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The JFK Question, Sens. Specter and Feinstein impose an unconstitutional religious test
Opinion Journal ^ | 09.15.05 | MANUEL MIRANDA

Posted on 09/15/2005 9:49:14 PM PDT by Coleus

The JFK Question
Sens. Specter and Feinstein impose an unconstitutional religious test.

BY MANUEL MIRANDA
Thursday, September 15, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT

They should be ashamed. We should be ashamed. We have not progressed much in 45 years it seems, and we appear to be traveling in the wrong direction.

Article VI of the Constitution prohibits a religious test from being imposed on nominees to public office. The clause was motivated by the experience of Catholics in the Maryland colony and Baptists in Virginia who had been the targets of Great Britain's two Test Acts. These infamous laws of intolerance sought to prevent anyone who did not belong to the Church of England from holding public office. The Test Acts did not say that Catholics could not hold office; the bigotry was more subtle. Officials questioned would-be public servants to determine whether they believed in particular tenets of the Catholic faith.

While questioning John Roberts on Tuesday, Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter asked: "Would you say that your views are the same as those expressed by John Kennedy when he was a candidate, and he spoke to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in September of 1960: 'I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.' "

Hours later, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California made it worse: "In 1960, there was much debate about President John F. Kennedy's faith and what role Catholicism would play in his administration. At that time, he pledged to address the issues of conscience out of a focus on the national interests, not out of adherence to the dictates of one's religion. . . . My question is: Do you?"

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: 109th; johnroberts; litmustest; robertshearings
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: ladyinred

I prefer to spell Alan's name "SPECTRE"!


22 posted on 09/15/2005 11:02:39 PM PDT by cartoonistx
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To: Coleus; american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


23 posted on 09/16/2005 1:11:48 AM PDT by NYer
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To: NYer; kstewskis; Victoria Delsoul; Kelly_2000; Raquel; Miss Marple; lysie
As a Catholic I was obviously disturbed by Spectre and Feinstein's attacks, and I will call them attacks.

More importantly though what is being missed is that somehow in this country the law seems to take precedent over one's faith in regards of being able to come to sound decisions.

These senators seem to imply that if a man is devout in a faith that is steeped in a Judeo-Christian heritage, he can't make sound judgments based on things that are right and wrong.

How is absurd is that?

Why is it with some senators and congressman in this country that nothing trumps the almighty government? We all know how the law and govt. has failed us over the centuries. Rulings lately like the pledge of allegiance by some District Judge, and the ruling of eminent domain come to mind.

I'd rather have a judge who has a devout belief in something higher than the government when it comes to making decisions that will affect this country.

I've seen the Honorable John Roberts during the past few days and know that he has a solid grasp of the law. I also feel secure in knowing that this man of faith will draw on that faith when making decisions in years to come.

We have plenty of senators and congressman who profess a belief in a Catholic faith, but don't really seem to subscribe to it. I at least believe that Roberts will use the wisdom of solomon when it comes to matters of legality.

24 posted on 09/16/2005 3:56:01 AM PDT by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier)
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To: Coleus
If he were a Supreme Court nominee, I guess the views of Michael Newdow (Pledge of Allegiance creep) wouldn't be questioned at all by the Senate committee's 'Rat inquisitors.

Atheists would get a pass.

Leni

25 posted on 09/16/2005 4:06:11 AM PDT by MinuteGal
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To: Northern Yankee

Jay, they give more respect to a bible-carrying pervert. Disgusting.


26 posted on 09/16/2005 4:29:05 AM PDT by lysie (I'm a George Strait junkie. Ah-ooh-hoo, play somethin' country.Ha-ooh-hoo, play somethin' country)
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To: Tench_Coxe; upchuck
I e-mailed the two SINators with a cut and paste of Article VI, Clause 3. I also offered to send them a copy of the Constitution if they needed it.

Their reply? ... I don't live in their states.

