Two good pieces on faith and politics

Catholic News Service addresses the attention that's been paid to John Roberts' Catholic faith by both those who want him in and who want him out. It makes me absolutely crazy when folks use "Catholic" to flag wrong thinking. (Practice your baleful stares in case the Roberts controversy makes this resurface.) Even if the supposed wrong thinking that exists in Roberts' case is shared by numerous other Catholics, the politics can preceed the faith or at least any real affinity to the faith, as often happens. It's a good, balanced article, and makes a good point about the relative P.C.-ness of Catholicism as a target.

And the Rockefeller Institute's Roundtable on Religion and Social Policy recently published a scrutiny of how the Democrats are ratcheting up their outreach to people of faith. (Every candidate will now be permitted to use TWO Biblical references in a speech, in addition to the extant majestic concession "God bless" as a closure. But seriously folks . . . ) I'd hate to see the religious left become a glorified PAC as labor and the religious right have done. (This article states that "hundreds of churches" watched a simulcast message of President Bush's support for John Roberts. Preachers giving up their pulpits for TV? Who'll hang on to the Good Book when the firemen come?) But on the other hand, I wouldn't mind seeing the Dems paying serious attention to the faithful in their own camp, instead of wasting time on fires started by the religious right. My church buddies, let's just make sure we're on the right end of the leash.