Separation of church and state: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:31, 10 October 2006

Revision as of 13:14, 10 October 2006

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Religion plays a strong role in national politics, especially in controversial issues like [[abortion]], [[euthanasia]], and [[homosexuality]]. Direct church-state issues also arise, currently including the question of whether or not [[school vouchers]] should be used to help parents pay for education at private schools which may have religious affiliations, and the status of the [[White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives|faith-based initiatives]] of the current President, [[George W. Bush]].

The most prominent religious participants in national politics are [[Evangelical Christians]], Conservative [[Catholics]] and some [[Orthodox Jews]], largely allied with the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and in the so-called [[Bible Belt]] of the [[Southern U.S.|Southern]] and [[Midwest|Midwestern]] United States, comprising what is known as the "[[religious right]]." Other Protestants (including predominantly liberal sects), Catholics, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, non-believers, and other faiths are also quite active. Some religious groups wish to increase the ability of government to make various religious expressions; they often emphasize the largely Christian demographics and history of the country, however it is also often used as an attempt to give state sanction to a majoritarian faith at the direct expense of the rights of minority religious groups. See ''[[Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe]]''

It is common practice for national politicians with strongly religious constituencies to cite religious texts or beliefs in support of certain policies. In other areas voters may be more disapproving of expressions of religious faith by political candidates and government officials.