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The politics of religion

Belief systems clashed often
in courtrooms, voting booths
and even churches in 2004

Despite all we hear about separation of church and state in the United States, we know Americans don't leave their faith behind at the voting booth or courthouse doors. And people in government don't keep hands off issues involving religious beliefs.

Half of the 10 top religion stories in 2004 involved an intertwining of government and religious beliefs, with the accent on Christianity.

Religion writers across the country called the presidential race and re-election of President Bush the top religion story of the year in an annual poll by Religion Newswriters Association released Thursday.

The real-life drama of Election 2004 tied for first place with the furor over a movie retelling the Bible story of Jesus' death.

Actor Mel Gibson was voted 2004 Religion Newsmaker of the Year for "The Passion of the Christ," which drew record crowds, made millions and generated no end of discussions about whether it was faithful to Scriptures, too violent or anti-Semitic. Gibson got 51 percent of the vote, compared with Bush's 40 percent.

Bush's frequent reference to his faith even before his first term has lathered a layer of conservative Christianity on his presidency. Some election analysts credited evangelical Christian voters with providing his margin of victory, particularly where their awareness was loaded with a same-sex marriage question on the ballot. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate John Kerry was scrutinized for his political pro-choice stand, which is contrary to the Catholic Church teaching against abortion.

The issue of same-gender marriage was No. 3 on the religion news front. Gay marriages were performed for the first time in Massachusetts after the state supreme court upheld their constitutionality. Similar ceremonies took place in cities elsewhere, such as San Francisco, but were later invalidated. The Federal Marriage Act failed in the U.S. Senate, but Bush has made it a priority to be revisited. Last month, voters in 11 states passed ballot questions banning same-gender marriage.

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KIP AOKI / KAOKI@STARBULLETIN.COM

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Religion writers categorized other stories they covered this year as follows:

» 4. A few Catholic archbishops and bishops said they would deny communion to pro-choice politicians, a stand inspired by Kerry's record in Congress. But the National Conference of Catholic Bishops did not take a stand, leaving it to the individual bishops.

» 5. A rift within the global Anglican Communion widened. It began last year when the Episcopal Church in America affirmed installation of a gay bishop in New Hampshire. In November the international Lambeth Commission tried to pacify rather than condemn, which pleased neither liberals nor conservatives. Individual churches in the United States are forming a new network of dissenting churches which might separate from the established body.

» 6. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing several cases concerning religious belief. It focused on a technicality and ducked a constitutionality challenge to allow "under God" to remain in the Pledge of Allegiance. It agreed to hear a case about display of the 10 Commandments and declined a California appeal from a Catholic organization forced to pay for employees' contraceptives.

» 7. Religion is a thread in the debate about America's role in Iraq. The National Council of Churches and other groups call for withdrawal, while other religious groups focus on support of the troops. Muslim clerics in Iraq play key roles in the country's future. American Muslims have been arrested under the Patriot Act.

» 8. Other churches struggle with issues concerning homosexuals. Two lesbian United Methodist Church preachers were tried by church courts, one acquitted in Washington and the other defrocked in Pennsylvania. A Presbyterian Church U.S.A. General Assembly vote upheld a ban against "unrepentant homosexual practice" by its officers.

» 9. The sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church was in its third year and still a top news story. The Orange County, Calif., diocese made the largest settlement with victims of pedophile priests. The dioceses of Portland, Ore., and Tucson, Ariz., filed for bankruptcy because of such payouts to victims. Lawsuits continue in several states.

» 10. American perceptions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were changing. The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. withdrew investments in companies that profit from Israel's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Some Jewish groups reacted with charges of anti-Semitism. Some groups in the United States advocated social justice for Palestinian Christians and Muslims who have lost homes and jobs by Israeli actions.

Only 40 percent of the Religion Newswriters Association's 260 members responded to the poll on a total 26 questions.

Issues that did not top the list included the continuing religious persecution, particularly against Christians, in some Third World countries. Religious minorities were heartened by the election of the first non-Hindu prime minister in India. Pope John Paul II continued to be a newsmaker with his travels, a new book and a reaffirmation of traditional marriage. There was good news and bad news for the Salvation Army which got a $1.5 billion gift from McDonald's heiress Joan Kroc but has been ousted from its traditional bell-ringing holiday solicitation sites outside some stores.