The Faith of A Liberal

Joe Conason has an article on the interesting juxtaposition of faith and politics. Specifically he talks about the criticisms of Liberal/Democratic politician's faith by people who may or may not be as pure as the driven snow.

Too many times in recent years the blustering enforcers of family values and public piety have turned out to be frauds. The unhappy examples range from Ralph Reed’s gambling connections and Newt Gingrich’s infidelities to Ted Haggard’s secret gay lifestyle. The latest episode involves Senator David Vitter (R-LA), another conservative Christian moralist, whose name just turned up in the D.C. madam’s phone book.

When these Christian gentlemen are caught with their pants down or their hands in the cookie jar, they invariably claim that they have repented and prayed for forgiveness. In a spirit of generosity that they often lack, let us hope that they are sincere and that they cleanse themselves of wrongdoing. But let us also be skeptical whenever an ostentatiously pious conservative presumes to judge the religious sincerity of liberal Christians—including candidates for president.

It's well worth thinking about.