When I think of the fraternal Catholic organization the Knights of Columbus, I mostly recall pancakes and basketball. In my parish when I grew up, the Knights regularly served pancake breakfasts to raise money for worthy community causes. I also once won their free-throw shooting contest at my parochial school!

The millions of Catholic men who belong to the Knights of Columbus would probably be stunned to learn that at least two U.S. senators seem to consider membership in this laudable service organization as somehow disqualifying from serving as a federal judge.

Sens. Mazie Hirono and Kamala Harris, in written questions to District Court judge nominee Brian Buescher, challenged his suitability for the bench because he belongs to this charitable Catholic group. Hirono claimed that the Knights have taken "extreme positions" such as affirming Catholic belief in traditional marriage and even asked Buescher, "If confirmed, do you intend to end your membership with this organization to avoid any appearance of bias?" In today’s Democratic Party, the new McCarthyism asks, "Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Knights of Columbus?"

Harris wrote that "the Knights of Columbus, an all-male society comprised of primarily Catholic men … opposes a woman's right to choose." Anyone who ever pledged a college fraternity or sorority, take note — Harris does not seem to approve of your membership in a single-sex organization. Anyone who further dares to personally embrace longstanding Christian doctrine on the sanctity of life, including the unborn, should also seek employment outside of the federal bench. Such anti-Catholic bias represents not just a discriminatory affront, but also an unconstitutional religious litmus test for appointees.

Whether we think of ourselves as Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikh, Buddhists, Jews, atheists, agnostics, or anything else, it is imperative that we stand united in our commitment to protect religious freedom and the right to worship or not worship, safely and without the fear of retribution.

We must stand together, and with one voice condemn those who seek to incite bigotry based on religion. We cannot allow those who are anxious to exploit our differences to drive a wedge between us. We cannot and will not tolerate prejudicial treatment of those with whom we disagree, any more than we would tolerate such treatment of those with whom we agree.

Standing up for freedom of religion for all people is as critical now as it's ever been — hatred and bigotry are casting a dark shadow over our political system and threatening the very fabric of our country. . .

While I oppose the nomination of Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court in Nebraska, I stand strongly against those who are fomenting religious bigotry, citing as disqualifiers Buescher's Catholicism and his affiliation with the Knights of Columbus. If Buescher is "unqualified" because of his Catholicism and affiliation with the Knights of Columbus, then President John F. Kennedy, and the 'liberal lion of the Senate' Ted Kennedy would have been "unqualified" for the same reasons.

Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that there "shall be no religious test" for any seeking to serve in public office.

No American should be told that his or her public service is unwelcome because "the dogma lives loudly within you" as Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said to Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearings in 2017 to serve as U.S. Circuit Court judge in the 7th Circuit.

While I absolutely believe in the separation of church and state as a necessity to the health of our nation, no American should be asked to renounce his or her faith or membership in a faith-based, service organization in order to hold public office.

As a democrat supporter and a agnostic and a person that likes Kamala Harris
I must agree that it was wrong to judge thean based on his membership to a religious organization.
I beleive in the seperation of church and state . I hope she sees the error of her ways and retracts her comments .

Calling her out is a start but will you vote for her for Pres. If she doesn't mend her ways?

This thread is the first ive heard of this and i need to learn more .
But if she stands by her opinion i wouldnt vote for her . But she is correct that the judge in question has no buisness being on the bench with his bias views .
As i said im not religious but deffend anybody's right to believe what they want to believe

When hardBNhard says, "im not sure i could support her", he is referring to Kamala Harris.

my misreading skills flared up and i took it backwards

A bias against a religion, is still a bias.

Hirono and Harris are therefore
unfit for public office.


Now.. I'm not Catholic, or even Christian.
Nor, have I ever been.


But, damn!
Enough with the religious intolerance.

As a democrat supporter and a agnostic and a person that likes Kamala Harris
I must agree that it was wrong to judge the person based on his membership to a religious organization.
I believe in the seperation of church and state . I hope she sees the error of her ways and retracts her comments .

This thread is the first ive heard of this and i need to learn more .
But if she stands by her opinion i wouldnt vote for her . But she is correct that the judge in question has no buisness being on the bench with his bias views .
As i said im not religious but deffend anybody's right to believe what they want to believe