The senator from Pennsylvania:
I do think there’s a difference between what a religious leader says and does and what a public official or legislator does. But there’s no question that a lot of our legal underpinnings find a good bit of their foundations in the Scriptures. Sometimes I as a public official turn to Scripture or hymns—especially hymns, because sometimes we Catholics don’t have the Scriptures memorized like we should—to help me explain a public policy position or an idea or to be able to articulate it better when you’re talking about justice or mercy or compassion. I use it more as a way to explain public policy than to say that the literal teaching of the Scriptures tells me which positions to take, which I think takes it too far. But there are plenty of people who disagree with that.
I know I’m a broken record, but explaining the personal religious or spiritual inspiration behind a political act, and making an argument for it on explicitly religious grounds, are critically separate issues in a secular society. I think it’s great that we discuss faith in public. God knows I always have. But when advancing political positions, it’s also critical to make a case that can appeal to citizens qua citizens, regardless of religious faith or none. That may include some grappling with religiously-based arguments, but it also means transcending them.
The Dish 