Good Speech

This is a speech given by JFK basically saying that it's ok to vote for him even though he's a Catholic. Rachel Maddow was talking about this last night on her radio show based upon the fact that Mitt Romney is due to give a speech with similar intent. I was blown away by this speech* by Kennedy, not just about his Catholicism, but about religion's role in public life in America. Here's a quote (or two):

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishoners for whom to vote--where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference--and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.

(and later-supermegadio!!!!!)

But let me stress again that these are my views--for contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters--and the church does not speak for me.

Man, it would be nice to hear something like this today. Who knew this nation was once on the road to a more progressive view of religion? And, he probably wrote this himself!

*Keep in mind it was 1960 and apparently there were only Catholics, Protestants, and Jews in America at that time.