How religion affects elections.

PositionYour Life - Brief Article

Several issues that could affect the outcome of the presidential election hinge at least in part on religion, notes visiting assistant professor of religion Amy Lotion of Swarthmore (Pa.) College.

"It's still rare to have a Catholic run for president," Lorion says of the John F. Kerry candidacy. "The major concern with 'the first JFK' was defending the Catholic religion in and of itself, which fit a long pattern of suspicion of Catholics in this country. Kennedy had to assert he would not kowtow to Rome.

"This time, the criticism is the reverse. Kerry has had to defend his free thinking against conservative Christians who have used Kerry's deviation from Catholic Church positions on social issues as a weapon against him." For example, Kerry's departure from the Church over abortion helps "portray him as someone who 'flip-flops' on certain issues."

Concerning the Supreme Court, "The next president will likely nominate two Justices.... Given the contentious church-state issues of...

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