McCain would prefer a Christian president

Arizona Sen. John McCain said in an interview posted online Saturday that he would prefer a Christian president over someone of a different faith, calling it “an important part of our qualifications to lead.”

In an interview with Beliefnet, a spirituality website that is unaffiliated with any organization or movement, the Republican presidential hopeful discussed what he’d think of a Muslim candidate. (Video and a partial transcript of the interview can be found at www.beliefnet.com/ story/220/story_22001_1.html.)

“I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles … personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith,” McCain said. “But that doesn’t mean that I’m sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president.” Later he added: “I would vote for a Muslim if he or she was the candidate best able to lead the country and defend our political values.”

He said GOP rival Mitt Romney’s Mormonism “should not, absolutely not be a disqualifying factor.”

There has been confusion about which Christian denomination McCain belongs to. He clarified: “I was raised Episcopalian, I have attended the North Phoenix Baptist Church for many years, and I am a Christian.” He said he knew immersion was necessary to be considered a Baptist.

He has considered being baptized in the Baptist church, he said, but does not want to do it during the presidential race because “it might appear as if I was doing something that I otherwise wouldn’t do.”