One of the big controversies of 2004’s elections was the problem of politicians who claim to be Catholic, yet dissent from fundamental Church teaching in a way that in a previous age they would be denounced as heretics. Come to think of it, it wasn’t just the ‘04 elections.
In any case, the Boston Globe’s token conservative columnist, Jeff Jacoby, addresses the same issue from a Jewish perspective with Abramoff scandal.
BY HIS own admission, Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff is a crook. But that isn’t the worst that can be said about him. ... The worst is that Abramoff is a Jew. Not only a Jew, but an Orthodox Jew—someone who claims to be committed to strictly observing Jewish law and faithfully adhering to the Torah’s ethical standards. But instead of upholding those ethical standards Abramoff trampled on them, and a ‘‘religious” Jew who behaves so corruptly disgraces not only himself but all religious Jews. He brings his faith into contempt. He is guilty of what Jewish tradition calls, with disgust, ‘‘chillul ha-Shem”—a desecration of God’s name. For me—also an observant Jew—that is the worst thing of all.
Interesting to see it from a different point of view. I wonder why liberals aren’t screaming for Jacoby’s head now by imposing religious sensibilities on political matters. Oh right, because they see the Abramoff scandal as a way to attack Republicans.
