Candidate intends to keep religion out of politics

Candidate intends to keep religion out of politics: From The Jewish Voice and Herald:

Friday, 31 August 2012 17:22

Many races in the upcoming election season may interest readers but one in particular should concern residents of District 26 in Cranston. Rev. Gene Dyszlewski is running against Frank Lombardi in the Sept. 11 Democratic primary for the Rhode Island Senate.

I volunteer for Rev. Dyszlewski for many reasons, but what is most compelling is that his opponent has vowed to bring his Catholicism to the Statehouse. Lombardi told me directly at his campaign open house last month that he does not know how to not bring his religion with him to the Statehouse. As a Cranston School Committee member, he voted no fewer than three times to defend an unconstitutional Christian prayer banner, which cost Cranston taxpayers more than $100,000 – money that should have gone to our schools.

As a Rhode Island State Senator, Lombardi would vote against reproductive freedoms, against marriage equality and against separating church and state. Lombardi’s loyalties are clearly divided between his secular duty as an elected official and his religious impulses as a “practicing Catholic.”

Rev. Dyszlewski, on the other hand, understands the importance of keeping church and state separate and women’s rights; according to the Progressive Democrats of Rhode Island, he is the only candidate in that race who understands how to get the economy going.

Frank Lombardi is part of stale network of local politics as usual. Rev. Dyszlewski is a breath of fresh air, and exactly what Cranston and Rhode Island need right now.

Debbie FlitmanCranston

The writer volunteers with the “Just Call Me Gene Campaign” (justcallmegene.com)