Would this violate the seperation of Church and State?
2007-03-16 16:45:30 · 13 answers · asked by Willie 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
No, it would not be a violation of Church and State. The Constitution does not prohibit members of the clergy from elective office. (However, Pope John Paul II issued a directive saying that priests could not accept positions in the government).
Theoretically an American-born Catholic who became Pope would retain his citizenship and would thus be eligible for the Presidency. However, his position as the Head of State in a foreign country (The Vatican) would probably preclude it. The Supreme Court would have to decide the issue; I imagine they would rule against the Pope becoming President.
How about this for a scenario? A young, single Roman Catholic is elected President. Four or eight years later his term is up, and he decides to become a priest. He becomes a bishop, then an archbishop, and finally a cardinal. At last he's elected Pope!
2007-03-16 17:00:36 · answer #1 · answered by dirty t 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
An American Pope could be elected president, provided that he lives in the United States for a period of a few years. That means he'll need to do what some crooked Senators do and live in a house in the US for a few days a year.
That would make him eligible for president.
However, this would almost certainly never happen. The current pope is the 2nd non-Italian since the Middle Ages and its highly unlikely that we'll have an American Pope. The Pope would also have no good reason to run for the presidency. To him, it would be a demotion.
2007-03-17 01:11:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Its not theoretically impossible, but I think he'd have a hard time getting elected. It was an issue when JFK was elected - just for being a catholic. It comes down to a concern over which would a person put first in the event of a global crisis - religion or state, should the two conflict. When JFK was running, there were people concerned that the Pope would be able to excercise religious authority to bend him to the wishes of the Catholic church.
I'm not saying I agree or disagree, just giving you the facts.
2007-03-16 23:51:30 · answer #3 · answered by steddy voter 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's more a question of sovereignty than church & state. Vatican City is an independent nation. The Pope is head of that nation. We would not elect a foreign head of state a president. Nice hypothetical, though.
2007-03-16 23:57:11 · answer #4 · answered by SA Writer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question- but a VERY unlikely possibility. But even if it were- I don't think the american people would go for a "Pope President. :)
2007-03-17 00:54:27 · answer #5 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theoretically ...YES...likelyhood....zero...but it would not violate the "separation" of church and state.....That article says the government shall not promote a religion...as long as the Pope did not attempt to convert people from the oval office...no violation...Just ask your heroes...the REVEREND Jesse Jackson THE REVEREND AL Sharpton..both have run for office....PRESIDENT...
2007-03-17 01:15:09 · answer #6 · answered by Real Estate Para Legal 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
have to be born in the country, the odds of an american pope are low enough....
2007-03-16 23:47:40 · answer #7 · answered by Departed 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Church officials are banned from politics, not by the government but by the Catholic church. This was an agreement the Catholic Church came to in order to prevent the type of influence it had during the dark ages.
2007-03-16 23:51:34 · answer #8 · answered by r1b1c* 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I doubt it. We've only had one Catholic president. The odds are against it. Besides most Cardinals would not sully themselves in the politics of that nature.
2007-03-16 23:49:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well,he would become the Head of State of Vatican City,so I think that alone would preclude him.
2007-03-16 23:49:54 · answer #10 · answered by Zapatta McFrench 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