Dear Catholic Exchange,
While reading “The Catholic Thing” by Tom Purcell, I had mixed emotions. Maybe, Tom Purcell needs a rap on the knuckles.
I agree that “….John Roberts should be confirmed to the Supreme Court because he is Catholic.” And I agree that “A devoted Catholic is someone who works hard to avoid all the sins common to mankind in general (pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, sloth).
I disagree with the portrayal of the good Sisters who devoted their lives to teaching me, Mr. Purcell and many of our children. I did not survive this teaching, just the opposite, I am forever grateful for having had the experience.
Mr. Purcell asks “Isn't such humility the most important quality we'd want in any Justice? Don't we all want a Justice who will use his position not to advance his own agenda, but to understand the meaning of our laws? My answer to both questions is no. I would hope to see a Justice who has a definitive understanding of the truth. The truth, not defined by someone’s political agenda or by some bad law but one defined by Jesus Christ who is the Truth. And I would hope to see a Justice who has the fortitude to right the many wrongs with our existing laws. Humility is one of many important qualities that all Justices AND human beings should strive to attain but the most important quality for any choice of Justice to our Supreme Court is a firm conviction to morality (to uphold the principles of our Founding Fathers which are based on Judeo-Christian ethic). I would rather have a prideful moral Justice than a humble immoral one.
Mr. Purcell says “Some critics worry that a devoted Catholic could take a narrow-minded approach to issues such as abortion and gay marriage, but I'll bet he'd go the opposite direction.” We need a Justice who is both narrow-minded and broad-minded enough to take a righteous stand against the evil and abomination of abortion, euthanasia, cloning, homosexuality, etc.
Mr. Purcell says “I'll bet he'd be more likely to serve humbly to advance something greater than himself, the law itself. I'll bet he'd be less likely to twist and contort the law to achieve a desired outcome.” We need a Justice who will advance something greater than himself, God himself. Remember, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Mr. Purcell says “Where there is humor, there is honesty and humility, and where there is honesty and humility you'll find people who seek to understand other people's ideas, not impose their own. A sense of humor is badly needed in Washington, DC, particularly at a time when so many folks are taking themselves so seriously. A lack of a sense of humor can blind a person; make him get lost in the narrowness of his own ideas.”
There is nothing narrow or humorous regarding the protection of all human life from conception to natural death.
In Christ,
Bob O’Meara
Nashua, NH
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