The front page of the New York Times Monday morning led with a story about the pain and uncertainty of the Catholic Church in the preparation for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to America. One person who was overjoyed to see that lead story was Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek Magazine.

“One of the problems that we have in our society, is that we have a hard time talking about the things that are the most important to us,” said Meacham.

In the final segment of the Open VISIONS Forum for the academic year on Monday night, Meacham talked about religion and the role it plays in the media..

Meacham said that religion is one of the most common conversation topics.

James Simon, chair of the English department, introduced Meacham to the crowd. He said that Meacham was able to do “something [he] never could in all [his] years as a reporter … cover religion with such passion and yet such partisanship.”

“I once wrote a cover piece titled ‘Who Really Killed Jesus,” said Meacham. “I was really happy with that title.”

When Meacham took the stage, he said that he refuses to deal with the fact that people of our time are so separated from religious beliefs. He illustrated the usage of religion in government in the past by giving the examples of when Abraham Lincoln told his cabinet that he made a deal with his creator to give the Gettysburg Address and when Andrew Jackson wanted to create a Christian political party.

In a Mirror exclusive, Meacham said, “Religion is like economics or any other discipline that interrelates [because] it is never far from every subject that you can understand.”

Philip Eliasoph, director of Open VISIONS Forum and professor of art history, said that while we have heard from candidates with different views on religion, now we can hear from a man who has recorded it: Meacham.

“Dealing with all three candidates [Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barrack Obama] for president, is there anyone who can give the leadership that those former presidents have displayed in their religious passion?” Eliasoph asked Meacham after the show.

Meacham responded by saying that these presidents have to make sure to show leadership after being elected. He stated that Lincoln and FDR were not the same people in office as they were when they were merely candidates.

Fr. Rick Ryscavge, director of the Center for Faith and Public Life and professor of sociology, joined Eliasoph on stage to interview Meacham after his lecture.

Ryscavge said he enjoyed the way Meacham talked about religion from a classic to main stream part of American society.

He asked Meacham if he agreed with the statement, “religion is important in politics, but not all-important.”

Meacham responded by saying, “One of the reasons things feel so fractious is people feel like they are moving in different directions.”

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