Written by Don Byrd
At the Dallas Morning News Religion Blog, William McKenzie asks a question I was just pondering myself. “Is religion playing a shrinking role in this election?” He says yes.
There have been few religious-themed debates over issues such as gay marriage, abortion, the Middle East and Islamic extremism. And there has been little high-profile courting of pastors such as Rick Warren, Jim Wallis or T.D. Jakes.
At least not like in the last several election cycles, where candidates from George W. Bush to Bill Clinton to Barack Obama to John McCain to Sarah Palin talked openly about their religion or courted “values voters” and their leaders from right, left and center.
I basically agree. And I’m a little surprised. After all, we have spent the better part of 2012 embroiled in a debate over contraception and religious freedom and claims that health coverage requirements amount to a “war on religion.” Thankfully, the candidates have seen fit to focus on other pressing domestic issues, rather than emphasize religiously divisive talking points.
In Monday’s foreign policy debate, however, for what it’s worth, I did hear reference to religious freedom and religious minorities in a discussion about Middle East policy.
[W]hat I’ve done throughout my presidency and will continue to do is, number one, make sure that these countries are supporting our counterterrorism efforts.
Number two, make sure that they are standing by our interests in Israel’s security, because it is a true friend and our greatest ally in the region.
Number three, we do have to make sure that we’re protecting religious minorities and women because these countries can’t develop unless all the population, not just half of it, is developing.
And on Egypt specifically
OBAMA: [N]ow that you have a democratically elected government in Egypt, that they have to make sure that they take responsibility for protecting religious minorities. And we have put significant pressure on them to make sure they’re doing that; to recognize the rights of women, which is critical throughout the region. These countries can’t develop if young women are not given the kind of education that they need.
All in all, a pretty slight mention of religious freedom interests in this year’s debate season. That may not be such a bad thing…
