We could have hoped, I guess, that the role of religious bigotry in American presidential campaigns was retired back in 1960 with the election of a catholic, John F. Kennedy but alas it appears as though we haven't progressed as far as we might wish.
The latest contender for the nation's highest office required to defend his faith is Republican Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon. Romney's Mormonism has been a hidden or somewhat hidden issue since he arrived on the national stage five years ago. But the topic leapt to the front pages last week when a Baptist leader from Dallas called Romney's religion a cult and not Christianity.
Well, the national media, of course, pounced all over this episode demanding that each Republican candidate in the race either endorse or repudiate the Baptist minister's declaration.
Well, what these candidates ought to do is simply quote Article Six of the Constitution which says "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
And, if we are as great a nation as we think we are, that ought to be the end of that issue.
Write and let me know what you think. I'm Bill Applegate.
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