problem by Cal Thomas
When Kerry and other Catholic politicians say they accept church teaching but selectively deny it when it
comes to abortion, they place the state above the church and man above God. They mortgage their consciences to convenience and
principle to pragmatism. Should such a person lead this nation?
Ah, the arrogance of the Righteous Right. We have
Calcified Cal Thomas ‘reasoning’ that John Kerry is not a ”good” Catholic and, therefore, not qualified to be President — only
radical fundamentalists need apply. I think Cal was considerably more tolerant of Bush judicial nominee William Pryor, another Roman
Catholic, who strongly opposes abortion but promises to enforce the law (wink-wink). If this is our litmus, how is Pryor trustworthy and
Kerry not? And, who is Cal to judge the quality of their faith — Saint Peter or an American ayatollah? Judge not, least ye be judged,
Cal.
The self-righteous right dominates public discourse because they are relentlessly aggressive bullies and stunningly over-
confident (after all, they believe god is only on their side). One cannot discuss color with people who only see black and white and,
worse, insist that seeing color is a defect. This kind of conservative doesn’t simply lack nuance, he despises it and ridicules the
ability to see more than one aspect of an argument. Better a president who can reconcile conflicting thoughts than one who can’t speak
one clearly.
I say it is precisely someone who puts the state above god, or, at least, can keep them separate, who should lead
America. We have no need for a pharaoh. mjh
PS- The Albuquerque Journal finally published this two months later
(6/15/04).