WASHINGTON: The Democratic field seeking the White House in 2004 includes four Catholics, an Orthodox Jew, a black preacher and three other Protestants, none of whom is likely to be as overtly religious in office as President George W. Bush.
“I have the sense that not a single one of the nine Democratic candidates would continue the faith-based initiatives in the White House,” said Shirley Anne Warshaw of the Center for the Study of the Presidency at Gettysburg College.
Bush, a Methodist who reads the Bible every day, opens Cabinet meetings with a prayer and sometimes prays in the Oval Office, has sought to allow faith-based groups to receive federal dollars to deliver social services, raising questions about the constitutional separation of church and state.
“He is absolutely the most overtly religious president to the degree that he has incorporated his religious beliefs into programmes within the federal government,” Warshaw said.
Each of the Democrats vying for the right to challenge Bush next year has reaffirmed his or her faith, refusing to cede spirituality to the Republicans. All have vowed not to mix religion and government.
Former Vermont governor Howard Dean describes himself as “a nice New England Congregationalist”.
Raised an Episcopalian, Dean switched after a dispute 25 years ago over a bike path. The church refused to cede control 1 1/2 miles of railroad bed needed for the trail.
“I’m comfortable talking about my faith but I don’t bring it up unless I’m asked,” Dean said during a recent conversation aboard his chartered campaign jet. “My religion does not inform my public policy, but it does inform my values.”
Bush, who has credited God with turning his life around some 17 years ago by helping him to give up alcohol, named Jesus as his favourite philosopher during a 2000 presidential debate.
“I think what you had in 2000 may have been unique,” Democratic contender Wesley Clark said during a debate in Iowa this week. “Maybe President Bush had a compelling personal story ... But the Republican Party does not have the monopoly on faith in this country.”
Bush’s religious references have raised eyebrows in Europe where most leaders have a more secular bent.
He has gone to some lengths to try to dispel any notion that the war on terrorism after Sept 11, 2001, is a Christian versus Muslim battle, marking the start of Ramazan at the White House, meeting with religious leaders and visiting a mosque.
“I believe we worship the same God,” Bush declared during a news conference in London last week, alarming some members of the Christian conservative base that helped elect him.
Clark is ecumenically complex. His father was Jewish, but Clark did not know that until long after his death. The retired four-star general was raised a Baptist, but became a Catholic like his wife. Now, he goes to Presbyterian services although he has not renounced Catholicism.
North Carolina Senator John Edwards, a Methodist, prays every day but says the president of the United States “should not be setting policy for the country based on his or her faith.”
Missouri Republican Richard Gephardt’s strong Baptist beliefs helped him through the trauma of his son’s struggle with a deadly form of childhood cancer. On the campaign trail, he calls Matt, now in his 30s, as “a gift of God”.—Reuters