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The religion story in covering the Democratic presidential campaign undoubtedly will continue to focus on John Kerry's Catholicism, and Catholic leaders' responses to it. In fact, that story will explode this week as St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, who has already promised to deny Communion to Kerry and other prochoice politicians, issues a pastoral letter reiterating and detailing his remarks that "knowingly voting for a candidate who advocates abortion" is a mortal sin.

"It is not a matter — as in the case of politicians whose positions are public — of denying Communion to voters who support pro-abortion candidates," Burke told the diocesan newspaper, St. Louis Review. "But Catholics who support such pro-abortion candidates participate in a grave evil. They must show a change of heart and be sacramentally reconciled or refrain from receiving Holy Communion." The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that area priests agree with their bishop on this point.

But with today's announcement that North Carolina Senator John Edwards will be Kerry's running mate, there's now another story for political/religion reporters to follow.

Edwards is a United Methodist, as is George Bush, so don't expect there to be any confrontations between this candidate and his church's leadership. Instead, the religion story here may be the way in which Edwards is able to talk about religious and moral issues in a way that other Democrats feel uncomfortable in doing.

So far today, Kerry has mentioned Edwards's family values several times. In a press release, Kerry said, "He is a lifelong champion for America's families who has shown courage and conviction standing up for America's values." In today's speech in Pittsburgh, he used similar language. "I have chosen a man who understands and defends the values of America. … I know his skill. I know his passion. I know his strength. I know his conscience. I know his faith. He has honored the lessons of home and family learned in North Carolina, and brings those values to this struggle to shape a better future for America."

If Edwards's task really is to talk about values and faith, however, it may be a change of pace for him. Several news reports have noted that while Edwards seemed to be the Democratic candidate most likely to attract white evangelicals—especially in the South—he rarely discussed his faith outright. Beliefnet, for example, said Edwards is "more reserved than other candidates in talking about religion and his personal faith."

"I haven't talked about it, because I only usually talk about it when asked," he said in Iowa. He also explained, "'Most people in this country do not want you to be beating them over their heads with your religious views." It's not that Edwards is uncomfortable with religion, Newhouse News Service reporter Mark O'Keefe (recently appointed the new editor of Religion News Service) reported. Edwards, he wrote, "turned to the Bible after his 16-year-old son, Wade, died in a car accident. But Edwards has been uncomfortable talking about this, saying it's a private family matter."

He may not talk about it much, but it's no secret that after the tragedy, as the Des Moines Register reports, "Edwards started going to church again and joined a Bible study group." He said his faith came "roaring back."

He told The Washington Post in 2001 that he doesn't know why God lets bad things happen to good people, but added, "I believe that God answers prayers."

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July (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48