Can Religion and Politics Mix?
BLITZER: Time now for Bruce Morton's last word. As Bruce reminds us, mixing politics and religion is an old tradition.</s>MORTON (voice-over): The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization, has written Joseph Lieberman, the first Jewish candidate for vice president, suggesting that he talk less in his campaign about religion.</s>LIEBERMAN: I feel as strongly as anything else that there must be a place for faith in America's public life.</s>MORTON: But isn't religion part of what America is all about? The Declaration of Independence starts with it: "All men are created equal, endowed by their creator" -- God, of course -- "with certain inalienable rights." God is in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.</s>CHILDREN: "...one nation under God..."</s>MORTON: And religion has long been a part of politics. We are used (ph), recently, to the religious right, which has a political agenda. Some of its issues, prayer in the public schools, say, relate directly to religion; others, spending on this weapons system or that, tax cuts don't. At least, so obviously. But the Christian right is an unquestioned political force. The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States have taken positions over the years on political issues, nuclear disarmament, for instance. Man has, for the first time, the bishops noted, the ability to destroy God's created order, this planet. And they have spoken on social issues, like poverty. Religion is not always on the conservative side. I remember then-Democratic Senator John Culver of Iowa debating aid to poor with Charles Grassley, the man who beat him, Culver quoting St. Matthew: "Feed the hungry." And clergymen, Martin Luther King was principal among them, but many clergymen led the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Much of its rhetoric was inspired by the Bible. Many conservatives back in the 1960s opposed the civil rights laws King preached and argued for. So religion and politics are old friends, have mingled in many campaigns. Its is clearly over the line for one faith to want to impose its beliefs on others, for a Roman Catholic candidate to say, for instance, my faith opposes contraception, so if elected, I'll work to ban contraceptions for everyone. (on camera): But short of that, why shouldn't politicians invoke God? Why shouldn't church leaders be activists? It might even get more people interested enough to vote. And wouldn't that be a good idea? I'm Bruce Morton.</s>BLITZER: Thanks, Bruce. And now a look at what's on the cover of this week's major news magazines. "Time" magazine has an Olympics special with athlete Marion Jones on the cover. She wants five golds. Can she do it? Marion Jones also graces the cover of "Newsweek's" Olympic preview: top athletes to watch, cool new sports, and the drug game. And on the cover of "U.S. News & World Report," all new rankings of America's best colleges, making the most of the Web, and tips for getting in. That's your LATE EDITION for Sunday, September 3. Be sure to join us again next Sunday and every Sunday at noon Eastern for the last word in Sunday talk. And join us tomorrow at 8 p.m. Eastern on "THE WORLD TODAY." Coming up next on "CNN.com": you saw it in the latest "Mission Impossible" movie, new technology that connects your phone, your PC, your VCR, and even your washer and dryer, without any cords or wires. For now, thanks very much for watching. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.