Posted on 08/02/2005 5:33:44 AM PDT by OESY
For most of our nation's history, anti-Catholicism has been an acceptable prejudice.... The reaction to President Bush's nomination of John Roberts... suggests that not so much has changed....
Many political analysts have concluded that this intolerance began to subside after JFK's election. Catholics, they argue, have been assimilated into American society and are now accepted into middle- and upper-class enclaves, corporate board rooms and the public square. Yet, while many Catholics have advanced economically since 1960, a deep-rooted animus remains against Catholics in public life who practice their faith.
...Schumer ignored the Constitution's Article 6 ("no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States") in questioning the suitability of a Bush appeals-court nominee... William Pryor. Because Pryor adheres to the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church, Schumer complained that "his beliefs are so well known, so deeply held, that it's very hard — very hard to believe — they're not going to deeply influence the way he comes about saying, 'I will follow the law.'"
Schumer's judicial litmus test held up the Pryor nomination for two years. Are similar tactics of senatorial intolerance being used to railroad Roberts? His nomination was scarcely a week old before the sulfurous odor of religious prejudice began to waft through the air....
Prior to her high-court nomination, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a forceful advocate for women's rights as a professor at Columbia and as a federal circuit judge in the District of Columbia. She had expressed in speech and in writing any number of "strongly held personal values" over many years — yet her Supreme Court confirmation hearing was a cake-walk. No senator even hinted that the strength of her personal philosophical or religious opinions might affect her duties as a judge....
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
My sense is that Marlin is imagining enemies where few can be found. Schumer does not represent the views of Mainstream America. On the contrary, many Christian denominations have coalesced to protect their right to practice their religion without government (read, ACLU) interference. The new alignments indicate much has changed.
Throw in their elitist arrogance and they become dangerous.
As a Catholic I still encounter anti-Catholic bias fairly frequently. Just something one has to deal with, I suppose.
He represents the mainstream of one of the two major political parties, and in any event, many leaders of the Democratic party, including Kennedy, Kerry, Dean, etc., do wish to impose a religious litmus test -- no traditional Catholic believers need apply.
Yeah, well try in in Massachusetts. No matter how "nice" the person seems, they go ballistic at the mention of Catholicism.
What amazes me is that for all the criticism they have of the Catholic Church, the left embraces much that it criticizes of the Church.
Example - Left thinks that Papal infallibility is always happening and that no Catholic can deviate. Yet isn't it ironic that "good" Catholics in politics can vote against the way the religion preaches?. (PS Infallibility has only been invoked twice, if I remember correctly).
Don't get me wrong. Criticism is healthy. But intolerance of dissent is not.
Try hearing any form of dissent in the DNC. Everyone recites the talking points. Because the DNC talking points are infallible.
Estrada and Rogers Brown were reviled because they allegedly repeated what the white neocons told them. When the opposite is true. They have the right of dissent, just not with the DNC, it would appear.
NR had a cover of Schumer dressed in religious gard as heading up the inquisition.
Which is what it's looking like.
I read some time ago and agree with it that secular humanism is an active religion. This would be no issue if the human intolerance and attempt to silence dissent weren't so forceful.
Well they clearly did not deserve someone as great as you!
I hope that you found a better place to work.
Thank You for the compliment, I am currently looking, I work for Kelly Services and they have bben very slow this summer.
Truth be told, Ginsberg's religion is liberalism. She seems to adhere to no religious principles at all, not even the Ten Commandments.
I think such can be said of any group.
You should have answered First Church of Christ, Roman Synod, Unreformed. It would have probably taken him a year to figure it out, what you meant. :D
These bigots should be called on their blatant anti-Catholic bias openly and on TV. Schumer should be asked if his religion has any moral footing which would prevent him from voting one way on certain issues. There could even be a "Joseph Welch" moment at the confirmation hearings. Stay on offense. And be prepared with "the Constitutional Option".
I am writing that one down! You are very clever! ROFLOL!
Ever notice how the press always refers to Republican politicians such as Frist, Delay, etc as conservative or right-wing yet, never refers to the likes of Kennedy, Kerry, Schumer, Feinstein, etc as liberal?
Same thing at play here with the automatic insertion of Catholic whenever mentioning Roberts.
True but Baptists say much the same.
Exactly! Bias! Yhe media is the worst and by them doing it, it makes it OK for others to follow suit I guess! I don't let it get me down. I pray all the harder for Roberts and all the others regardless of their denomination. Provided they are Republicans of course! :)
That's hilarious.
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