The reason why Great Britain and France declared war on Germany at the beginning of the second World war was because A - The invasion of Poland.
When Germany invaded Poland this was the beginning of what would later be called the second World war. A tense atmosphere was brewing up in Europe for a few years since then already because when Hitler's party took charge of Germany, it increasingly militarized the country and was preparing it for war.
Yes I think they can, if they are trying to agree on moral matters in "Public Policy" I don't see why religion would have to play a part in the discussion
Racism and didn't speak the language was different