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GOP
Senate Hopeful
Disputes
Separation Of Church & State
by
365Gay.com from the Web, August 26, 2006
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Miami, Florida -- U.S. Rep.
Katherine Harris has stunned Democrats and some in her own Republican Party by
saying that the separation of church and state is "a lie" and that God never
intended the country to be a "nation of secular laws".
Harris first came to national attention as Florida's Secretary of State when she
certified George W. Bush as the winner in the state over Al Gore in 2000.
She then capitalized on the notoriety to become a member of the U.S. House of
Representatives and is now in a primary battle for the GOP nomination to run for
the Senate.
She made her remarks on religion and the Constitution in an interview this week
with the Florida Baptist Witness, a weekly publication put out by the Florida
Baptist State Convention.
Harris told the Witness that not electing Christians to office would allow
Congress to "legislate sin," and that "everything I do" is a product of her
religious faith.
She went on to call same-sex marriage one example of sin. Harris voted in
favor of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.
The measure failed to get enough votes in Congress to advance.
Harris told the publication that "we have to have the faithful in government"
because it's " God's will".
Harris is one of four people seeking the GOP nod to run for the Senate from
Florida.
Florida Democrats were quick to pounce on the remarks. U.S. Rep. Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, said she was "disgusted". State Rep. Irv
Slosberg called Harris' remarks "outrageous, even by her standards."
"What is going through this woman's mind? We do not live in a theocracy,"
he said.
GOP activist Ruby Brooks said Harris' remarks to the Witness were "offensive".
"It's the height of hubris," she added.
Harris has refused to discuss the interview but her spokesperson, Jennifer
Marks, issued a brief statement.
"Congresswoman Harris encourages Americans from all walks of life and faith to
participate in our government. She continues to be an unwavering advocate
of religious rights and freedoms," it said.
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