Faith-Based Groups Push Voters To The Polls In Today's Mid-Term Elections

RNS yesterday reported on the extensive get-out-the vote campaigns mounted by religious groups. Detailing many of the efforts, the report says in part:

Waves of religious groups are mustering passionate get-out-the-vote efforts in the final hours before the heated midterm elections, with clergy pushing the faithful to the polls in ways that stand to aid both Republicans and Democrats.

Convincing religious voters to cast ballots on Election Day on Tuesday (Nov. 6) is hardly a new phenomenon in American politics. But this year’s atypically heated midterm contests appear to have sparked unusually robust efforts by faith-based organizations to galvanize supporters and move the political needle in favor of their respective values, if not their preferred candidates.

Evangelicals Organizing For Mid-Term Elections

A New York Times article posted yesterday reports:

The conservative Christian coalition that helped usher President Trump into power in 2016 is planning its largest midterm election mobilization ever, with volunteers fanning out from the church pews to the streets to register voters, raise money and persuade conservatives that they cannot afford to be complacent this year.

Evangelicals cite a list of Trump's achievements as the basis for their continued support of candidates backing his agenda, despite the controversies surrounding Trump's alleged personal behavior:

He has begun the process of moving the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, won the confirmation of numerous judges and a Supreme Court Justice who seem likely to advance their anti-abortion cause, moved against transgender protections throughout the government, increased the ability of churches to organize politically and personally supported the March for Life.

Pakistan Troops Clash With Islamic Protesters Who Accuse Law Minister of Blasphemy

According to a report yesterday from BBC News, the government of Pakistan has deployed troops to the city of Islamabad to deal with protesters who have been blocking a key highway interchange for several weeks.  Protesters from the Islamist Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Party  are demanding the firing of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, claiming that he is guilty of blasphemy because of a provision in his 2017 Election Reform Bill passed by the National Assembly.

Here is the issue, as explained by Daily Pakistan. Under prior law, the nomination form that a candidate for office was required to complete included the following for all Muslim candidates:

I, the above mentioned candidate, solemnly swear that--

(i) I believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the last of the prophets and that I am not the follower of anyone who claims to be a Prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and that I do not recognize such a claimant to be Prophet or a religious reformer, nor do I belong to the Qadiani group or the Lahori group or call myself an Ahmadi.

In the 2017 legislation, this statement became an unsworn declaration by the candidate. Hamid said that this was a clerical error, and earlier this month Pakistan's National Assembly amended the 2017 Bill to restore this anti-Ahmadi provision as a sworn statement in the candidate nomination form. (TheNation).  That apparently did not assuage protesters' objections.  AP reports that at least 6 people were killed and 200 wounded in clashes yesterday between police and protesters in Islamabad.  Other opposition members of Parliament have different kinds of objections to other parts of the 2017 Bill.

UPDATE: Reuters (11/28) reports on the negotiated settlement of the conflict, though the military's role in the negotiations has raised questions.

Roy Moore Announces Run For U.S. Senate Seat From Alabama

In Alabama this week, Roy Moore who has been suspended for the rest of his term as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court because of his defiance of same-sex marriage rulings (see prior posting) announced that he will formally resign from his judicial position in order to run for the United States Senate.  The Republican primary for the seat is scheduled for August (with a potential run off in September). The special election itself is scheduled for December 12.  The Senate seat initially opened up when former Senator Jeff Sessions was appointed U.S. Attorney General. According to AL.com, Moore will face several opponents in the primary, including incumbent Sen. Luther Strange who was appointed on an interim basis to Sessions' seat by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, and Dr. Randy Brinson, president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama.  In his announcement, Moore said in part: "My position has always been God first, family then country. I share the vision of President Donald Trump to make America great again."

