NPR on running for POTUS and ones own religion

[Omaha Steve]

Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy addresses the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, a group of Protestant ministers, on the issue of his religion, Sept. 12, 1960.
Bettmann/CORBIS


Transcript: JFK's Speech on His Religion: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16920600


The video: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16920600


DECEMBER 05, 200712:48 PM ET

On Sept. 12, 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy gave a major speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, a group of Protestant ministers, on the issue of his religion. At the time, many Protestants questioned whether Kennedy's Roman Catholic faith would allow him to make important national decisions as president independent of the church. Kennedy addressed those concerns before a skeptical audience of Protestant clergy. The following is a transcript of Kennedy's speech:

Kennedy: Rev. Meza, Rev. Reck, I'm grateful for your generous invitation to speak my views.

While the so-called religious issue is necessarily and properly the chief topic here tonight, I want to emphasize from the outset that we have far more critical issues to face in the 1960 election: the spread of Communist influence, until it now festers 90 miles off the coast of Florida; the humiliating treatment of our president and vice president by those who no longer respect our power; the hungry children I saw in West Virginia; the old people who cannot pay their doctor bills; the families forced to give up their farms; an America with too many slums, with too few schools, and too late to the moon and outer space.

These are the real issues which should decide this campaign. And they are not religious issues — for war and hunger and ignorance and despair know no religious barriers.

FULL transcript at link.

Transcript courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Even Jesus kept the two Seperate .

[Wilms]

2. Why does the US have such difficulty

with the the separation of church and state?

[Enthusiast]

3. Some religious leaders simply cannot resist the temptation to use the pulpit

to gain extra constitutional power and influence. Imagine where they would take the nation if left unrestrained.