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Mitt Romney and Barack Obama talk about faith in God
by Joseph Earnest August 21, 2012
Newscast Media WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the November presidential election draws closer, both the president and his challenger are tackling the question of faith and the role God plays in their lives. Both candidates cleared any lingering misconceptions in an interview conducted by Cathedral Age magazine. The theme of "faith and the election" for the midsummer issue of its magazine is one example of how the Washington National Cathedral lives out its role at the intersection of faith and public life.
Cathedral Age asked the candidates eight questions including: "How does faith play a role in your life," and "What does a political leader's faith tell you about him/her as a person?" as well as how each responds to those who question the sincerity of his beliefs. In their revealing answers, the two candidates discuss their personal beliefs, address those who have questioned their faith, and explain their vision for how faith communities can work together with government for the public good.
"First and foremost, my Christian faith gives me a perspective and security that I don't think I would have otherwise: That I am loved. That, at the end of the day, God is in control," said President Obama. "Faith can express itself in people in many ways, and I think it is important that we not make faith alone a barometer of a person's worth, value, or character."
Governor Romney said, "I am often asked about my faith and my beliefs about Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind."
Romney also said, "A political leader's faith can tell us a great deal or nothing…Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office is whether he or she shares these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty. They are not unique to any one denomination."
One unifying theme between both candidates' answers was a dedication to the "other" as an expression of the Christian faith. Governor Romney said that he was inspired by the words in the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus said that those who cared for the poor, hungry, the naked and the "least of these," cared for Christ.
Romney said, "My faith is grounded in the conviction that a consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another—to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God."
President Obama discussed a similar theme in his response to a question about the role of faith in public life. "We face big challenges in this country, and we're coming to the point where we will decide if we're truly in this together or if each individual ought to just fight for what serves them best," the president said. "Faith tells us that there is something about this world that ties our interest to the welfare of a child who can’t get the health care they need, or a parent who can't find work after the plant shut down, or a family going hungry.
Both candidates also addressed the sacred principle of religious freedom and the role that faith can play in unifying the nation and in promoting the common good.
Source: Cathedral Age magazine Add Comments>>
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