Separation of Church and State

In yesterdays Washington Post, columinst E.J. Dionme quotes J.F.K. on separation of church and state:

“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,” Kennedy told the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in September 1960. “I do not speak for my church on public matters — and the church does not speak for me.”

E.J.Dionne demonstrates attempts made by politians to use Catholic beliefs to justify their causes, as John Kerry did in the 2004 campaign, as if they were more than transparent attempts at vote garnering.

What’s significant is that this is not a statement from pro-choice Catholics trying to “reframe” the abortion question. The signatories include some of the staunchest opponents of abortion in the House, including Reps. Bart Stupak, Dale Kildee, Tim Holden, James Oberstar and James Langevin.

In other words, Democrats on both sides of the abortion question worry that it is crowding out all other concerns.

Sigh. For an excellent rebuttal, I recommend Captain’s Quarters.

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