Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. speaks at Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority event in Washington, Friday, June 20, 2014. Organizers said more than 1,000 evangelical leaders were attending the conference, designed to mobilize religious conservative voters ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and the 2016 presidential contest. While polls suggest that social conservatives are losing their fight against gay marriage, Republican officials across the political spectrum concede that evangelical Christian voters continue to play a critical role in Republican politics. (AP Photo/Molly Riley) (Photo: )
(RNS) Sen. Randal Howard “Rand” Paul, the junior Republican from Kentucky, launched his 2016 presidential campaign on Tuesday (April 7) in Louisville. Here are five facts about the faith background of this libertarian conservative:
* Paul, 52, was baptized an Episcopalian. It didn’t stick. He attended Baylor University, a Baptist school in Texas, then Duke University. He now attends a Presbyterian church. In this, he is like most Americans — all over the map in terms of his religious affiliation.
* At Baylor, Paul joined the NoZe Brotherhood, a secret and controversial society that routinely skewers the school’s Baptist roots and other aspects of undergraduate life. His association with the group came back to bite him in his initial run for the Senate after GQ magazine ran a story claiming NoZe was dedicated to “blasphemy,” and Paul, while high as a kite, helped kidnap a coed and forced her to pray to “Aqua Buddha,” a made-up water idol. Paul threatened to sue the magazine.
* Paul’s wife Kelley has served as a deacon in the couple’s Presbyterian church. In the wake of the Aqua Buddha accusations, she told the press, “Rand and I are both Christians and our faith is very important to us.”
* Paul has spoken at the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit — an annual gathering of social conservatives considered necessary to winning the evangelical vote. But his relationship with its members has been uneven, at least in terms of his faith. In 2012, he detailed his personal struggle with religion, saying, “My faith has never been easy for me, never been easy to talk about and never been without obstacles. I do not and cannot wear my religion on my sleeve. I am a Christian but not always a good one. I’m not completely free of doubts. I struggle to understand man’s inhumanity to man. I struggle to understand the horrible tragedies that war inflicts on our young men and women.” In February, Paul appeared on televangelist Marcus Lamb’s Daystar television program and said he had been “saved” more than once.
* At a private prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C., in March, Paul told his audience, “The First Amendment says keep government out of religion. It doesn’t say keep religion out of government. So, you do have a role and a place here.” Paul also has a ranking of 100 percent from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, a First Amendment-watchdog organization, meaning he is “perfect” in his opposition to keeping religion out of government.
Sen. Rand Paul
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MARCH 07: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord International Hotel and Conference Center March 7, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The CPAC annual meeting brings together conservative politicians, pundits and their supporters for speeches, panels and classes. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MARCH 07: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) takes the stage before addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord International Hotel and Conference Center March 7, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The CPAC annual meeting brings together conservative politicians, pundits and their supporters for speeches, panels and classes. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (C), former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (L) and and Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, departs a press conference in front of U.S. District Court to announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander and FBI Director James Comey. Paul said he filed the lawsuit to stop NSA surveillance of U.S. phone records because Obama has Òpublicly refused to stop a clear and continuing violation of the 4th amendment.Ó (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (C) holds up a group of cell phones in front of U.S. District Court to announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander and FBI Director James Comey. Paul said he filed the lawsuit to stop NSA surveillance of U.S. phone records because Obama has Òpublicly refused to stop a clear and continuing violation of the 4th amendment. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) arrives in front of U.S. District Court to announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander and FBI Director James Comey. Paul said he filed the lawsuit to stop NSA surveillance of U.S. phone records because Obama has Òpublicly refused to stop a clear and continuing violation of the 4th amendment.Ó (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2013 file photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. This is a year of auditioning, positioning, networking and just plain hard work for people who are considering running for president in 2016. You could see them stirring in 2013 as they plugged holes in resumes, took preliminary steps to build potential campaign organizations and made carefully calibrated moves to get better known by Americans generally and key constituencies in particular. Most _ but not all _ are ticking off items on what could be called the presidential prep checklist. And theyve got baggage to deal with. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Sen. Rand Paul
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., talks to media outside the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, after an event hosted by President Barack Obama about the Promise Zones Initiative. The Promise Zone Initiative is part of a plan to create a better bargain for the middle-class by partnering with local communities and businesses to create jobs, increase economic security, expand educational opportunities, increase access to quality, affordable housing and improve public safety. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 07: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (2nd L) talks to reporters while walking to the Senate chamber to vote on unemployment insurance at the US Capitol January 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Senate voted 60-37 to move forward with a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits for three months. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (3rd R) talks to reporters after a vote December 17, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The Senate has passed a cloture vote to clear the way for a final vote of the Ryan-Murray Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul speaks at the Detroit Economic Club held at the Motor City Casino, in Detroit, Dec. 6, 2013. Paul, spoke of economic freedom zones. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, Max Ortiz)
Sen. Rand Paul
