Fr, Steidl-Meier
on Faith
and Justice
—see page 16
Religion And Politics In 1984 — A Retrospect
l.oyolan photo by Bob Sanregret
Professor Edward Gaffney discusses the correlation between religion and politics.
By JACK SNEDAKER
Loyolan News Writer
Does religion have a place in the
American political system? Should
religious issues be relevant to political
campaigns?
Edward M. Gaffney, Professor of
Constitutional Law at Loyola Law
School, addressed these controversial
subjects in a lecture attended
predominantly by LMU faculty
members last Tuesday night in St.
Robert's Auditorium. Most of the few
students present were from a visiting
Political Science class.
His speech, entitled “Religion and
Politics: The Fears of 1984,” was a
retrospective view of the controversial
year of “Big Brother.” Unlike the
numerous studies that have sprung up
recently dealing with the extent to which
1984 conformed to the many prophecies,
Gaffney took a different approach.
He explored the instances in which
religion was a factor in the 1984 political
campaign, citing the most obvious ex¬
ample: that of a black Baptist minister
contending for his party’s nomination
for President.
Gaffney commended Jesse Jackson
for his efforts in the ’84 campaign and
pointed out that it was a major
breakthrough which not only rein¬
troduced certain themes of the 1960’s
Civil Rights movement but also brought
an example of the fusion of religion and
politics to the national headlines.
He pointed out what seems to be the
growing importance of a candidate’s
religious beliefs to a campaign. Since the
issue of abortion has moved into the na¬
tional spotlight, candidates have been
forced to take a definite stance.
He cited a case in which a Cardinal
asserted that a candidate’s position on
the issue of abortion should enter into
the voter’s overall decision at election
time.
The point was raised that* contrary to
widespread belief, abortion is not merely
a Catholic concern, but rather a univer¬
sal ethical question. Therefore, the issue
of abortion is not raised by fanatics with
narrow religious objectives, but rather
by those who are concerned with the
morality of society in general.
The 1984 Presidential campaign pro¬
vides an excellent example of this thesis.
The question of abortion was discussed
quite frequently in the nationally televis¬
ed Reagan-Mondale debates, and
members of both political parties were
constantly questioning whether the other
party’s candidates were “good” Chris¬
tians or “good” Catholics.
In addition, the candidates were asked
to take a stance on whether or not the
recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and the
reading of Bible should be allowed in
governmental^ funded primary and
secondary schools. In this way, Gaffney
sees the 1984 campaign as being very
similar to those of the past, since the no¬
tion of the “wall of separation” between
church received constant re-evaluation.
The separate concepts of church and
state were at one time fused together in
the “divine-right ’’monarchies of
Medieval Europe. However, the United
States has always supported a policy of
the distinction between church and state
in which the government recognizes all
religious groups and subscribes to no in¬
dividual religion.
Professor Gaffney pointed out several
Supreme Court cases in which the
separation of church and state came into
question, including one that deult with a
Tennessee law prohibiting clergymen
from participating in government.
He also discussed the legitimacy of the
political activities of religious groups,
citing numerous examples from the past
in which such groups participated in
politics and actually had a substantial
impact upon history.
His most notable example was that of
the Exodus, which he saw as being as
much a political movement as it was a
religious one, since it utilized mass civil
disobedience.
Another example of religious groups
securing political and-social reform was
the fact that Protestant Evangelicals
were at the heart of many of the reform
movements in 19th century England, in¬
cluding the attempt to abolish the slave
trade.
James Madison, instrumental in the
writing of the First Amendment, believ¬
ed the separation of church and state
would always exist in America but that
religious groups would retain a signifi¬
cant voice in politics. He once stated
that “Religious freedom in America will
be upheld by the fact that there are so
many religious groups contending with
each other that no one group will ever
monopolize all the rest.”
Accordingly, Gaffney concluded his
speech by declaring he “would welcome
a society in which all religious view¬
points are heard and none are imposed
on any other,”
И
Students Rescue Family Drowning
By KRIS GIANNINI
Loyolan News Writer
*he Good Samaritan’s story is a
familiar one to students of Chris¬
tian education. Continuing in the tradi¬
tion of such teaching, Loyola Mary-
mount stresses those same values and
qualities in its students.
Last week, whether he realizes it or
not, LMU freshman Kevin Sliva proved
that such values are not outdated and
people do still care enough to get
involved — even if it means risking their
own personal safety.
Sliva and a friend were enjoying the
late afternoon sun on a Santa Monica
beach when their attention was drawn to
the irregular flight pattern of a flock of
seagulls. The circling gulls prompted the
two to investigate colorful objects which
appeared to be floating aimlessly off the.
shore.
With the help of two joggers, it was
ascertained that the objects were indeed
bodies in need of immediate rescue.
While the runners went for help, Sliva
and his companion (neither of whom
knew first aid rescue techniques) watch¬
ed helplessly as the three figures
floundered in the water.
Realizing that help was too long in
coming, the two swam out and brought
three by-now-unconcious people to the
shore.
The victims, a woman and her two
small children, had been seen earlier on
the beach but, Sliva acknowledged, “we
had no idea where they came from nor
how long they’d been out there.”
As soon as the runners returned, one
began administering CPR, but it soon
became apparent that the older child, a
four-year old, had already died. When
help finally arrived, the remaining two
were rushed to UCLA’s Med Center
where they were admitted; the mother in
serious condition and the four month-
old baby listed as critical.
As authorities began to unravel the
mystery of the family’s identity, it
became clear that the incident was no ac¬
cident. The father of the family was
found arid brought to the scene where he
went into an almost immediate state of
shock and also had to be hospitalized.
Further investigation and inquiries
left no doubts in authorities’ minds that
the drowning was not accidental and the
entire ordeal had, in fact, been thought
out by the young mother. Interviews
with her neighbors revealed that she had
Off Coast
unexplainably withdrawn herself from
their company in the past week.
Searching for an explanation, in¬
vestigators found that the woman had a
strong desire to return to Japan, but for
financial reasons was unable to so.
As of late Sunday night, the woman
had been transferred to St. John’s
Hospital where she remained in critical
condition. Charged with the murder of
her four-year old son, she is expected to
be nfoved to a penal hospital within the
week. The surviving child is hooked up
to a life support system and, it is feared,
has suffered some brain damage.
Sliva said that “when it first happen¬
ed, I really wanted to forget about it; I
didn’t want to talk to anyone. I can han¬
dle it now, though. I feel so badly for
them. It just seems so sad. ” ■
