Centuries-old debate still rages over religion's role in public life

Published: 2008-05-16

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although today's often vitriolic rhetoric about the role of religion in public life seems like a modern-day affliction, Americans have been debating how to balance tensions between faith and politics for more than 230 years. The key question: How much should religion -- and by inference God -- influence the political landscape? The question isn't the problem, said Stephen Schneck, director of the Life Cycle Institute at The Catholic University of America in Washington. More so, it's how the question is addressed. It's the malicious nature of the debate over the proper role of religion today which has people like Schneck concerned. Schneck approached the subject from a historical perspective during a May 13 panel discussion on the need for civility as the 2008 election plays out.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .