Lou Isn’t About to Buy Church, State Separation

The Rev. Louis Sheldon, he of the Traditional Values Coalition, called a news conference the other day to urge the nation to reelect George Bush, seeing as how a Bill Clinton Administration would defy God’s law.

“We cannot allow evil to be called good,” the reverend said in reference to the Democratic Party platform.

He went on, of course, citing the Democrats’ blasphemous positions on abortion rights, homosexuality and women defending their country with a gun. And he said he would be sending out a million voter’s guides soon, presumably letting everybody know how God intends to vote next month.

In the scramble for election endorsements, this could be considered quite a coup.

Sheldon first aimed his pitch at Christians, but later suggested that Jews and Muslims, too, would do well to listen to the Gospel According to Lou.

I have no quarrel with this, in a technical sense, seeing as how our Constitution is supposed to guarantee freedom of expression to Americans of all beliefs.

But it is still wrong. When religious crusades start steamrolling past government doors, we are all at risk.

I expect that by writing with disdain about confusing religion with politics I will offend some people. This is not my intent, although, clearly, communication barriers have long since formed between “them” and “us.”

The letters I get, some of them polite, others obscene, back this up. Yet they usually miss the point.

Knocking somebody’s religion is a cheap shot, immoral in my book, something I won’t do. As for the morality of politics, well, I could go on about that. But I am trying to keep a civil tone.

Which brings me back to Lou. This is a man who clearly understands the concept of separation of church and state, only he does not approve. He believes most politicians, at the nation’s peril, have forsaken God.

We hear this message from him often, on everything from the teaching of creationism in public schools (he’s for it) to abortion (he wants it banned). Homosexuality, especially, seems to get under his skin.

But the reverend is a rabble-rouser in general who says he speaks for God. And, more important, his lobbying organization seems to have a steady supply of money coming in. The man can usually bend ears.

At his news conference the other day, he was joined by representatives from the anti-abortion Operation Rescue and the Coalition for the Restoration of the Black Family, which is affiliated with Sheldon’s group.

The Times, on a rather slow news day, nonetheless played the story small. I couldn’t find it in the competing paper at all. I can only guess that’s because Sheldon’s message is getting old.

Still, to those who believe as the reverend does, such is of little concern. They are motivated by their faith, in God and in a simpler world. Good and evil, black and white. Please, no questions that require answers beyond that.

Disagreements with those who do not share the same beliefs are dismissed, because the outsider is not heeding God’s law.

Yes, rational people can disagree, argue and debate, certainly about something as crucial as the course of our nation for the next four years.

Once upon a time, this was how political discourse in America was carried out. Rational people could call each other names, turn red in the face, maybe throw a few fists. But then they’d eventually kiss and make up, if for no other reason than to save their strength for the next showdown on the political scene.

But with the mobilization of the religious right, these rules do not apply. The religious right believes, apparently genuinely, that it is God who is guiding its hand, that it is God who should guide the hands of all Americans in the voting booth.

This is what the Rev. Louis Sheldon says. Never mind that God may whisper one thing in Lou’s ears and something else in mine. The reverend believes that only his interpretation is right.

Which, on a personal level, is fine. But how can you debate politics when your opponent is arguing theology? How can you argue constitutionality when your political opponent professes to listen only to a higher law?

Clearly, you cannot. And in the not-too-old days, we Americans didn’t even try. We respected each other’s spiritual differences. We didn’t talk about another person’s religion. It wasn’t nice. It was un-American.

The separation of church and state, in other words, was sacred.

One should never interfere with the other. Let the world’s history be our guide. In the end, a “religious” state would make victims of us all, no matter what Lou Sheldon says.

This election, we should use our heads.