnraddem]

3. Not as long as it's good for his people -- ...

only as long as it's good for his religious ideology.

[Somawas]

2. Just read the article

and it was well written and informative. But faith based initiatives-giving tax $$ to a church, is just wrong. A disservice to both religion and government.