How important is religion to your vote for President?
Every time I think I just can't do this anymore, I find some gas still left in the tank. Religion is an issue this election. The Republicans have complained the Democrats are anti-religion, and Romney's religion is considered controversial.
I wondered what religions were represented by the people who lead the prayers. I prefer not discussing religion and politics and here I am doing both. November 7th can't get here fast enough. I will gladly go on religeon/political hiatus another four years (but it's comforting to know that CG will continue holding the banner even when she's face down in the mud for the next four years. You gotta give that gal credit for strength and perseverance and conviction!)
Religion Leaders At Democratic National Convention 2012 Range From High-Profile To Obscure
From a prominent Roman Catholic cardinal and an outspoken nun to Jewish and evangelical clergy, a variety of religious voices will be on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
As is customary, convention organizers have invited faith leaders to offer invocations and benedictions each night of the convention, which begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday. But the selection of clergy to offer prayers and the religious voices who will speak may be even more significant this election year. Not only are Democrats vying for voters from key religious demographics, such as evangelicals, but they are also fighting back complaints from Republicans and religious organizations that they have clamped down on religious freedom.
The view has been expressed loudest by Catholic bishops, who have protested a portion of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul that requires employers, including Catholic schools and hospitals but not houses of worship, to provide free contraception as part of employee health insurance plans. The cause has been led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who included a prayer for religious freedom as part of his closing benediction at the Republican National Convention. Dolan will also offer the closing prayer at the Democrats' gathering.
While the Democrats have not prominently included religious issues in their platform (Republicans, meanwhile, devoted a section of their platform to discussing religious liberty), there are plenty of faith leaders on the ground in Charlotte.
Below is the lineup for invocations. While timing can change, invocations will generally happen shortly after 5 p.m. and benedictions will happen around 11 p.m. each day.
Tuesday invocation: Metropolitan Nicholas, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit
Tuesday benediction: Jena Lee Nardella, executive director, Blood: Water Mission
Wednesday invocation: the Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, presiding bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Wednesday benediction: Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple in Los Angeles
Thursday invocation: the Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president, National Latino Evangelical Coalition
Thursday benediction: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York
Religious Leaders At Republican National Convention 2012 Take Center Stage
As thousands of Republicans, journalists and activists convene in Tampa, Florida when the Republican National Convention kicks off Tuesday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, religious voices will take center stage.
The convention will open Tuesday with a color guard from the Catholic Knights of Columbus and close Thursday with a benediction from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York and President of the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops. Between, Republican delegates will hear prayers from Mormon, Sikh, evangelical and Greek Orthodox religious figures, while popular politicians who have made religion central to their service, from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to Sen. Rick Santorum, will also speak on behalf of the party.
In addition, voices of faith that are not participating in the formal convention have gathered in local churches, in public parks and during political panels to discuss the role faith should play in public life. That includes controversies over legalizing same-sex marriage, abortion rights and the highly contested mandate in President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul that requires faith-based employers that are not houses of worship to provide free contraception to their employees as part of insurance plans.
How did Dolan get the closing benediction for both conventions? Is this what he does for a living? Praying at big events in the South? Odd, isn't it, that they didn't get the NC Archbishop to do it, opting to give the job to a guy from New York; a yankee!
The candidate least likely to interject his religion and religious beliefs into policies is the candidate that will get my vote. Until Republicans return to their support of the Constitution and quit pushing their religious agenda into politics I will vote for the Democrat on the ticket.
If the new (or continued ) president can respect all aspects of religion (the individual beliefs and not asking for changes that a particular religion has for centuries upheld) when it comes to their platform and policies, then it does not matter to me.
Their personal choice of religion, if any, is none of my concern.
Ooo, I can see it's going to be very difficult for me to resist, "liking" people's replies. I try to keep my own pov out of the polls I generate and the posts that contain them.
But I do vote in the polls; I just wait until all or most of the options have replies so no one knows my stance.
Relgion and politics are not good bed fellows.
It's hard for me to say how much the Presidents faith matters. While I strongly disagree with Obama on just about every issue, I do believe he is a Christian. I don't believe he is strong in his faith or has much understanding of scripture. So my not voting for Obama has nothing to do with his religious views.
I don't think I would have a problem with voting for a candidate who identifies as Atheist. There are many conservative, republican Atheists. I think they tend to go unnoticed which is sad, because they are great examples of how it's possible to be respectful and tolerant of the views of others.
As for Cardinal Dolan, I thought his closing prayers at both conventions were beautiful. I think it was disgraceful of the networks who talked over or cut off his benediction at the DNC.
My faith influences my vote based on my beliefs. I do not believe I can separate my faith from my view on politics. I however when I vote go based on which candidate I feel will do the best for the country. This does not depend on "religion" alone. There are many factors to be considered. Separation of church and state does not mean a candidate can't have a faith or state his faith. It does not mean I have to separate my beliefs from my political views. To me, my faith is an important to me as breathing. For me it is a relationship and yes, it influences by vote. BUT, that being said, I can look at a candidate and decide which one I feel has the best plan for our country based on many things. I want to know their record, their reputation, their work history, their views on the economy, EDUCATION (my biggest concern), and so much more. When one has faith/relationship in their God, they can look with honest forethought and make a decision. Now if I choose opposite of someone without faith., they may or may not feel I chose based on faith alone. However, that would not be accurate.
My faith is part of who I am. However, I am also a mother, a wife, and a consumer. I need good insurance and good laws that keep my family safe. Those factors figure in as well.
I didn't vote on the poll because I think you can understand other view points, but my choice wasn't there. LOL
The Young Won't Buy ObamaCare
- JonJon
on Sep. 10, 2012 at 9:12 AM