John McCain on Religion
I’ve previously made known my stance on how the religion of a major election candidate should be treated. My goal now is to document where each major candidate stands on religion in the upcoming presidential election. This is not an exercise in reading between the lines. I am not talking about stances on abortion or gay marriage, strictly about religion. Hopefully there will be an election in my lifetime where this isn’t required knowledge before voting, but in today’s political (and religious) climate, it is required knowledge.
The following is Part 8 of a multi-part series on each candidates religious views, and how they fit into politics.
John McCain - Episcopalian (or recently Baptist)
Quotes:
“Let me be clear, evangelical leaders are changing America for the better. Chuck Colson, head of Prison Fellowship, is saving men from a lifetime behind bars by bringing them the good news of redemption. James Dobson, who does not support me, has devoted his life to rebuilding America’s families. Others are leading the fight against pornography, cultural decline and for life. I stand with them.
I am a pro-life, pro-family, fiscal conservative, and advocate of a strong defense. And yet, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and a few Washington leaders of the pro-life movement call me an unacceptable presidential candidate. They distort my pro-life positions and smear the reputations of my supporters. Why? Because I don’t pander to them, because I don’t ascribe to their failed philosophy that money is our message. I believe in the cause of conservative reform. I believe that because we are right we will prevail in the battle of ideas, unspoiled by the taint of a corrupt campaign finance scheme that works against the very conservative reform of government that is the object of our labors. The Republican Party will prevail because of our principles–because that’s what it’s about, my friends–principles, not special interest money or empire or ego.”
“I recognize and celebrate that our country is founded upon Judeo-Christian values. And I have pledged my life to defend America and all her values, the values that have made us the noblest experiment in history.
But political intolerance by any political party is neither a Judeo-Christian nor an American value. The political tactics of division and slander are not our values.
They are corrupting influences on religion and politics and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country.
Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right.”
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“I think it’s something between me and my creator. It’s primarily a private issue rather than a public one. … When I’m asked about it, I’ll be glad to discuss it. I just don’t bring it up.”
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“It plays a role in my life. By the way, I’m not Episcopalian. I’m Baptist. Do I advertise my faith? Do I talk about it all the time? No.”
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“I don’t know. I respect their faith. I’ve never frankly looked at the Mormon religion. I’ve known a lot of Mormons who are wonderful people. More importantly, I don’t think it should be held against Gov. Romney. The fact that he’s a Mormon should not be a factor in people’s judgment.”
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Discussing Earth’s Creation by God
“I admire [Huckabee's] description, because I hold that view. There’s no doubt in my mind that the hand of God was in what we are today. And I do believe that we are unique, and [I] believe that God loves us.”
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“I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation. But I say that in the broadest sense. The lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door doesn’t say, ‘I only welcome Christians.’ We welcome the poor, the tired, the huddled masses. But when they come here they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles.”
“But I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the President of the United States is, ‘Will this person carry on in the Judeo-Christian principled tradition that has made this nation the greatest experiment in the history of mankind?’”
“I admire the Islam. There’s a lot of good principles in it. I think one of the great tragedies of the 21st century is that these forces of evil have perverted what’s basically an honorable religion. But, no, I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles…. personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith. But that doesn’t mean that I’m sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president. I don’t say that we would rule out under any circumstances someone of a different faith. I just would–I just feel that that’s an important part of our qualifications to lead.”
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“We were founded as a nation on Judeo-Christian principles. There’s very little debate about that. And I think the noblest words ever written are, ‘We hold these truths to be self evident that all, all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator.’”
“Our Founding Fathers believed in separation of church and state and they stated it unequivocally. But, they also continued to emphasize the Christian principle. In God We Trust or [all men are] created equal—every statement that they made had to do with the belief in a Divine Creator… They sought guidance from their Creator. So, when some people interpret their desire for separation of church and state as a failure to acknowledge the importance and influence of our Creator, I think that they have a different view of history than I do.”
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More on McCain and religion:
NY Times: Schools Should be Allowed to Teach Creation as Alternative to Evolution
MSNBC: McCain Courting Christian Conservatives
Time: McCain’s Faith - “I Pray Regularly”
Christian Science Monitor: John McCain - Keeping Faith on his Own Terms
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Summary:
McCain’s Christianity can be confirmed as far back as his time at the Hanoi Hilton as a POW during the Vietnam war. The stories from his time there survive, including many stories about the faith of McCain and those there with him. How it has played out since then is a more complex picture to paint.
While maintaining his Christianity, McCain has referred to himself as an Episcopalian for many years. Yet, he’s attended the North Phoenix Baptist Church for years as well. Now, he’s even referring to himself as a Baptist. I think McCain knows he is a Christian, and feels as if he’s religious, but is just struggling with the semantics and details of his religious-ness. While many have denounced McCain as not knowing what religion he belongs to, I think it’s simply a matter of not knowing himself what religion he is classified as. Raised as an Episcopalian, but attending a Baptist church can make it tough to answer the question of “what religion are you?”
I don’t think McCain’s confusion is a problem. In the past he has denounced Conservative Christians like Jerry Falwell, then made nice with them when he needed their support. He has called the United States a Christian nation. He has supported teaching creation in schools. These are the things that I stand against.
While his Christian nation comments may have been blown out of proportion, I still think he doesn’t quite understand the roots of this nation. In his defense, I don’t think he truly believes that America was founded as a Christian nation, only that it was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, a much more acceptable argument. Nevertheless, he seems to repeatedly make comments that either aren’t true, or are easily misconstrued.
As for supporting teaching creation, to me there is no excuse for this. This is a stance that no educated person should support. Finding the facts on scientific issues like this should be no challenge to a United States Senator.
Personally, I don’t think McCain would be much of a threat to church-state separation issues as President, but I do feel that his insistence on changing views to make everyone happy or to get votes, does pose a threat. At the root, I think McCain is educated and knows what he feels, but often says something completely different. The number of times McCain has changed his position on major issues is the number one thing I fear. If a religious issue were to arise while McCain were President, I don’t feel that he’d do what’s right, but rather what he feels would make the right people happy. But overall, I would say McCain is a very low-risk candidate for those who want their religion separate from their politics.
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This page will be continuously updated with new quotes, or news items to provide the most accurate portrait of McCain’s religious viewpoints.
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