2012 Candidates Asked to Sign Religious freedom pledge

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

(RNS) An advocacy organization for persecuted Christians has asked the 2012 presidential candidates to sign a pledge stating they would make religious freedom a priority in the United States and overseas if they win the White House.

Open Doors USA joined with religious freedom activist Tom Farr of Georgetown University to draft the pledge, which was unveiled Monday (Nov. 28). As of Wednesday, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., was the sole signatory among the candidates.

"The right of religious freedom must be applied equally to all religious communities in America, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and others," reads the pledge.

"At the same time, religious freedom does not mandate belief, but protects the right not to believe."

The pledge, endorsed by prominent conservative organizations and individuals, defends the right to use religious arguments when debating laws about abortion and traditional marriage. It also supports "religiously motivated" charitable work.

"Tens of millions of human beings are subject to violent persecution because of their beliefs or those of their tormentors," Farr said in a statement. "Whoever wins the presidency in 2012 should make religious freedom, at home and abroad, a high priority."

The pledge calls for the candidate, should he or she become president, to nominate federal judges who support religious liberty. It also asks candidates to make religious freedom promotion a foreign policy priority and urges the appointment of a religious freedom ambassador "who is a person of stature, experienced in matters of religious freedom and diplomacy."

The Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, a former New York minister, became ambassador last spring. When she was nominated, Farr told Religion News Service he was troubled that the post would not be filled with "an expert in international religious freedom with experience in foreign affairs."

Comments

[averagezoe]

12:24 AM on 01/26/2012

There are persecuted christians in this country? Are there clandestine lion's dens that I don't know about? I can think of several groups that are persecuted, but christians are certainly not among them.

[WheelsOnFire]

11:57 PM on 01/25/2012

They're oh-so-quick to sign pledges that defy our Constitution -- and favor selected people.

But not one has yet signed a pledge to uphold our Constitution -- which is for all of the people..

[Vikingdave]

09:12 PM on 01/25/2012

Despite the constitutional NO RELIGIOUS TEST, I urge all the gop hopefuls to sign the pledge. Heh,heh.

[katwise]

02:12 PM on 12/03/2011

Candidates should not sign any pledge regarding religion; it is akin to a religious test which is explicitly prohibited by the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, paragraph 3, "...but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

[bampiesdude]

02:40 AM on 12/03/2011

Religious freedom should be just that, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; not freedom FROM religion. Religious freedom means that I have the right to choose any religion I want, or choose to not have any religion if I want. If I want to pray then that should be my right just as it should be the other persons right to not pray if they so choose. Why can't we all just get along and respect each other?

[WheelsOnFire]

12:05 AM on 01/26/2012

Sadly, some people have psychological deficiencies that cause them to strike out at other groups of people in an effort to take from that group and fill their gap.

It's classic Resource Theory of Social Exchange developed by the husband-wife team of psychologists Foa and Foa back in the 1970s. I had an opportunity to discuss this with Uriel Foa -- it's a fascinating explanation of how and why people behave the way they do.

It helps to explain why those who are well-adjusted psychologically support equal rights for all. Those with some unmet ego need, for example, see equality as a threat and will fight to put a group in second-class status, which helps to soothe their needy ego.

[Lawyer13]

03:57 PM on 12/02/2011

An Englishman's view : Religion and Politics do not make good bed fellows, and Religion should not enter into politics at all, good common sense policies are required, and the T/Republicans are short on these.

[WheelsOnFire]

12:07 AM on 01/26/2012

You're so right, Englishman!

I've spent a lot of time in England and on the Continent, and it seemed to me that the British and the rest of Europe keep religion out of or at a very low minimum in politics.

We can only look on in envy.