ON TUESDAY, the Anti-Defamation League, a primarily Jewish organization set up to combat anti-semitism, sent a letter to vice-presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman and bluntly told him to stop parading his religion. The letter came in response to Lieberman's speech in Detroit in which the candidate made some remarks implying that Americans should "reaffirm" their faith in God and allow religion to enter the "public life."
As religion has taken a front seat on the campaign trail in this year's elections, the ADL has done a necessary and commendable job to attack candidates who try to mix politics and religion. Allowing politics and religion to mix is a dangerous step towards infringing upon the separation of church and state.
There is a clear problem in telling a political candidate to keep quiet about his religious ideologies. Presidential candidates, like every other citizen protected by the constitution, have a fundamental right to freedom of expression and religion. The ADL is not implying that once you enter politics, you cease to become the same citizen with the same constitutional rights as the average voter.
While a presidential candidate has the same rights as any other citizen, he also has the potential responsibility of representing the government, including its responsibilities and limitations. One of those limitations is making "no law respecting the establishment of a religion" as stated in the First Amendment. The purpose of this clause is quite clear -- favoritism inevitably would lead to exclusion.
For example, Texas Gov. George W. Bush said in a speech at a B'nai B'nai Brith organization that "Our nation is chosen by God and commissioned by history to be a model to the world of justice and inclusion and diversity without division. Jews and Christians and Muslims speak as one in their commitment to a kind, just, tolerant society." If Bush were president when he gave these remarks, he would ultimately be implying as the executive leader of the government that Hindus, Buddhists, atheists and others not of the majority do not believe in a kind, just and tolerant society.
When Bush set aside a specific day as observance of "Jesus Day" in Texas, he used his political power to respect "the establishment of a religion." While "Jesus Day" in Texas is not quite the same as Congress passing a similar law that would affect the entire country, in theory, it violates the separation of religion and government in the same manner.
Lieberman stated in his speech in Detroit that one should never suppose that "morality can be maintained without religion." He was implying that atheists are highly immoral people. The absurdity and exclusivity of these remarks are why the architects of this nation wrote the First Amendment the way they did.
The ADL also openly criticized both Vice President Al Gore and Bush earlier in March for expressing their religious conviction in the primaries. When Gore expressed on "60 Minutes" his strong faith in Christianity and Bush replied to a question that his favorite political philosopher was Jesus Christ, both rightfully were asked to limit their expression of religious faith.
While respecting a candidate's right to express his religious beliefs, the ADL also has set a precedence of the limitations a candidate must endure when running for a government office. The separation of church and state form the building block of the right to freedom of religion, which cannot exist without limitations.
Politics and politicians make up the government. If we're going to respect the separation of religion and government, we should start with respecting the separation of religion and politics.
(Faraz Rana is aCavalier Daily columnist.)
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