Presidential Hopefuls Reflect a Variety of Denominational Affiliations, Beliefs

NEW YORK — The contenders for the 1988 presidential nominations reflect a variety of religious adherence, including three in religiously mixed marriages.

All the major candidates are Christians, but one has a Jewish wife, and two who are Protestants have Roman Catholic wives.

In denominational affiliation, four candidates are Baptists, two Roman Catholics, two Episcopalians, two Presbyterians, and one each Methodist, Lutheran and Greek Orthodox.

Albert J. Menendez, associate editor of Church & State, compiled the candidates’ religious profiles for his monthly publication of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

‘Under Increasing Scrutiny’

He says the candidates “have found themselves under increasing scrutiny” about where they stand on church-state issues, “their personal religious convictions and how those beliefs relate to issues of public concern.”

Most of the Democrats have indicated opposition to tax aid for church and private schools and to constitutional amendments to restrict abortion and allow organized prayer in public schools. Most of the Republicans have supported such steps.

Following are religious positions given of Republican candidates:

- Vice President George Bush, an Episcopalian, is a close friend of evangelist Billy Graham. Bush has favored school prayer, tuition tax credits for parochial schools and a ban on abortion except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother’s life.

- U.S. Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas is a Methodist, although he and his wife often attend St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington. He has supported tax credits for parochial schools and amendments to allow school prayer and ban abortion.

- U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp of New York attends Washington’s Presbyterian Church and has taught classes there, although he was reared a Christian Scientist. He has supported tuition tax credits and a ban on federal funding of abortion.

- Alexander M. Haig Jr., a Roman Catholic, is the only GOP candidate opposing various anti-abortion measures although he personally opposes abortion and federal funding of it. He favors aid to non-public schools and a moment’s silence for prayer in public schools, but not a school prayer amendment.

- Former religious broadcaster Pat Robertson as a candidate gave up his Southern Baptist clergy credentials. He wants abortion banned by law and favors public school prayer and government aid to private and church-run schools.

- Former Delaware Gov. Pete du Pont, an Episcopalian, advocates a voucher aid plan for private-church schools, voluntary prayer in public schools, and says the Supreme Court decision allowing abortion should be overturned.

Following are religious stands of the Democratic candidates:

- Jesse Jackson is an ordained Baptist minister and firm adherent of the social gospel for applying its principles in public affairs. He has criticized abortion, but opposed amendments to outlaw it or to permit public school prayer.

- Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois is the son of a Lutheran minister and brother of another. Simon belongs to the conservative Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and his wife is a Catholic. Several of his 11 books have dealt with ethics in politics. He has opposed tax aid to private schools and amendments to allow school prayer or outlaw abortion.

- Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, is married to a Jewish wife. He has opposed parochial school aid and attempts to outlaw abortion.

- Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri is a Baptist married to a Catholic. In the past, he voted for a tuition tax credit bill and an amendment outlawing abortion, but has since said he opposes such measures.

- Sen. Albert Gore Jr. of Tennessee, a Southern Baptist, has expressed opposition to tuition tax credits, a ban on abortion and a constitutional amendment approving school prayer.

- Former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Roman Catholic, has opposed a ban on abortion, but supports federal funding of it only under certain circumstances.

- Former Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado, a Presbyterian, was reared in the Church of the Nazarene. He attended Yale Divinity School, but switched to law. He has opposed parochial school aid, banning abortion and amendments approving public school prayer.