Leadership style and personality are critical in a post-modern world where image and global communication play an important role.

While many believers may accept a religious leader simply because they hold that office, many others in the rank and file today are influenced by the public image, personality and message (how it is delivered as much as what is said) of their leaders. John Paul II, the Dalai Lama or Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia are a perfect example as are Gordon Hinckley and Archbishop Christodoulos.

Leadership style and personality are even more important in terms of public perceptions of the faith. Thought their styles differed considerably, both Pope John Paul and President Hinckley projected a positive image of their faiths even among those that would have problems with the conservative nature of their doctrinal or social beliefs and policies.

The presidential campaign this year, as it did four years ago, has become too focused on the religious beliefs of candidates. While religious beliefs should be respected, they should not become core issues as they have for increasing numbers of Americans, most visible among the supporters of Huckabee and Romney.

I would word our situation today less as secularism becoming a taboo subject and more that religion, in the eyes of candidates and the media, has become an important, high-profile political issue that runs the risk of compromising our secular tradition.

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The Archbishop of Canterbury’s comments regarding the need in Great Britain to consider whether English law should accommodate some aspects of Islamic law reflects a context significantly different from America. The firestorm and subsequent reactions to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s comments on Shariah law should be seen within the existing tensions and fissures within the Anglican Church exemplified by, but not restricted to, the breakaway of some ultra conservative Anglican clergy and churches over the ordination of a gay bishop.

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Let me begin by saying that think it is unfortunate that a candidate's religion, belief and practice have become campaign issues. Watching reporters press candidates not only on what they believe but whether and how often they pray or on the religious beliefs of another candidate seems contrary to the separation of church and state and our political traditions. It is especially ironic given the concerns in the past regarding Catholic candidates (Al Smith and later John Kennedy) and today regarding Muslim candidates). The focus of presidential politics should remain political, economic and social issues. Those for whom religious values are paramount can still bring their beliefs or moral conscience to bear by privately judging a candidate's positions in light of their faith and beliefs.

All the current candidates have taken care to mention their faith and values and reach out to conservative or religious right voters for whom religion affects or informs their vote. While all have courted this constituency, Huckabee has done it the most aggressively and it has paid off in many of the states he has done well in.