General Discussion

There has been a shift over the last 20+ years over to Catholicism being used to promote extreme right wing politics. Part of that is influential converts such as Raymond Arroyo and Newt Gingrich. Then we have Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch - extreme conservatives, raised, or in the case of Thomas, converted to Catholicism. Then we have conservative Catholic media, ETWN in particular, and our Catholic radio network here, Baraga Broadcasting, has gone conservative. There are the Fox news talking heads making a show of their Catholicism - Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, etc. They follow in the footsteps of Bill Bennett and Pat Buchanan.

The inconsistency between the teachings of the Church and the politics of that gang of rogues should be clear enough., and it is that inconsistency that is being pointed out in the case of Dowd. It is the hypocrisy that is the problem, not their faith.

Public profession of Catholic faith while promoting extreme right wing politics is relevant.

There was a time when Catholics were a persecuted class in Protestant America, yes.