Religion in political campaigns-- statement of principles

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Religion in political campaigns
‘Interfaith Statement of Principles’NEW YORK, N.Y. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society is among 14 endorsers of an “Interfaith Statement of Principles” on religion in political campaigns. The statement, released Feb. 21, says freedom of religion is one of the United States' “most cherished liberties.”

The statement sets forth four standards of ethical behavior by candidates.

The diverse coalition of national religious organizations calls on all candidates for public office to honor the United States’ traditions of religious liberty and avoid sowing religious discord.

The statement encourages candidates for public office to respect “essential American ideals and values,” such as religious freedom for all, no religious tests for public office, and separation of church and state.
The statement sets forth four standards of ethical behavior by candidates. “Candidates for office bear the primary responsibility for setting the proper tone for elections, according to the Statement of Principles.

4 principles

Candidates for public office should:

Attempt to fulfill the promise of America by seeking to serve and be responsive to the full range of constituents, irrespective of their religion.

Conduct their campaigns without appeals, overt or implicit, for support based upon religion.

Reject appeals or messages to voters that reflect religious prejudice, bias or stereotyping.

Engage in vigorous debate on important and disputed issues, without deliberately encouraging division in the electorate along religious lines, or between voters who characterize themselves as religious and voters who do not.

“Candidates for public office are, of course, free to worship as they choose,” the statement emphasizes. “And they should feel comfortable explaining their religious convictions to voters, commenting about their own religious beliefs, explaining, if they wish to do so, how those beliefs shape their policy perspectives, and how they would balance the principles of their faith with their obligation to defend the Constitution if the two ever came into conflict.”

Inappropriate, unsettling, divisive

There is a point, however, where an emphasis on religion in a political campaign becomes inappropriate and even unsettling in a religiously diverse society such as the United States, according to the statement. “Appealing to voters along religious lines is divisive,” it declares, adding that voters who insist on adherence to these principles contribute to the protection of religious freedom.

The statement, organized and drafted by the Anti-Defamation League, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and the Interfaith Alliance.

Other endorsers are American Islamic Congress, American Jewish Committee, Islamic Society of North America, Hindu American Foundation, Muslim Advocates, National Council of Churches USA, Sikh American Legal Defense & Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Union for Reform Judaism and United Church of Christ Justice & Witness Ministries.

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Religion in Political Campaigns
An Interfaith Statement of Principles

Freedom of religion is one of our nation’s most cherished liberties. It is at the very foundation of America. Our nation’s Constitution protects religious freedom for all, prohibits religious tests for public office, and mandates separation of church and state. These are essential American ideals and values, which candidates for public office should respect.

Candidates for public office are, of course, free to worship as they choose. And they should feel comfortable explaining their religious convictions to voters, commenting about their own religious beliefs, explaining, if they wish to do so, how those beliefs shape their policy perspectives, and how they would balance the principles of their faith with their obligation to defend the Constitution if the two ever came into conflict.

There is a point, however, where an emphasis on religion in a political campaign becomes inappropriate and even unsettling in a religiously diverse society such as ours. Appealing to voters along religious lines is divisive. It is contrary to the American ideal of including all Americans in the political process, regardless of whether they are members of large and powerful religious groups, religious minorities, or subscribe to no faith tradition.

Voters should be encouraged to make their decisions based upon their assessment of the qualifications, integrity and political positions of candidates. A candidate’s religious beliefs — or lack thereof — should never be used by voters, nor suggested by political candidates, as a test for public office or as a shorthand summary of a candidate’s qualifications.

Candidates for office bear the primary responsibility for setting the proper tone for elections. Anyone who legitimately aspires to public office must be prepared to set an example and to be a leader for all Americans, of all faiths or of no faith.

What is ethical is every bit as important as what is legal. Therefore candidates for public office should:

Attempt to fulfill the promise of America by seeking to serve and be responsive to the full range of constituents, irrespective of their religion.

Conduct their campaigns without appeals, overt or implicit, for support based upon religion.

Reject appeals or messages to voters that reflect religious prejudice, bias, or stereotyping.

Engage in vigorous debate on important and disputed issues, without deliberately encouraging division in the electorate along religious lines, or between voters who characterize themselves as religious and voters who do not.

Abiding by these principles, candidates for public office help ensure decency, honesty, and fair play in political campaigns, and they honor America’s oldest and most fundamental values. Likewise, voters who insist on adherence to these principles contribute to the protection of our religious freedom.

Date: 2/22/2012©2012