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Unlike many pundits, we're rather keen on the idea of politicians talking about their faith, and of churches taking about public policy. But boy, are we tired of linking to bajillions of news articles and commentaries on the subject, and can't wait until they slow down tomorrow.

Many articles to read today. And you'd better get it all in: Much of this may be obsolete in few hours.

Note: These are stories from Saturday-Monday. We'll be posting Tuesday stories later today.

Religion & politics:

• IRS investigating 60 tax-exempt groups | About 60 charities, churches and other tax-exempt groups are being investigated for potentially breaking federal rules that bar them from participating in political activity, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday (Associated Press)
• Religion guides minister's liberal causes | Three months ago, the Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson was preaching on a national stage — appointed to advise Democrats in their attempt to close a much-publicized "God gap," or the tendency of regular churchgoers to vote Republican. But within days of her appointment, Peterson, a former Kentuckian, resigned amid an outcry over her earlier call for the U.S. Supreme Court to remove the phrase "under God" from public school recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance (The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.)
• Shades of theocracy | Is it healthy for a secular democracy to have religious voting blocs? (M. Zuhdi Jasser, The Arizona Republic)
• When priests play politics | The political actions of Protestant black and evangelical pastors and those of Catholic bishops are not the same (J. Douglas Allen-Taylor, AlterNet)
• When you pray, go into the Oval Office and shut the door | The U.S. Constitution bars religious test for office, but that doesn't mean politicians don't pander to it or that voters don't pay attention to it (Randolph D. Brandt, The Journal Times, Racine, Wi.)
• Voting according to one's faith? | There exists a huge differential between the principles and practice of faith in America, according to theologian Thomas C. Oden, a leader of the confessional movement within the United Methodist Church. The question is how this chasm will influence Tuesday's presidential election (Uwe Siemon-Netto, UPI)
• Faith, values rise above hot election | Candidates love to quote the Bible during campaigns, but here's a verse from Proverbs that you won't hear from their lips: "A gentle answer turns away wrath." (Terry Pluto, The Beacon Journal, Akron, Oh.)
• How many gays do you know? | Socially conservative Democrats could determine this election (Fred Barnes, The Wall Street Journal)
• Election spins not only facts, but faith | As this maddening presidential election whirls toward its conclusion, our ever-spinning candidates -- and the dizzy media tracking them -- have put God on the agenda (Donna Britt, The Washington Post)
• Many elected officials cite religious faith as a guide | The ways legislators use their faith in their daily lives has been a more frequent topic of conversation in St. Louis ever since earlier this year (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• Where religion, politics and acceptability messily collide | Bush and Buttiglione share views but not political fates (Duncan Hamilton, The Scotsman)
• Battle over religion in American presidential election | Politicians should follow their convictions and state them publicly. But those with religious faith should also be able to say, "I am pro-life and pro-family - but not because my religious leaders tell me to think this way. I think this way because these are my own personal convictions. If all the bishops, rabbis and imams in the world changed their minds, I would not change my mind." (Joe Babendreier, The Nation, Kenya)

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November (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48