India Supreme Court Gives Broad Reading To Law Banning Religious Appeals To Voters

In Singh v. Commachen, (Sup. Ct. India, Jan. 2, 2016), the Supreme Court of India in a 4-3 decision yesterday interpreted broadly Sec. 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act which prohibits appealing to voters on the basis of religion, race, caste, community or language.  Indian Express reports on the decision and its impact:

By a 4-3 majority ruling, a seven-judge Constitution Bench held that an election will be annulled not only if votes are sought in the name of the religion of the candidate but also when such an appeal hinges on religion of voters or candidate’s election agents or by anybody else with the consent of the candidate.

The third class will include religious and spiritual leaders, often engaged by candidates to mobilise their followers. The majority view interpreted Section 123(3) ... to mean that this provision was laid down with an intent “to clearly proscribe appeals based on sectarian, linguistic or caste considerations ... and send out the message that regardless of these distinctions, voters were free to choose the candidate best suited to represent them.”....

Meanwhile ... [three justices] dissented ..., holding that the expression “his” used [in the statute] in conjunction with religion, race, caste, community or language is in reference to the candidate, in whose favour the appeal to cast a vote is made, or that of a rival candidate when an appeal is made to refrain from voting for another.

“To hold that a person who seeks to contest an election is prohibited from speaking of the legitimate concerns of citizens that the injustices faced by them on the basis of traits having an origin in religion, race, caste, community or language would be remedied is to reduce democracy to an abstraction,” the minority judgment said.

Church Lacks Standing In Recall Petition Counterclaim

In City of El Paso, Texas v. Tom Brown Ministries, (TX App., Dec. 7, 2016), a Texas state appeals court dismissed on standing grounds a counterclaim by a church that had been involved in recall efforts against the mayor of El Paso who supported re-establishing domestic partnership benefits for city employees. In this phase of the long-running case, at issue was the Church's counterclaim against the city and the Mayor in his official capacity contending that they violated the Church's constitutional right to circulate recall petitions when they brought suit claiming that the Church's recall activities violated election laws. The court concluded in part:

[T]he City never took any unconstitutional actions against Appellees and never applied any unconstitutional policies against them. Rather, it was Cook [the Mayor], in his individual capacity, who sought redress for private injuries arising from Appellees’ alleged violations of the Election Code in circulating the recall petitions, and it was this Court that directed the City to decertify the recall petitions and to cancel the recall election.... The City never engaged in any past unconstitutional conduct toward Appellees, and there is no basis for any fear the City will unlawfully enforce the Election Code against Appellees in the future.

Questions On Abortion and Gay Marriage Violated Rights of Constable Candidate

In Lloyd v. Birkman, (WD TX, Dec. 2, 2016), a Texas federal district court held that members of the Williamson County (TX) Commissioners' Court violated the equal protection rights of plaintiff when, in an interview for appointment as interim County Constable, they asked him his views on same-sex marriage, abortion and religious affiliation.  The Commissioners had argued that the purpose of their questions was to determine whether the appointee was likely to be electable for a full term to the position in the next popular election. KXAN News reports on the decision.

Mexico Charges Priest With Electioneering Offense

In Mexico on Tuesday, prosecutors-- in a first of its kind case-- filed charges of "vote pressuring" against a Roman Catholic priest. The offense is punishable by a fine.  AP reports:

Prosecutors accuse the priest and two former mayoral candidates of participating in a Mass at a church in the town of Chiautla, in the state of Mexico. The priest allegedly blessed the candidates, and the Mass was allegedly touted as the opening of their campaigns.

Under Mexican law, clergy are not allowed to endorse political candidates. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

Some Issues of Religion In Tomorrow's Down-Ballot Contests

Religion has not dominated very many down-ballot contests in tomorrow's election.  However for those interested in religious liberty and church-state issues, there are several contests to watch. [Thanks to Don Byrd at Blog From the Capital for keeping an eye on these down ballot issues.]

1. Oklahoma State Question 790 asks voters to repeal provisions in Oklahoma's state constitution (Art. 2, Sec. 5) that prohibits the use of public funds or property for the direct or indirect benefit of any religion or religious institution.  This section of the state constitution was the basis for the Oklahoma Supreme Court to order removal of a Ten Commandments monument.
   
2. Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3 would increase the tax on cigarettes to create an Early Childhood Health and Education Trust Fund that will make grants to both public and private entities.  Part of the amendment excludes grant funds distributed from the Trust Fund from the restrictions of Missouri Constitution Art. IX, Sec. 8 which prohibits use of public funds to support any religious creed, sectarian purpose or religious educational institution. The proposed Amendment also bars use of trust funds for any abortion services not necessary to save the life of the mother.
   
3. The conservative Christian religious beliefs of one of the candidates for Justice of the Montana Supreme Court-- attorney and law professor Kristen Juras-- has become a campaign issue. (See prior posting.)
   
4. In a contest for state legislature in Ohio, Casey Weinstein who is running in House District 37 (Summit County), has been challenged over a lawsuit filed on his behalf when he was an Air Force Academy cadet. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, an ad sent out by state Republican Party focuses on a lawsuit in which Weinstein was one of the plaintiffs objecting to alleged Christian proselytizing at the Air Force Academy. Weinstein's father Mikey Weinstein is head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that filed the suit.
   
5. The result of the state Attorney General contest in Missouri may impact a major free exercise case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court-- Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley. At issue is the denial-- because of Missouri's Blaine Amendment-- of a state Playground Scrap Tire Surface Material Grant that would have allowed a church to resurface a playground at its day care and preschool facility. The state, represented by the current Democratic state Attorney General Chris Koster (who is now a candidate for governor), is defending the denial. However Republican Attorney General candidate Josh Hawley sides with the church and filed an amicus brief in support of of it on behalf of a Pentecostal Christian denomination. (US Law Week, Nov. 2, reports).

New Survey Findings On Religion and American Culture and Politics

The Public Religion Research Institute this week released its findings from the 2016 American Values Survey in a 48-page report titled The Divide Over America's Future: 1950 or 2050?. While the report is wide-ranging, portions dealt with religion and American culture and politics.Here are some excerpts from the report's Executive Summary:

Americans are divided about whether American culture and way of life have changed for worse (51%) or better (48%) since the 1950s.....

No group has a dimmer view of American cultural change than white evangelical Protestants: nearly three-quarters (74%) say American culture has changed for the worse since the 1950s....

In 2016, Americans’ social networks are strongly segregated by party loyalties.... There is also evidence that American churches are highly segregated by party. More than eight in ten (83%) Trump supporters who attend religious services at least weekly estimate that most of their fellow church members are supporting Trump. Similarly, more than three-quarters (78%) of Clinton supporters who attend religious services at least weekly estimate that most of their fellow church members are supporting Clinton.

New Polling Results On Candidate Morality and Religion

PRRI yesterday released polling results on voters reactions to immoral conduct by political candidates and to the importance of candidates' religious beliefs. It reports:

Across the political spectrum, Americans today are less likely to believe personal transgressions prevent public officials from performing their duties well. Seven in ten (70%) Republicans and more than six in ten Democrats (61%) and independents (63%) say public officials can behave ethically in their professional roles even if they acted immorally in their personal life. Notably, in 2011 only 36% of Republicans agreed, compared to nearly half of Democrats (49%) and independents (46%)....

Fewer Americans today say it is important that the candidate they are supporting for president has strong religious beliefs. Currently, a majority of the public says it is either very (29%) or somewhat (29%) important that a candidate has strong religious beliefs. Four in ten (40%) Americans say this is not too important or not at all important to them in making their voting decision. In 2011, nearly two-thirds (66%) of the public said it was important to them that the candidate they were supporting has strong religious beliefs, including 39% who said it was very important....

Among every religious group fewer say that having strong religious beliefs is a priority in a candidate for president, but white evangelical Protestants have shifted their views more than any other group. Today fewer than half (49%) of white evangelical Protestants say it is very important that a candidate have strong religious beliefs, while nearly two-thirds (64%) expressed this view in 2011. Today, roughly one-third (34%) of Catholics and one in five (20%) white mainline Protestants say strong religious beliefs are very important in a candidate. In 2011, four in ten (40%) Catholics and nearly three in ten (29%) white mainline Protestants said this quality was very important in a candidate for president. Even religiously unaffiliated Americans are less likely to say that strong religious beliefs are very important today than in 2011 (7% vs. 16%, respectively).

