I think it’s because non-religious types, who tend to be liberal, want to denigrate religion and religious influence.
They don’t want any prominent people talking against abortion on demand, or talking against homosexual marriage. They don’t want any prominent voices being heard on any moral issues at all. They want to be liberal and secular. They want to shut down discussion of moral questions. They want to be amoral, and want the rest of society structured so they don’t have to hear about morality.
They want to intimidate religions so that they stay out of the public arena, and so that they don’t have to be exposed to any errant religious/moral message. These same people have no problems with very permissive TV shows and movies, and are unconcerned if anyone who is offended by those being exposed to that. But these same liberal people are afraid of anyone hearing any sort of religious or moral message anywhere.
They don’t want any prominent people talking against abortion on demand, or talking against homosexual marriage. They don’t want any prominent voices being heard on any moral issues at all. They want to be liberal and secular. They want to shut down discussion of moral questions. They want to be amoral, and want the rest of society structured so they don’t have to hear about morality.
I think you nailed it right there. Catholics may be the biggest target in their efforts but make no mistake about it: first the Catholics, then the Protestants, Baptists, Lutheran's, Evangelicals, etc..
“I think it’s because non-religious types, who tend to be liberal, want to denigrate religion and religious influence......They want to intimidate religions so that they stay out of the public arena, and so that they don’t have to be exposed to any errant religious/moral message.”
Any religious beliefs that compete with an official state ideology to promote the perfect society cannot be tolerated by totalitarian governments, since religion appeals to a higher authority than any earthly dictator.
Totalitarian politicians have worked hard to promote themselves as replacements for God. The 20th century has produced dictators like Hitler and Stalin, who openly repressed religion even as they successfully developed cults of hero worshiping fanatics. Atheistic Americans are so creative in elevating their mediocre politicians to god-like status that they inspired the Nobel committee to award peace prizes to slugs like Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, and Barak Obama.