Senator Sam Brownback (R–Kan.) emphasized the importance of faith in public policy to “ensure that human dignity is at the center of everything” during a talk last night in Copley Formal Lounge. Following a short address, the Senator, who is best known for his evangelical religious views, talked with University President John DeGioia and answered questions from the audience.
Brownback, who consistently voted against adding gays and lesbians to the Federal Hate Crimes Bill, which would have given them the same protection that women and minorities currently have under the bill, defended his position in response to a question on how he balances his religious views with his political responsibilities.
“I believe that everyone is the child of the living God regardless of sexual orientation,” he said. “On the hate crime legislation that came up, I think there is a difference on what you define as a preferential category or protected category. I didn’t think that this was a protected category … It would then start to infringe on other people’s rights to believe what they believe.”
When DeGioia asked him to recall a time when his religion and politics came into conflict, Brownback brought up his stance on immigration, which calls for a gradual citizenship program for immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for more than five years. He said that he has never received so much criticism from fellow Republicans on an issue.
“We clearly need to take control of our borders and clearly that’s an issue of sovereignty,” Brownback said. “But … you can’t view people simply as problems. You need to see them as having an innate dignity beyond our imagining.”
Last night’s program was part of the Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs series on religion in the 2008 election, which features prominent politicians, journalists and religious leaders.
