Q4

In his 1960 speech at The Rice Hotel, in Houston, Texas, John F. Kennedy argued that his presidential competence should not be assessed on the basis of his religion, but rather on his vision for a free and united America.  Kennedy insisted that “the separation of church and state is absolute,” and further, that Americans should detach his potential role as president from his role as a catholic, as he intended to do.  To concretize this notion and establish common ground with his audience, JKF relies heavily on the Constitution by citing the first and sixth amendments.  This reinforces the church and state dichotomy asserting that congress may not make laws which favor the establishment of or prohibit the free exercise of any particular religion, and that religious testing for government positions is forbidden.  

JFK delivered this speech with the intention to dilute the long withstanding Protestant Moral Establishment associated with presidential politics.  Ultimately, he had to demonstrate that a non-protestant could represent the United States with moral and ethical judgement- characteristics that culture typically divorced from all who did not subscribe to evangelical protestantism.  Similarly, Kennedy faced the difficult challenge of redefining patriotism, not as a solely protestant value, but rather as a uniting force of freedom established by the forefathers.  He critiqued this religious bias, stating, “For while this year it may be a Catholic against whom the finger of suspicion is pointed, in other years it has been -- and may someday be again -- a Jew, or a Quaker, or a Unitarian, or a Baptist.”  

If a presidential candidate made a similar speech someday soon, I imagine the reception would differ depending on the candidate’s religion, or lack thereof.  Moral protestantism is still a powerhouse in U.S. politics.  Major political issues, like abortion, gun control, LGBTQ rights, etc. are oozing with christian influence.  While catholic politicians are no longer anomalies, muslims, buddhists, atheists, agnostics, even mormons, jews, and women would face great pushback as presidential candidates due to this religious bias.  I think any non-christian candidate in the U.S. would have no choice but to make a speech similar to that of JFK if they hoped for any chance of gaining traction with voters.