The focus on Howard Dean's religious beliefs continues - and he seems to be responding to the pressure. He is a Congregationalist who rarely attends church while his wife and children are Jewish; as a consequence, he doesn't talk a great deal about his religious beliefs, but he will start because, apparently, you can't be a viable candidate unless you wear your religion on your sleeve.

The Boston Globe reports:

The move is striking for a man who has steadfastly kept his personal life out of the campaign, rarely offering biographical information, much less his religious beliefs. But in the Globe interview, Dean said that Jesus was an important influence in his life and that he would probably share with some voters the model Jesus has served for him. ''Christ was someone who sought out people who were disenfranchised, people who were left behind,'' Dean said. ''He fought against self-righteousness of people who had everything . . . He was a person who set an extraordinary example that has lasted 2000 years, which is pretty inspiring when you think about it.''

Political analysts note that discussing religious beliefs could provide an important link to Southern voters. Greater numbers of Southern voters feel religion and politics need not be separate. An ABC/Washington Post poll released this week showed that 46 percent of Southerners said a president should rely on his religious beliefs in making policy decisions, compared with 40 percent nationwide and 28 percent in the East.

This strongly contradicts the contention of many that God and Christianity have been pushed out of the public square. If a candidate for President cannot avoid talking about religion in order to get elected, it's quite clear that God and religion have a very prominent place in that public square. Indeed, one might wonder why that place is so prominent. Shouldn't it possible for a person to be religious, but not make a big deal about their religion? Having a place in the public square shouldn't necessarily include having the biggest seat.

Fortunately, Howard Dean is a strong supporter of the separation of church and state:

He ... opposes the placement of the Ten Commandments in a courthouse, is uncomfortable with a prayer invocation before a congressional session, though he would leave the matter to Congress, and is not bothered by the phrase ''under God'' in the Pledge of Allegiance. On the issue of a moment of silence in schools, Dean said, ''Whatever the courts say is OK with me.'' The US Supreme Court has struck down state-required moments of silence in schools. Of the president's faith-based initiative for social services, Dean said, it is ''overdone.''

Read More:

• Secularism 101
• Separation of Church and State 101
• Ten Commandments
• Religion in Public Schools
• School Prayer
• Government Chaplains
• Christmas Symbols, Christmas Holidays