Washington, DC – Interfaith Alliance President Rabbi Jack Moline issued the following statement in response to the highly partisan benediction offered by Pastor Mark Burns today at the opening of the Republican National Convention. Interfaith Alliance is a non-partisan organization that seeks to keep politicians from misusing religion for political purposes.
“I have rarely heard a more inappropriate contribution to political proceedings as the benediction by Pastor Mark Burns at the opening session of the Republican National Convention. The idea that a member of the clergy would invoke his God’s name and, in the next breath, declare the candidate from the other party to be the enemy seems to be an attempt to replace ‘nomination’ with ‘ordination.’ However, invoking religion to launch such attacks devalues faith and disrespects the people of the United States who are hoping for a debate on the issues, not an ‘ex cathedra’ pronouncement. Republican delegates should decline to respond ‘amen.’”