The Supreme Court and Religion

And so it begins.  Yet another battle over the future of the Supreme Court, the fate of women in America, and, perhaps, the fate of the nation itself.

And, once again, the Republicans and movement conservatism wants to make it all about religion, while saying that their opponents have absolutely no right to bring up the subject of religion.

That they have done this time and time again for decades should be evidence enough of their self-serving hypocrisy.  Let me take a moment to dwell on my own personal experience in this area, as a recovering evangelical Christian.

Theologically speaking, evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics are natural opponents, even though they claim to worship the same God, and claim to honor the centrality of Jesus of Nazareth in that worship.  Evangelicals are, and have been for longer than my life span, obsessed with the issue of personal vice, while Catholicism embraces a somewhat larger view of social and economic justice.  This is why evangelicals, and not a few Catholics, have major problems with papal decrees (especially from the current Pope) that address these questions, while wholeheartedly exalting those views in the area of human behavior where the two religions intersect most neatly--sex.  

It is this intersection that explains why, with the help of evangelical Christianity's political muscle, there is a Catholic majority on the Supreme Court, while also explaining why that majority occasionally produces decisions that grate on the nerves of evangelicals.  For example, and most notably in the current moment, its refusal to strike down the Affordable Care Act.

Which is why it is both appropriate with regard to the question of stare decisis, and otherwise to protecting the health and welfare of the nation suffering through the worst pandemic in a century, to discuss how her views, on the law, religion, or anything else.  This is a job application for a lifetime position on the most consequential court on the county.  It shouldn't be easy for any nominee.  Putting it bluntly, it should be damned hard.  If they're equipped to parry arguments from the toughest, smartest attorneys in the nation, I'm comfortable saying that they should be able to handle a few tough questions from elected officials.  And let me remind everyone:  Brett Kavanaugh couldn't, and didn't, pass that test.  And a combination of timid Senators and corporate media shoehorned him onto the court anyway.

We can't afford political timidity or media corruption getting in the way of an open, robust, confirmation process.  Not when the current President, and his party, have all but confessed that the major goal here is to manipulate the outcome of a national election.

I've told you any number of times to vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, VOTE.  So here I am, doing it again.  It's the most peaceful possible end to our long national nightmare (thank you, Gerald Ford).

But, for those of you inclined to pray, especially on the eve of Yom Kippur, please do so.  We can use all the help we can get.

And g'mar chatima tovah to us all.