Vocabulary irony alert! ;-)
Actually, the fact that he's a devout Catholic is a very strong recommendation, in my book.
Speaking only from personal bias (I'm not Catholic, btw), I have found that Catholics are often much more open to practical adaptations of the Christian faith with regard to real life than are those of the so-called "religious right." That's not a bad thing -- especially where politics are concerned.
I think that, when and if Mr. Steele finds his religion within the political spotlight, that practical viewpoint will come across as much more honest and attractive than the sort of priggishness that one hears from the likes of Mr. Dobson.
HUH??? More than half of them voted for Obama...
My brother in law is a priest, and called me this evening when he heard the news, and wondered why the media called Michael Steele a moderate. I said it was probably because he made some critical comments about the Iraq War back in 2005 or so, and the media loved that, of course, because they assumed he was anti-Bush, which he wasn't. My b-i-l said that it was probably his religious thinking that led to that concern, and he reminded me that both Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI had expressed concerns about the war in Iraq, specifically regarding the rights of Catholics.
B-i-l said that as a young man, Steele had considered joining the religious life, and went to a Seminary run by the Order of Augustine, but decided he didn't have a vocation, so left it. Sounds like the priests educated him well, as he uses REASON to good effect.
excellant analysis...and i am Catholic.