JFK on separation of church and state

Appropriately recalled by Andrew Sullivan:

QUOTE FOR THE DAY I: "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute -- where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote -- where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference ... I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish -- where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source -- where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials." - president John F. Kennedy. At the time, the speech was regarded as an attempt to refute anti-Catholic prejudice. Today, wouldn't the theocons regard it as an expression of anti-Catholic prejudice? Wouldn't Bill Frist see president Kennedy as an enemy of "people of faith"? Just asking.

And as Josh Marshall quite rightly and rhetorically questions, "Clarifies where we are, doesn't it?"

As the first Catholic candidate for president, J. F. Kennedy had to publicly and pointedly affirm that he would not be influenced by religious doctrine in his political decisions. But 44 years later, Catholic voters were advised by their bishops not to vote for candidates--like J. F. Kerry--who did not vote politically in line with church doctrine, while Protestants pulpits promoted candidates who had implied that they would vote according to religious belief.

If we don't remember the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat them. The U.S. Constitution affirms that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust," and the First Amendment forbids the state's interference with religion--because the members of the Constitutional Congress knew first-hand what it's like be "different" in a country where the head of state is also the head of the church.

Christian-Americans who can't understand why Shiites and Sunnis can't get along must have forgotten that Catholics and Protestants have killed each other over differences in the way they pursue "the peace that passes understanding."

So why be surprised? The fundamental nature of religion is irrational. That's why they call it "faith."

Be well, Lynn