27 posted on 09/16/2005 11:10:45 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (I - LOVE - my attitude problem !)
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To: Sthitch
Funny how they never brought up Ginsburg's Judaism.
28 posted on 09/16/2005 11:13:58 AM PDT by Coleus ("Woe unto him that call evil good and good evil"-- Isaiah 5:20-21)
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To: NYer
Before 1973 the legal prohibition and regulation of abortion existed in the U.S. without any specific Catholic moral hegemony. Legal restrictions of abortion do not subject American citizens to Catholic "beliefs" or moral teachings. The Church teaches that abortion is a very serious and grave sin and that any Catholic who procures or assists someone in obtaining an abortion suffers excommunication. The legal restriction or prohibition of abortion is not an application of the Catholic teaching to non-Catholics but an interpretation of law on the definition of murder. It is actually the pro-abortion position which IMPOSES a specific religious belief and ideology, namely that an unborn child is not a human person, an idea invented by the twisted ideological fever swamps of secular humanism and imposed on all Americans by Roe vs. Wade and its related crusade to exalt an atheist materialistic ideology.

In their warped confusion over this issue, secular humanist wacko liberals target Catholics for abuse. But many non-Catholics support the right to life and oppose abortion. It is not an issue limited to Catholics although the Church has the most coherent and comprehensive ethical teaching on the subject.

29 posted on 09/16/2005 11:17:40 AM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: ladyinred
"I think the worst republican of all is Arlen Spector."

Specter used to be a Democrat. When he began calling himself a "Republican" the only thing that changed was what he called himself.

I actually think he acts as a mole.

30 posted on 09/16/2005 11:21:42 AM PDT by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
Very well said.

I often tell "socially liberal" Republicans that just like the liberals twist, distort, and lie about other issues (such as the War on Terrorists, health care, taxes, ect.) to suit their agenda, the same can be said about abortion. Too many Americans are in the dark as to the true nature of abortion and it's extremely harmful effects on the family and society in general. Keep spreading the good news, and we'll win this fight.
31 posted on 09/16/2005 1:43:30 PM PDT by Raquel (Abortion ruins lives.)
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To: Raquel
They are obsessed with the idea that the criminality of abortion is somehow absolved due to the Catholic prohibitory teachings on the subject (i.e., "Separation of Church and State" mythology). Curiously, they remain silent on such issues as Catholic prohibitions of rape, stealing, assault and battery, murder (of adult humans), and wife beating.

Gee, would ultra-secularist Diane Feinstein be worried that Judge Roberts might be "too Catholic" if a case of wife beating comes before the court?

32 posted on 09/16/2005 2:05:18 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity; Northern Yankee

Feinstein's questions/remarks overreached her authority and blatantly attacked Catholics and religious people in general. Shouldn't she have asked the nominee questions pertaining to the U.S. Constitution, justice, liberty, compromise even, but faith? One's innermost private reflections? Isn't that an invasion of Judge Robert's privacy? Representatives like Feinstein have an agenda to protect: the "anything goes" mentality with morality as an afterthought if at all. If Judge Robert's was a Catholic who supported abortion rights, the question wouldn't have come up at all.


33 posted on 09/16/2005 5:06:21 PM PDT by Raquel (Abortion ruins lives.)
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To: Northern Yankee; NYer; Victoria Delsoul; onyx; GipperGal
These senators seem to imply that if a man is devout in a faith that is steeped in a Judeo-Christian heritage, he can't make sound judgments based on things that are right and wrong.

How is absurd is that?

Wasn't very absurd around 1960 when the democrat John Kennedy was around. My how things have changed. /s

Why is it with some senators and congressman in this country that nothing trumps the almighty government?

Communism is alive and well in these "senators and congressmen." No other explanation.

34 posted on 09/16/2005 8:23:36 PM PDT by kstewskis ("I don't know what I know, but I know that it's big".....Jerry Fletcher)
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To: kstewskis
Communism is alive and well in these "senators and congressmen." No other explanation.

Good point, Karen.

35 posted on 09/16/2005 8:29:15 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: angelanddevil2

Yes, I sure wish someone here who got to see that part would answer your question about what he replied. If it were me there woulda been steam comin outa my ears.


36 posted on 09/16/2005 9:59:05 PM PDT by SaintDismas (Jest becuz you put yer boots in the oven, don't make it bread)
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To: Victoria Delsoul; kstewskis
Communism is alive and well in these "senators and congressmen." No other explanation.

No wonder the libs today like to trash Joe McCarthy. He saw this coming.

37 posted on 09/17/2005 2:48:40 AM PDT by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier)
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Comment #38 Removed by Moderator


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