JOHN KERRY reaches the finish line tomorrow having had to speak more words about religion this year than ever before in his long political career. The point has been to reveal his deepest values, say his aides, and it has been a telling revelation.

Kerry, who is Catholic, has repeatedly emphasized that he would not “legislate” any “article of [his] faith.” Kerry thus might seem to be recognizing merely that the First Amendment forbids establishing religion, including any article of specifically Catholic faith.