"God Bless America" and Its Politicians?

- Michelle Skowronek

In Depth Politics Story

Short, tall, large, tiny, medium, average, young, old, dark-skinned, light-skinned, foreign and domestice congregates file into churches, synagogues, and other places of worship once a week.

They come to read scripture.  They come to reflect.  They come to center their lives. They come to escape from their hectic schedules, the screeching sound of tires at red traffic lights and the millions of advertisements that are thrown in their faces on a daily basis.  The everyday American does not go to Church looking to hear who to vote for - at least not in Tompkins County.

Recently in the news, congressmen have been speaking out against pastors who have been endorsing political candidates while on the pulpit.  Labeled as non-profit organizations, religious places of worship receive a tax exemption code from the IRS.  To keep this exemption, churches must stay out of politics; however, with so much controversy surrounding this year's presidential election some pastors have crossed the line between church and state.

Dr. James R. Henery, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, strongly disagrees with clergy members who speak for or against a specific candidate while in church.

"Weaving politics and faith and church into a compatible relationship is not something that Presbyterians historically have accepted," Henery said in his Sept. 14 sermon.  "We believe in separation."

Ithaca College Jewish Chaplain, Michael Faber, agrees with Henery.

"As a chaplain, I am obliged to stay out of politics," Faber said.  "I am a very firm believer that religious leaders are making a gigantic error if they enter the political fray.  Religious leaders who do, perform a great disservice to their followers."

Lee Imbriano, Ithaca College Catholic Community assistant and correspondent to off campus Catholic affairs, submerged himself into this issue on Oct. 9.  Imbriano spoke at the discussion entitled "Who Should I Vote for as a Catholic?" downtown at Ithaca's Immaculate Conception Parish.  The reason behind this gathering was to discuss the importance of making educated, conscious decisions when voting in any election.  By the end, the panel, of which Imbriano was a member, simply told the attendees that it is their job as faithful citizens to get informed, research the issues, and pray.  The Catholic Church could not tell them who to vote for.

To hear what else Imbriano had to say on the matter, check out this video:

Ithaca, as most know and agree, is a very liberal and politically enthusiastic place. With Ithaca College and Cornell University sitting on its two peaks, the general population cannot help but give off an intelligent aura.  Henery agrees by saying his congregation is too clever to let him get away with telling them who to vote for. 

"Imagine this morning if you had come to this sanctuary, and I had began to tell you whom you should vote for," Henery said in his sermon.  "Imagine I tell you what kind of car you should drive, what kind of food you should eat, where to shop, what movies to watch, all sorts of decisions that I have no business to dictate but used scripture or some faith statement to support my directions.  You should have got up and walked out."

Here is a map of some of the local Ithaca churches:

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The above photo was taken at a Catholic mass at Ithaca College on Sunday Oct. 26.  Father Carsten, the Ithaca College Catholic Chaplain, is giving his homily, in which he mentions making smart and conscious decisions on Election Day.