Gray Skies Are Gonna Clear Up....!

"God wants me to run for president...American people want faith in their government."

The words of Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election campaign. Faith chatter has been a part of presidential campaigns for decades, but this year there is more focus on the religious beliefs of the candidates.

*Popular Protestant Pastor Rick Warren interviewed John McCain and Barack Obama in the televised Saddleback Presidential Forum. The candidates were asked questions such as, "What does it mean to you to trust in Christ?" and "Does evil exist?" and "Define marriage."

*Now the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops has invited the two presidential candidates to meet with them before the election. Neither McCain nor Obama have replied yet.

*I have heard voters say they believe Obama is a Muslim even though he has repeatedly said he is a Christian.

*The Chicago Tribune recently reported the history of religious affiliation of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. She was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, but later would spend nearly three decades in the Assemblies of God Church and now she chooses to attend non-denominational Christian Churches.

*An anonymous Vatican official was quoted as saying Sarah Palin is "a dream candidate."

*A Pew Research Center poll shows that Catholics and Evangelical Protestants believe they have found a friend in Sarah Palin."

It seems in 21st century America, a candidate better be ready to give an an opinion about everything. Everything. What is their relationship with God? Should their political beliefs line up with what their church and or what the bible teaches? Will God-talk translate into God-policy after the a candidate is elected? What the candidate thinks about the economy or Iraq isn't enough?

Like it or not, religion is is even more deeply woven into the fabric of partisan politics than ever before. Do you like it or not?

Catholics grew up receiving ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. But in recent years more and more Protestant Churches are distributing ashes to their members to prepare for Easter. A Catholic priest last year told me he was getting phone calls from the Pastor at the Methodist Church down the street to get information

on celebrating an Ash Wednesday service.

What Protestant churches do you know of that have special services and/or distribute ashes to mark the beginning of Lent.

Also, anyone give up anything or commit to more prayer or acts of kindness, etc. for Lent?

Okay, this is not the most burning news issue of the day, but it is a fun topic and it seems everyone has a strong opinion about FRUITCAKES!

On Sunday at 5 & 9pm on Fox 2 News I will be reporting an "In Good Faith" story about monks in southern Missouri who make world-renowned fruitcakes. They have been known to sell about 30-thousand fruitcakes a year.

I wasn't a big fruitcake fan, but these monks made a believer out of me. Their cake is moist, dark, rich, delicious....more fruit than cake.

Meteorologist Chris Higgins is planning a public taste test this week. He's going to put the monks' cake up against store bought fruitcakes. Time and location to be announced soon.

What is your opinion of fruitcakes?