John Kerry on Church/State Separation

Although once the presumed front-runner in the race to see who would be the Democratic candidate for president, John Kerry's campaign has faltered and his position relative to the other candidates has slipped quite a bit. Nevertheless, it's important to take note of his position on issues like the separation of church and state.

The JTA reports:

I will vigorously protect the separation of church and state. Diversity, freedom of choice and freedom of religion are among the defining characteristics of our nation. I believe we can be people of faith while respecting the principles that are enshrined in our Constitution. Faith-based organizations make great contributions to social-service programs. However, I am wary of any direct funding of religious organizations by the federal government without constitutional safeguards and protections, such as ensuring that government funding is not used for proselytizing.

And I oppose any initiatives that allow federally funded programs to discriminate based on religion when making hiring decisions. I believe the government can find ways to support the efforts of faith-based organizations without running afoul of the Constitution. I do not support private school vouchers. I understand the frustration that some parents must feel. But I do not believe that providing government funding to private educational programs is the answer.

Read More:

• Secularism 101
• Separation of Church and State 101
• Religion in Public Schools