During this crucial election year, every American should apply a plumb line, a moral plumb line, to the issues, priorities and platforms of our presidential candidates to determine whether we are deviating from the spiritual and democratic foundation upon which this nation was built.

In all the discussion about which party has captured what votes of which religious factions, the voices of the people of faith themselves have been missing. There are few meaningful assessments about how our common spiritual values can shape national priorities in ways that supersede partisan politics and voting blocs.

In my travels across the country, I have seen a disturbing disconnect between the spiritual and the political. Despite the genuine agreement among congregants that we need to reclaim democracy for all Americans - including the poor, the sick, the unemployed and the disenfranchised - and despite the deep understanding that there is a coincidence between our highest religious values and the values of equality and justice that built our nation, the majority of our faith communities do not see how their faith translates into direct involvement in shaping the priorities of this campaign.

I am not referring to those few politicized issues of gay marriage, abortion or stem cell research, which divert us from the broad moral issues of this election. Our questions should go beyond partisan politics. Faith is not the province of one political party or another. The intersection of faith and politics means that each of us must question our candidates to determine how their policies strengthen the spiritual foundation of this country and how their actions can serve the common good.

If we need some help in beginning these conversations, we can look back 2,700 years ago, to learn how the prophet Amos devised a model of questioning the establishment. Amos was a shepherd living in time of social confusion, political disarray and a widening gap between rich and poor. He had no formal training in theology, just the courage and inspiration to hold the ruling powers accountable to the spiritual values of social justice. He pressed the authorities to align their behavior with the plumb line of their faith's moral principles. Each of us can do the same.

Separation of church and state does not mean separation of the state from values of humanitarian democratic idealism.

10 Prophetic Justice Principles

Inspired by Amos, 10 Prophetic Justice Principles have been developed as a possible plumb line. These questions are atypical for a presidential election campaign. They give meaning, however, to the actual role that religion can play in shaping a political agenda.

• Does the policy represent the common good of society rather than the interest of an elite few?

• Is the policy based on a true analysis and does it disclose its true intention?

• Does the policy hold the prospect of reducing the polarization and fragmentation of the society due to race, religion, class, gender, sexual orientation or national origin?

• Does the policy demand justice for the poor and those who cannot make their voices heard?

• Does the policy appeal to our hope, values and conscience rather than appealing to our fear, hatred or greed?

• Does the policy show humility before the governed, and respect the need for checks and balances on power?

• Does the policy provide for free press, free discussion and the expression of dissent, along with fair and just methods of participation in the democratic process?

• Does the policy practice good global citizenship involving respect for all cultures, nations and religions?

• Is the policy supportive of strong measures to ensure ecological responsibility and sustainability?

• Does the policy lead by example, doing the right thing and holding the right lessons for our children and our citizens? Does it promote a more ethical society, and uphold trust in our public offices?

The Rev. James A. Forbes is senior minister of Riverside Church in New York City. He spoke at Cincinnati's New Jerusalem Baptist Church this month as part of his national campaign to mobilize what he calls the progressive religious community.