WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Bloomberg’s John Heilemann asked Donald Trump, candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, a series of questions about his faith and his relationship to the Bible. Mr. Trump rightfully pushed back on the question saying it was a personal matter. Interfaith Alliance has encouraged candidates to take care when discussing religion on the campaign trail, and has long urged the media to respect candidates’ private views. Today, Interfaith Alliance Executive Director Rabbi Jack Moline released the following statement:
“Mr. Trump demonstrated a remarkable deftness and respect for the spirit of the First Amendment when pressed, recently, with questions about his relationship to the Bible. The Constitution mandates that the government set no religious test for office, if we are to truly protect religious freedom in America the media must uphold that goal as well. We do a disservice to both our politics and our religious communities when we encourage candidates to translate their faith into sound-bytes. I thank Mr. Trump for respecting religion enough to refuse to answer such questions.
“Mr. Trump has rightfully asked that the privacy of his personal religious identity and beliefs be respected, that America give him the benefit of the doubt when he discuss faith. As someone who strives to lead our nation, I urge him to extend that same civility and generosity to his political opponents, members of the media, and the general public. We are not better informed when we insult one another, our political debate is not helped when we question each other’s intentions, our country will not be made great through demonizing members of our community, fueling divisiveness and championing vitriol.”
Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.