Question

What kind of America did John F. Kennedy believe in? Using his "Separation of Church and State" speech, what prompted him to come to each of those conclusions?

Answer 1

The kind of America John F Kennedy believed in:

The America that John F Kennedy envisioned was one where there was an absolute separation of Church and State. He believed in an America where religion didn't have any influence on the laws that govern the country and state. Where the decision to vote was free and not forced by religious groups or a minister who held those beliefs. Kennedy wanted the position of public office to be available to any individual irrespective of their religious beliefs.

Kennedy believed in a secular nation, a nation where churches didn't receive access to public funds and where no religious law was above the constitution. He also believed that religious liberty when subject to any act or law didn't receive any special preference.

What factors led Kennedy to such conclusions?

John F Kennedy was worried about the real issues that plagued America such as the treatment of the Vice president by rebels, the children who were struck by poverty and hunger, individuals who didn't have access to medical attention due to poverty, the lack of education to a subset of the population, and the increasing number of slums. Kennedy believed that these were real issues that outweighed the religious issues where anti-catholic groups were trying to gain control over the laws and influence the public.