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Letter to Presidential Candidates: Religion in Politics
Note: The following letter was sent to all of the candidates seeking the Democratic and Republican nominations for president.
We are writing to each of the major party presidential candidates to address a concern which has emerged in the current presidential campaign regarding the appropriate role of religion and attestations of religious faith in the political election process.
Freedom of religion is one of our nation’s most cherished liberties, and, as a Jewish organization, safeguarding that freedom is one of our highest priorities. ADL supports and respects the right of any candidate for public office to believe and to worship as he or she chooses. Candidates should feel comfortable explaining their religious convictions to voters and commenting about their own religious perspectives. At the same time, however, we believe there is a point at which an emphasis on religion in a political campaign becomes inappropriate and even unsettling in a religiously diverse society such as ours.
We feel very strongly, and we hope you would agree, that voters should be encouraged to make their decisions based upon their assessment of the qualifications, integrity and political positions of candidates. Appealing to voters along religious lines can be divisive, and contrary to the American ideal of including all Americans in the political process, regardless of whether they are in a religious minority or ascribe to no faith tradition.
We urge you to make an assessment of your own candidacy by asking yourself these questions:
Do my words seem to appeal to voters based upon my religion? Or do they reflect the fact that I am commenting based on my own religious perspective?
Does it appear that I am appealing to any voter’s religious, racial, or ethnic biases? Or am I seeking to fulfill the promise of America by being inclusive and welcoming of the whole range of constituents I will serve if elected?
Do my comments seem to advocate for a greater role for government in religion or religion in government? Or do they reflect a commitment to preserving the sanctity and liberty of our religious institutions by keeping government and religion separate?
As the current campaign unfolds, we urge you to remember that anyone who legitimately aspires to the Presidency of the United States must be prepared to set an example and to be a leader for all Americans, of all faiths and no faith. Public profession of religious beliefs should not become an central part of our political campaigns.
We are pleased to enclose our latest publication, Frequently Asked Questions: Religion and Election Campaigns for your information.
Sincerely,
Abraham H. Foxman
National Director
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