'Christianity Today', the leading American evangelical journal, has taken a look at Joe Biden and his faith. It notes that Biden might not bring evangelical Protestants and Catholic together, but people from all faiths are impressed with Biden's sincerity and decency. It mentions a campaign ad that shows former Vice President Joe Biden making Pope Francis laugh during a meeting in St. Peter’s Basilica and speaking with a group of smiling nuns on a street in Rome. In a voice over, Biden talks about the importance of his Catholic faith and how, for him, the nuns epitomized the church’s teaching that “we are our brothers’ keeper,” a biblical idea that shapes his liberal politics.
The article notes that experts on the historically complicated relationship between American Catholics and evangelicals say this emphasis—primarily aimed at Catholic and mainline Protestant voters—may not help Biden win over white evangelicals, a core part of President Donald Trump’s base. But it also won’t hurt. “He is viewed as having an authentic faith,” said Richard Mouw, former president of Fuller Theological Seminary and professor of faith and public life.
Shaun Casey, a Protestant seminary professor found that “There is a growing dissatisfaction among evangelicals with Trump. They know Trump’s weaknesses: His immorality, his incoherence, his rage and incompetence. But I don’t see it leading them into the Democratic Party.”
Casey concludes some white evangelical Protestants may just stay home on election day.
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