On Respecting Religion in the Public Square

Faith in Public Life in conjunction with Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good has published a statement from Catholic, evangelical and mainline Protestant leaders calling for religious respect on the campaign trail. Here's an excerpt:

As citizens of many faiths united in efforts to reinvigorate religion's role in the public square, we are convinced that the greatest protection for that role is clear and unambiguous support for both religious expression and non-establishment of religion. Following Article VI of the U. S. Constitution and the First Amendment, we identify three basic principles.

• No person should be expected to leave their faith at the door when operating in the public square. But it is inappropriate to use religious or doctrinal differences to marginalize or disparage candidates, by either comparison or assertion. No religious test may be applied to candidates for public office -- not by the law, not by candidates, not by campaigns.
• Candidates for public office should welcome the contributions that religion brings to society. But just as government may not endorse or favor a religious faith, candidates for public office are obliged, in their official capacity, to acknowledge that no faith can lay exclusive claim to the moral values that enrich our public life.
• Just as government policies must be in service to the nation and not to any religious faith, the same holds true for candidates' positions on policies. While it is appropriate for candidates to connect their faith to their policy positions, their positions on policy must respect all citizens regardless of religious belief.

Brent Walker of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is one of the signers.