The "Right" Religion

Dear editor:

The Sunday news was very enlightening as to the nomination of Harriet Miers to be a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Bush administration and the press were both silent on Ms. Miers qualifications based upon her judicial knowledge and experience, or on her published writings on judicial matters. Of course, neither of these qualifications exist.

But, the newspapers and TV reports were loaded with the fact that she went to church twice on Sunday, which proves how good a person she truly is. Her conservative, born again, evangelical religious conviction is being touted as the most important qualification this White House counsel needs to be a high court judge. Does this mean that being a loyal crony of the president, being of the “right” religious faith, and being “a good person” is what it takes?

Most importantly, does this mean that only Evangelical, Born Again Christians should serve on the court? Does it mean that people of other faiths, Jews, Catholics, Muslims, and Mormons are not eligible, even if they have the normal qualifications to be a high court justice? Does it mean that I should tell my grandchildren that they are second class citizens and that their religious background makes them ineligible?

And does it mean that the president and his core constituency don’t really give a damn about the rest of us?