Asking Candidates About Their Faith.

RELIGION & politics; PRESIDENTIAL candidates; FAITH; SPIRITUALITY; KENNEDY, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963; CATHOLIC Church; BELIEF & doubt; RELIGIOUS movements; RELIGION

I agree with Bill Keller that we must overcome our squeamishness about asking candidates how spiritual beliefs would inform their governance. I too remember the controversy surrounding John Kennedy, then a candidate, and his Catholicism. Today this attitude seems antiquated, ridiculous. But had he sought the pope's endorsement or sponsored a prayer rally hosted by Catholic bishops, it would have been a different matter. Who knows whether Rick Perry believes the radical ideas of the leaders featured in the Response rally. The fact that he chose representatives from movements that are antigay, anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, antichoice, who believe that foreign policy toward Israel and the Middle East should be determined by religious beliefs, is troubling. Would these ideas affect his political decisions? Would he appoint people with such beliefs to his administration? Voters need to know before they cast ballots. ANN AYRAULT, Minneapolis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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