Forum to tap views on religion, politics
NEWTON -- Nearly a half century ago, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy had to persuade voters that his Catholic faith did not mean he would answer to the pope. In 2004, religion became an issue for another Catholic presidential candidate from Massachusetts, when the Vatican went so far as to urge priests to deny Holy Communion to John Kerry because he refused to follow the church's antiabortion position.
Tomorrow night, two Catholic candidates for president will square off at Boston College about faith and public policy.
Senator Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican, and Senator Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, will debate a range of hot-button issues, including gay marriage, stem-cell research, abortion, the Iraq war, and euthanasia.
The forum, "Catholic Senators and Presidential Candidates: Their Faith and Public Policy," will be moderated by Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press." It is hosted by a Boston College think tank, the Church in the 21st Century Center, devoted to contemporary Catholic issues.
Last year, Russert moderated a BC discussion between liberal and conservative political commentators who are also Catholics. The forum exceeded all expectations by attracting more than 5,000, said BC spokesman Jack Dunn.
The idea of a debate involving Dodd and Brownback -- who represent opposite ends of the political spectrum -- was hatched last fall during BC's parents' weekend, said Russert, in a telephone interview last week. His son Luke is a junior at Boston College.
Russert said BC's president, the Rev. William Leahy, was considering a topic for this year's gathering when they hit on the idea of a bipartisan political debate.
"The idea of doing something that wove into the presidential campaign came up, and he said, `Wouldn't it be fascinating to have two candidates who are Catholic, and whose faith plays a role in their public lives?' " said Russert.
The forum is not meant to be an endorsement of any candidate, college officials said. Russert chose Brownback and Dodd because they were the two most prominent Catholic candidates at the time and he invited them personally. Other Catholic presidential hopefuls, such as Joseph Biden and Rudy Guiliani, had not yet declared themselves when debate plans were being made.
The two senators immediately accepted, Russert said. "The y both instantly recognized how important this could be. They are both very comfortable with faith and who they are in their public lives.
The public conversation about faith and politics has changed dramatically, even in the last decade. For years, much of the discussion about faith and politics came from evangelicals and right-wing fundamentalist Christians.
Democrats are now putting faith and spirituality front and center in their campaigns.
Tim Muldoon, Church in the 21st Century director, said the debate will be covered in a live webcast and rebroadcast on C-SPAN.
"Catholic Senators and Presidential Candidates: Their Faith and Public Policy" will be held tomorrow at 7 p.m. in BC's Conte Forum. It is a free, public event, and the venue is wheelchair accessible. Call 617-552-0470 or e-mail church21@bc.edu. 
