Letter to the Editor: Preserve the wall
BY Timothy Beauchamp, Jay
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Republicans have famously advocated for public
prayer in schools. Democrats have respected the
wall between church and state and determined that
it is important to maintain that foundation.
In fact, Democratic President John F. Kennedy
had the healthy respect of that wall famously tested
when he refused to kiss the Pope’s ring.
The comparison between Kennedy’s candidacy
and Willard “Mitt” Romney’s Mormonism is a false
equivalency. One cannot say that Republicans support
the wall between church and state, therefore
Romney’s religion is off the table. This isn’t a matter
of intolerance but an important policy discussion as
to whether it is a good idea to continue down the
Republican path of mixing religion and politics.
Republicans cannot have it both ways. Either
they need to concede Democratic have had it right
all along when we supported protecting the institutions
of one’s faith and politics by separating them,
or they need to have their candidate’s Mormon religion
carefully inspected.
Questioning the professed Christian faith of President
Obama also is unacceptable because he has
done nothing to destroy the wall between church
and state. Obama’s personal religion is irrelevant.
Romney’s Mormon faith remains on the table and
we need to know what he believes and who he answers
to until he proclaims he will respect the wall
between church and state.
Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to letters@tulsaworld.com.
