Hillary Clinton has chosen former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for her vice-presidential running mate. Kaine is also a junior senator in the U.S. Congress, hoping to close the “God-gap” in the Democratic Party. In light of Donald Trump’s capture of most evangelicals, this was an important move for the ticket.
Kaine, a Jesuit-trained Roman Catholic, will help Clinton overcome the prevailing idea that Democrats are not religious and bring religious voters in support of the ticket. Being taught by the Jesuits is considered to be a good thing these days by most people and his Jesuit educational credentials will lend support to the ticket.
Kaine was raised Catholic in Missouri. He attended an all-boys Jesuit high school in Kansas City and was a missionary, working with Jesuits in Honduras for a year teaching welding and carpentry. He is a regular church-goer in Richmond, Virginia where he founded a study group.
His political positions differ from his personal ones. He does not believe in abortion, same-sex marriage, gay adoption, the death penalty, etc. but he thinks that the right rule for government is to allow them.
It is important to note that Kaine has switched his views on moral issues in government. Kaine switched his governing views on same-sex marriage in 2013, and by 2012 he had reversed his view in support of gay adoption.
Kaine also supports climate change protection and is a “fan of Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si,” which means that he will push environmental protection politically.
“My faith is central to everything I do…” Kaine once said. “I do what I do for spiritual reasons. I’m always thinking about the momentary reality but also how it connects with bigger matters of what’s important in life.”
“Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations” The Great Controversy, page 235.