Religion and politics

Rivaling the wind of campaigning politicians, some preachers are known for their strong discourse on political issues, which they feel align with moral beliefs.

Issues like abortion, gay marriage, the death penalty, separation of church and state, stem-cell research and the global environment creep into Sunday sermons as pastors take stands in accordance with their church’s teachings. Even debates on immigration, the War in Iraq, global environment, education and poverty are discussed from the pulpit or pews in some houses of worship.

The Rev. Paul Bauernfeind, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church, said, for him, offering church support for a particular candidate or party is out of the question.

“I don’t consider it my calling as a pastor and disciple of Jesus Christ to endorse any one individual candidate or party, but I do feel it’s my responsibility to lift up the life of Jesus Christ and to vote according to his example,” Bauernfeind said.

In the past, Asbury made a nonpartisan voter’s guide available from the League of Women’s Voters to offer information on the candidates’ stands on particular issues — but Bauernfeind said that’s been discontinued.

Even speaking about some of the political issues from a Christian perspective can be a touchy subject, he said.

“Sometimes I’ll put examples in sermons that might indeed address a particular issue, but not a whole sermon,” Bauernfeind said. “It’s about weaving that into a text if the text speaks about it.”

Citing the United Methodist Church Book of Discipline — the denomination’s governing document — the Odessa pastor said his parishioners have a political responsibility to get out and vote according to their conscience.

When deciding whom to vote for, Bauernfeind said the key is to look at the overall candidate in a way that’s most Christ-like, not just focusing on one particular issue.

“I just basically try to go encourage people to vote — it’s a great honor and privilege, and Americans should exercise that opportunity,” he said.

Several churches nationwide have made news with their declared promotion of a particular candidate, something that could place their tax-exempt status at risk pending investigation by the IRS.

The Rev. Mark Woodruff, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, said he disagrees with such political endorsements even though he sees some local churches playing that card.

“I think it’s a terrible interference of church and state — I don’t think it would be right,” he said. “I think in Odessa there are some churches that push particular candidates on the school board or state legislature.”

Woodruff said “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a document from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, deciphers the realm of values that Catholics should examine when voting.

“We’re giving copies to all of our parishioners, and it kind of summarizes the church’s teaching, and it encourages people to vote for candidates who fall in line with those positions,” he said.

Available at www.faithfulcitizenship.org, the document outlines the Catholic Church’s beliefs on the following categories: The right to life and the dignity of the human person; Call to family, community and participation; Rights and responsibilities; Option for the poor and vulnerable; Dignity of work and the rights of workers; Solidarity and caring for God’s creation.

While he encourages his parishioners to vote and read the two-page summary on issues affecting public policy, Woodruff said he doesn’t talk about where candidates stand on those issues.

“I think churches, in general, are really fearful about talking about individual candidates’ positions,” he said. “That would be the individual citizen’s responsibility to tune in on CNN or read the Odessa American and do their own research.”

Woodruff said “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” might be offensive to some, with the church’s clear anti-abortion stance and definition of marriage “between a man a woman.”

Judging the candidates against the Catholic set of values isn’t necessarily cut-and-dry, however. Voters should use the guidelines in selecting someone who best represents the overall synopsis, Woodruff said.

“I’m not pro-choice, but I would vote for a candidate who was because I like some of their other stances,” he said. “Sometimes you have to look at the broader context of all the issues — I’m a pragmatist — I like to see some things done.”

The Rev. Don Caywood, pastor of Odessa Christian Faith Center, said he disagrees with the IRS mandate prohibiting pastors from endorsing a specific candidate from the pulpit.

“Do I agree with the law? No — but it is the law, and we should follow it,” he said.

Caywood said he encourages his congregation to know the issues and vote according to their conscience.

As a pastor, it’s his mandate to teach godly living no matter who is elected, he said.

“The Bible tells us that we should pray for those in authority, even though I may not agree with them,” Caywood said.

Mark Gladson, an eighth-grade teacher at Nimitz Junior High and member of First Baptist Church, said there are some governmental decisions that tie directly in with moral issues addressed at church.

“I think (politics) plays a role for everybody in the church,” he said. “You think of the Ten Commandments, and you find issues that Jesus is really clear about.”

As values and politics intertwine, Gladson said it’s important for churches to preach the truth without stepping out of bounds.

“Our pastor encourages us to vote, but, at the same time, he’s very cautious and not giving us a candidate to vote for,” he said.