‘Nice Catholic boys’ Tim Kaine, Mike Pence and two views of Jesus [View all]

[rug]

Last edited Sun Aug 14, 2016, 10:13 AM - Edit history (1)

AUGUST 13, 2016 6:00 PM
BY WILLIAM F. POWERS
William F. Powers, a retired professor of sociology, lives in Chapel Hill.

Two men with many similar characteristics were traveling along the same religious and political road. Their paths have diverged. Why?

This year’s vice presidential candidates – Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence – were born only a year apart, Kaine in 1958 and Pence the following year. Both were raised in working class Irish Catholic Democratic families. Both attended Catholic parochial schools. Both graduated from law school, Kaine from Harvard and Pence from the University of Indiana.

In addition, they married within a year of each other, and each has had three children. Both have served as governor – Kaine of Virginia (2006-2010), Pence of Indiana (2013-present).

Throughout their political lives, despite the diverse religious (and nonreligious) constituencies they represent, neither man has shied away from defining himself as a church-going Christian. Pence proudly says that he is “first, a Christian, second, a conservative, and third, a Republican.” For his part, Kaine frequently refers to the Jesuit influence on his life. He and his wife have attended the same church in Richmond for 30 years.

http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/op-ed/article95366932.html