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 6: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (red tie, third from right) says the Pledge of Allegiance before delivering a speech titled, 'Renewing the Opportunity for Prosperity: Economic Freedom Zones' at the Detroit Economic Club December 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. As part of his plan to help save Detroit, the largest city in U.S. history to go bankrupt, and other economically depressed areas, the Senator will introduce legislation that will create so-called 'economic freedom zones' by lowering taxes in those areas and change the Visa rules to help make it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to immigrate to economically depressed cities. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 6: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks with the news media after delivering a speech titled, 'Renewing the Opportunity for Prosperity: Economic Freedom Zones' at the Detroit Economic Club December 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. As part of his plan to help save Detroit, the largest city in U.S. history to go bankrupt, and other economically depressed areas, the Senator will introduce legislation that will create so-called 'economic freedom zones' by lowering taxes in those areas and change the Visa rules to help make it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to immigrate to economically depressed cities. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (L) and former Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Brigadier General (Ret.) David L. McGinnis (R) wait for the beginning of a news conference on military sexual assault November 6, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. A bipartisan group of senators are pushing to create an independent military justice system with the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) listens during a news conference on military sexual assault November 6, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. A bipartisan group of senators are pushing to create an independent military justice system with the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks during a hearing before the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee November 6, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The hearing was focused on 'One Year Later: Examining the Ongoing Recovery from Hurricane Sandy.' (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
FAIRFAX, VA - OCTOBER 28: Holding a 'Big Gulp' while referencing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul speaks at a 'Get out the Vote' rally for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia, October 28, 2013 in Fairfax, Virginia. Cuccinelli is running against Democratic candidate Terry McAullife in a very close race. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) arrives for a meeting of Senate Republicans on a solution for the pending budget and debt limit impasse at the U.S. Capitol October 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government shutdown is in its sixteenth day as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain gridlocked on funding the federal government and the extending the nation's debt limit. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) answers questions as he arrives for a meeting of Senate Republicans on a solution for the pending budget and debt limit impasse at the U.S. Capitol October 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government shutdown is in its sixteenth day as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain gridlocked on funding the federal government and the extending the nation's debt limit. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks at a press conference with House Republicans on proposed greenhouse gas standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency September 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. The EPA standards for new power plants could significantly impact states that produce and use coal as a source of energy. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 25: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (C) speaks while U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) (L), U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) (2ndL) and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (R), listen during a news conference on Capitol Hill September 25, 2013 in Washington, DC. The bipartisan group of Senators announced new legislation for comprehensive surveillance reform. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 10: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) (L) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) wait to speak at the 'Exempt America from Obamacare' rally, on Capitol Hill, September 10, 2013 in Washington, DC. Some conservative lawmakers are making a push to try to defund the health care law as part of the debates over the budget and funding the federal government. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (L) speaks while U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) (C) and John McCain (R-AZ) (R) listen before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote on a resolution on Syria on Capitol Hill September 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to authorize U.S. President Barack Obama to use limited force against Syria after adopting amendments from McCain (R-NV). (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) talks to reporters after leaving a closed door meeting about Syria at the U.S. Capitol on September 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. Later today Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to to vote on a resolution that would give U.S, President Barack Obama a limited window for a military operation in response to what the U.S. says was the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons against civilians. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 03: Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) talks to reporters before heading into a members-only classified briefing about Syria at the U.S. Capitol September 3, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Foreign Relations Committee will hear testimony today from Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 16: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks while U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) listens during a news conference on sexual assault in the military, July 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. U.S. Sen. Gillibrand announced the support of 34 senators that will co-sponsor her proposal to take the decision whether to prosecute sexual assaults out of the hands of the military chain of command. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., takes questions Monday, July 1, 2013, from about 40 Owensboro Tea Party members at the Logsdon Community Center in Owensboro, Ky. During his remarks Paul said he supports granting more work visas if the border is secured first. (AP Photo/The Messenger-Inquirer, Gary Emord-Netzley)
Sen. Rand Paul
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) holds up a few cellular phones as he speaks during a news conference June 13, 2013 at the Capitol Hill Club on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senator Paul was joined by lawmakers and other groups to discuss the National Security Agency's surveillance program. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
There haven't been many punters drafted in the fourth round or higher like Tory Taylor just was. Chicago's No. 1 overall pick welcomed him in unique fashion.
Rising Treasury yields are once again a headwind for stocks. Strategists don't see relief coming unless Fed Chair Jerome Powell is surprisingly dovish in his press conference on Wednesday.
