Howard Dean's Controversial Statement On Churches and Politics

A statement on religion and politics to the Christian Science Monitor in an interview on Wednesday has created a good deal of controversy for Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. He said, "The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics." Joseph Cella, president of Fidelis, a Catholic advocacy organization, said, "Howard Dean's statement makes it clear that he wants to muzzle America's churches and religious groups from professing what they believe on important issues facing our society." CNS News on Friday, reporting on the controversy, also reviewed a number of supportive statements that Dean has made since 2004 in speeches to religious groups and in other attempts to reach out to people of faith.