Fox Condemns Atheist Rumors As ‘Malicious Gossip,’ Barry Describes ‘Weird Experience’

The religious faith of Nashville’s mayoral candidates has come into question amid an anonymous campaign accusing Megan Barry of being an atheist. Her opponent, David Fox, denies any involvement and is condemning the rumors as “malicious gossip.”

Emails and phone calls began quietly circulating last week. Fox says when he heard about them, he was “disturbed.” And yet the former school board chairman says he understands why people might want to know about their mayor’s beliefs. He says that’s why he added a bit to his stump speech about being Jewish.

“I’m asked pretty much every time I go out about my religious faith because people are trying to find predictability about candidates,” Fox said. “You can’t ask every candidate about every situation when you don’t know what’s coming up.”

In eight years on the Metro Council, Barry says no one has ever asked her about her faith. She says it’s been a “weird experience” having to defend her closely-held beliefs.

On Monday, a group of
African-American pastors prayed over her after she described her Christian faith at a hastily-organized prayer breakfast.

Barry also notes that the atheist rumors suggest that some people feel only a believer could run the city.

“Clearly, the term is being used as a derogatory,” she said. “There are all kinds of people in Nashville that have all kinds of faith. And I think to deride anybody’s personal beliefs is just not right for Nashville.”

Barry has responded this week by
talking about her Catholic upbringing. She says she doesn’t speak much about her Christian faith and instead lives it out.