I'm sorry, but: Wouldn't it be important to make sure the person actually wants secular values in politics when parts of their religion doesn't think the same way?
I mean, if he doesn't personally think folks should be using birth control or that same sex marriage is bad (as the Catholic Church does), isn't it important to ask how they deal with this? Does it come out in votes or does the person think that they should live up to a stricter moral code than what law dictates?
If you don't find this stuff out, you might wind up in a position where the law reflects religious values rather than broader secular ones. You don't have to have an official religion for this to happen, merely enough religious folks in office that vote with their religion.
Hey, I think your comment is interesting and raises a number of valid points, and I basically agree with you. I spent about 40 minutes drafting and redrafting more detailed replies, but everything I could think of saying read like kicking off a very rote/standard internet discussion about politics and religion, and I wouldn't wish that upon either of us.
I mean, if he doesn't personally think folks should be using birth control or that same sex marriage is bad (as the Catholic Church does), isn't it important to ask how they deal with this? Does it come out in votes or does the person think that they should live up to a stricter moral code than what law dictates?
If you don't find this stuff out, you might wind up in a position where the law reflects religious values rather than broader secular ones. You don't have to have an official religion for this to happen, merely enough religious folks in office that vote with their religion.