"America and Americans are irrepressibly religious, and this year's election, like nearly all American life, will be affected by issues of faith." -- Mark Tooley, IRD President

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Fox News commentator and Weekly Standard editor Fred Barnes will speak on religion and the presidential election at a lecture and reception hosted by the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) on Monday, October, 1, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Barnes is an IRD board member and an active member of a congregation in the Anglican Church in North America. The lecture and reception honor the legacy of the late IRD President Diane Knippers, herself a renewal leader within the Episcopal Church and cited by Time magazine as one of America's most influential evangelicals.

Barnes' address will be available on IRD's website. Audio will also be available. Media are welcome to attend and should RSVP to KRudolph@theird.org.

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

"We are honored by Fred's leadership within the IRD board and by his providing analysis on religion's role in this year's presidential election season, through the lens of 40 years of journalistic experience and his own astute faith. America and Americans are irrepressibly religious, and this year's election, like nearly all American life, will be affected by issues of faith."