June 30, 2011

Are Mormons Second-class Citizens?

By Bob Weir
During the presidential campaign of 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy had several issues to confront, not the least of which was his religion.  Although there were numerous elected officials across the country who were members of the Catholic faith, no Catholic had ever risen to the level of Chief Executive.  JFK decided to face it head-on.  In his famous address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association on September 12, 1960, he made it clear that his religion would not impact his decision-making as president.  "I am not the Catholic candidate for President," he said.  "I am the Democratic Party candidate for President who also happens to be a Catholic.  I do not speak for my Church on public matters, and the Church does not speak for me."   Kennedy questioned rhetorically whether one-quarter of Americans were relegated to second-class citizenship just because they were Catholic.  The future president, who had served with distinction in the...(Read Full Article)