Denver Archbishop Reflects on How a Catholic Should Vote in 2016

Last week, Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila posted a lengthy discussion on the Archdiocese's website titled Voting as a Catholic in 2016: How Should a Catholic Vote. Recounting a dinner conversation he had recently had with a group of Catholics, Aquila said in part:

All pretty much agreed that, when it comes to life issues, Catholic politicians on both sides of the aisle have put party ideology before their faith and living their faith in the public square.

The Archbishop's comments focused primarily on issues of abortion, the Obamacare contraceptive coverage mandate and Proposition 106 on the Colorado ballot to legalize physician assisted suicide.

Data On Religious Affiliation of Super Tuesday Voters

The Pew Research Center yesterday compiled data in post titled A Closer Look At Religion in the Super Tuesday States.  It reports in part:

Overall, nearly half of all people in the 12 Super Tuesday states who identify as or lean toward the Republican Party (47%) are evangelical Protestants....

Massachusetts, one of the five states outside the South to vote Tuesday, is the biggest exception to this trend; only 10% of Massachusetts Republicans are evangelicals, while fully half (50%) are Catholics....

Among Democrats, people with no religious affiliation are the largest group in three of the 11 states that will vote Tuesday....

Members of historically black Protestant churches also are a key Democratic constituency.... 

Evangelicals are the single biggest group among Democrats in Tennessee (39%), and they make up 20% of all Democrats in the 11 states that will vote Tuesday.

In Massachusetts (27%) and Texas (26%), about a quarter of Democrats are Catholics; in Texas, the overwhelming majority of Catholic Democrats (79%) are Hispanic....

Israeli Court Tells Ultra-Orthodox Paper To Publish Ad By Party Running Women Candidates- UPDATE- Order Reversed

In Israel on Friday, a district court in the city of Lod ordered Yated Ne'eman, the largest haredi (ultra-Orthodox)  newspaper to publish at least one election ad by U’bezchutan,  a political party seeking votes of haredi women.  Jerusalem Post reports that a number of haredi media outlets have rejected ads from  U’bezchutan, the only haredi party that has women candidates on its list. Publication of print ads in the haredi community is particularly important because many ultra-Orthodox women do not have access to the Internet. The court rejected the argument of the newspaper that the ad would offend the feelings of the paper's readers. The newspaper however has appealed the ruling, so the issue may not be finally decided before tomorrow's election.

UPDATE: On Sunday night, Israel's Supreme Court reversed the district court's judgment. (Report from Yeshiva World).

Group Issues Election Guides Designed To Respect Diversity and Church-State Separation

Interfaith Alliance yesterday announced the release of 3 publications for the 2014 election season, each designed to respect religious diversity and church-state constratints.  The publications, aimed at candidates, houses of worship and voters, are: Running for Office in A Multifaith Nation;  A Campaign Season Guide for Houses of Worship; and Five Questions for Candidates on the Role of Religion in American Public Life. Interfaith Alliance also announced a website that can be used by members of the public to report candidates' abuse of religion on the campaign trail. The site allows individuals to "Submit An Eye On The Election Report."

Religion Becomes Issue In Arkansas Senate Race

Earlier this week, ABC News reported on the prominent place that religion has assumed in the race for U.S. Senate in Arkansas. In a television interview last week, Republican Rep. Tom Cotton, seeking to capture the Senate seat from incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor, commented on the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, saying:

It's another example of how Obamacare infringes on the liberties of all Arkansans. Barack Obama and Mark Pryor think that faith is something that only happens at 11 on Sunday mornings.

In response, in a television ad running state-wide,Pryor, holding a Bible, says:

I'm not ashamed to say that I believe in God, and I believe in His word. The Bible teaches us no one has all the answers, only God does.