God is missing from the Democratic Party platform, and that's not setting well with conservatives and faith-based groups.
Mark Tooley of The Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) explains that even though God was included in previous party platforms, He is not mentioned this year.
"It's very sad and unfortunate in that the understanding that America and its democracy rests on a transcendent understanding of who we are and upon the existence of God has been bipartisan and a matter of consensus across our history," he recognizes. "[It] would seemingly only represent an elite few who are very secular and uncomfortable with America's understanding that its founding principles of liberty and moral order depend upon the existence of God."
Though those with that view are in the minority, Tooley laments that "they tend to be disproportionately influential in academia … in the media and in some secular activist groups that would be influential in the Democratic Party." On this issue, their influence "is clearly felt."
He hopes the party will reconsider in the future and return to its roots.