The mainstream media is getting into the analysis of the controversy over John Kerry’s Catholicism, and they’re comparing to John F. Kennedy’s problems concerning his candidacy and his faith back in 1960, but I think they’re missing the point.
The criticism of Kennedy was coming from mainly anti-Catholic forces who were afraid that Kennedy would too closely follow his faith. (Not that they had anything to worry about.) But the criticism of Kerry is not coming from anti-Catholics, but from inside the Church. The problem for many Catholics is that Kerry won’t follow the faith closely enough. They believe that if he is elected, and nothing is said about his dissent from the Church’s teachings, a bad lesson will be perpetuated among Catholics in this country about what it really means to be Catholic.
Another curious point: Why is it only Catholic politicians who get this scrutiny? You never hear anyone worry about Baptists getting their marching orders from their pastors or Orthodox being told how to vote by their patriarchs, or Jews by their rabbis.
You mean it wouldn’t be a big deal for a Baptist to vote for euthanasia or gay marriage or some other immorality? Thank God, then, that He left us a Church to guide us on matters of faith and morals.