A group of 14 religious organizations have issued a joint statement asking for political candidates to avoid using their religious beliefs as a test for public office. Below is the complete statement of principles from the groups.
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.
American Islamic Congress
American Jewish Committee
Anti-Defamation League
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Interfaith Alliance
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Hindu American Foundation
Muslim Advocates
National Council of Churches USA
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
Sikh Coalition
Union for Reform Judaism
The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
