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 ...
Kennedy is nominally Catholic. I doubt that his kids retain even a vestiage of the old Irish-Catholicism.
I am sure you are right, but I look not to Kennedy but rather to Santorum! Kennedy is a very sad joke and waste of human potential! I think his brothers, at least Robert would be ashamed of him.
I agree with you, especially Robert! My mom has always hated the Kennedys - not just conversational "I hate them" but a real deep visceral hatred. I didn't even hear a good word after JFK was assassinated (she only registered to vote just so she could vote for Nixon in 1960). However when they were bringing Bobby Kennedy's body to DC for part of his funeral, when some news commentator mentioned Ethel Kennedy, my mom said "that poor woman has no say in her own husband's funeral." To this day it was the only nice thing she's had to say about any Kennedy, and I will always remember that!
I too have heard this.
It will be interesting to watch the indignation come out then.
Funny... in the course of leaders of the church trying to save lives for eternity, they will be condemned by the very people they seek to save.
Amazing to watch. It already took plave here with Arch-bishop Raymond Burke.
I hear you! God Bless Bishop Burke! Good for him, way to stand up! I saw the article.
Good question.
I think that if you're looking for the salvation of your soul, and following the laws set down by God, wouldn't it be more logical to put your first allegiance to the thing most important in your life, that is the hope of getting to Heaven.
What Christ said 2000 years ago holds just as much weight today as it did when he was addressing the Sahendrin:
"What profits a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul."
Interesting discussion.
"What Christ said 2000 years ago holds just as much weight today as it did when he was addressing the Sahendrin."
Indeed! :)
Have any of you Catholics wondered why they never talk about hell anymore? Why no one talks about sin and just what is sin and the importance of confession? At our parish one priest is from India and seems to be rather nice but I can't understand much of what he says. The other priest it seems to be so casual, and starts out with a joke. Life is hard and difficult and sin is all around us, what is so funny? And do any other christians hear about hell from their churches? You would think that when dying one possiably going to hell because of sin would be of great discussion. God has great mercy but also great justice.
You are so right, in this era of PC it is never mentioned in most conversations.
Certainly any good priest, or minister, worth his salt must consider hell an important topic of discussion for any faith.
Fortunately over the years We have been reminded of the existance of Hell, and that as you say God has great mercy, so does he have justice.
Anyone that sugar coats religion, and doesn't mention hell is doing a great dis-service not only to themselves, but to God as well.
In other words, while a person of any denomination may be subject to threats or blackmail to change their position on something or risk getting kicked out, are catholic politicians or judges more of a concern because the church is a foreign government as well?
As long as Judge Roberts is a strict Constitutionalist as promised by the President, I don't see how being a Catholic in any way changes the main objective which is: someone who can interpret the law as it was intended by our Founder Fathers, considering that most of them were devoted Christians.
What GW wants, is a Judge who applies the law consistent with the original intentions of the Founders, and doesn't rule from the bench disregarding the rule of law, and abusing his/her power by entrenching the rights, stability, and protection of ordinary citizens as most Liberal Judges do.
Even though the Catholic Church doesn't interfere in judicial reviews or government's decisions, the hostility against Catholics is patently clear.
Yet to this day, the truth still remains as George Washington expressed in his farewell address:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. ... And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
Judge Robert Borke was on C-Span yesterday and was asked if there would be a conflict with Roberts and his Catholic faith. Borke responded that no where in the Catholic faith does it re-evaluate constitutional law. If anything things become un-constitutional when basic rights are denied.
Roe Vs. Wade would be a prime example.
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