Steve Hinnefeld, a regular commentator on education in Indiana, regrets that Amy Coney Barrett was not asked about vouchers during her hearings.
He notes that she served on the board of a Catholic school in Indiana that received state voucher funds and that openly discriminated against same-sex families.
Barrett served from 2015-17 on the board of Trinity School at Greenlawn, a South Bend Catholic school, the New York Times reported. Trinity had a policy during Barrett’s time on the board that effectively prohibited same-sex couples from enrolling their children in the school, according to the Times.
That would seem to cast doubt on Barrett’s claim in her confirmation hearing that she had “never discriminated on the basis of sexual preference” and would not do so. It also raises policy questions about whether publicly funded institutions should practice discrimination.
To ask about vouchers would have led down the path of asking ACB about her religious beliefs. Democrats were trying to stay away from that and the Republicans were trying to bait the Dems into committing that fatal error. The hearing was another dog and pony show that the Republicans wanted to turn into a 3 ring circus for ratings….and to help keep the Senate red. Everyone knew how ACB stood on certain issues BEFORE the hearings and we know what the outcome will be. The best hope we have is to elect Biden AND turn the Senate blue. VOTE….your life depends on it!
Just curious- when will the appropriate time be to connect abortion and gay rights to the powerful religious in D.C. aligned with Charles Koch, who oppose not only those two issues but also oppose government programs that keep people from dying in the streets like feral dogs-
We have Separation of Church and State and it should remain that way. Koch and his brand are a different story and they have no affiliation with any kind of religion. Koch and his brand worship money and markets….the golden idol. The trick is to expose the hypocrisy of all of these “stink tanks” and lobbying groups. Citizens United needs to be overturned…maybe stacking the Court (if need be).
Lisa
I ask those with your opinion to read two articles about Neil Cockery and his wife, Ann. Neil Cockery is mentioned in the Center for Media and Democracy article, “Snapshot of Secret Funding of Amicus Briefs Tied to Leonard Leo…(confirmation of) Amy Barrett”. One of the articles is from 1990 in the SunSentinel, “Love of God is Shrouded in Secrecy -Opus Dei Wants Others to Understand Devotion”. Ann Cockery describes herself as a member of Opus Dei and her husband as a member who left the organization, but who believed that “Opus Dei adds a positive dimension to his marriage”. Ann described the beliefs she associates with the organization, “solid interior mortification” – a cheerful smile, silence when unjustly accused, overlooking irritating details in those who live with you. “Behind us we shall leave children- many children”. She defended self flagellation, as sacrifice not masochism. Neil encouraged her membership in the organization. The second article is, “The Anti-abortion Conservative Quietly Guiding Trump’s SCOTUS Pick”, in the Guardian (July 6. 2018). The article reports that Leonard Leo donated to an Opus Dei-linked school.
If Barrett belonged to an organization that didn’t have a religious name but had association with similar noxious views like a prohibition against women in leadership positions, would your position be the same?
While questions about an organization might cause tribalist backlash causing practicing members to change their votes, do you think votes could be gained if Americans knew the nation was headed toward governance by church doctrine which takes away women’s rights?
Linda,
I don’t like ACB’s position on women’s rights, abortion, environmental regulation, climate change, gay rights, etc.
But next week the Senate will vote to confirm her unless there are three Republicans who don’t want to turn back the clock a century.
If the rise of the Catholic Church’s power in setting back gay and women’s rights and, their opposition to democratic governance and public programs had been exposed at any point in the past decade…instead, evangelicals were used as distraction. My opinion.
an essential reality: shying away from discussing a political person’s religious beliefs is dangerous in days when those religious beliefs are ever more prevalent inside Big Money
Barrett’s claim that she had “never discriminated on the basis of sexual preference” is common ploy taken by ultra-conservative Christians who think sexual orientation is a a simple matter of preference and choices. She is among those who believe that preferences are learned, choices are made, and both can be reversed by “proper interventions,” and seeking forgiveness of a sin.
She is a zealot with a closed mind pretending to be free of prejudice.
This hypocrisy is dreadful and dangerous for the principle of equal justice under law.
I don’t like ACB either and find her Christianity to be less than Christian, but we have a VP that believes that gay people can be electrically shocked into straightness yet this type of “treatment” is being done away with on a regular basis. ACB is likely a “done deal” and we need to see how she will rule on these kind of cases. If she can’t put aside her religious beliefs, there is the option to stack the courts IF the Senate turns blue and Biden wins the election.
The investigation by the Center for Media and Democracy (10-10-2020), “A Snapshot of Secret Funding of Amicus Briefs Tied to Leonard Leo ….(confirmation of) Amy Barrett”, tells readers about Heather Higgins, heir to the VapoRub fortune. She credits herself with
moving Wisconsin women to Trump in 2016. The CMD article mentions the Friedrich’s case.
Some info about Higgins from another source- in an interview at the Acton Institute (an organization with links to the DeVos family) she expressed fundamental opposition to government social programs insofar as they compete with or replace private charities. fyi- Catholic organizations are the nation’s 3rd largest employer. The Biel v. St. James Catholic school case which SCOTUS decided in favor of the Catholic school makes worker protections almost moot. Expect Catholic organizations to broaden the case’s scope declaring other employees as “ministerial” and therefore, outside of civil rights employment law.
Heather Higgins, Charles Koch, Catholic bishops and neoliberals are on the same political page. It won’t surprise any at this blog that Higgins received praise from a Bill Clinton domestic policy advisor.
Sen. Ben Sasse frequently attends the Koch political gatherings. Sasse encouraged Trump to nominate Barrett. Barrett’s father and husband have links to fossil fuels like Koch Industries does. Sasse was praised by CatholicVote.org for his resolution affirming no “religious test” for nominees. Barrett was asked no questions about her most important patrons, Neil Cockery and Leonard Leo.
But, mum’s the word.
Jefferson – In every country, in every age, the priest aligns with the despot.
I just sent the gist of this article to Senator Todd Young [R-IN] who has stated in his news letter that he has known Amy Barrett and knows that she would be great on the Supreme Court.
I also sent my comments to Senator Mike Braun [R-IN] who won the election by claiming to be the strongest Trump supporter. For some reason, Braun doesn’t have a page where you can submit comments. [Guess he doesn’t want to hear from us ‘little people’.] I had to put comments on a page requesting tours of D.C. and the dates I’d be there. Humm. I’m going to D.C. at the end of October. HA.
I started my page of comments to Braun by saying, “I DON’T WANT A TOUR! Why is it impossible to have a page where I can give comments on important issues?”
The website of Rep.Steve Chabot (R- gerrymandered Cincinnati-Warren County area) is described as “not industry standard” and “clunky”. Chabot gave his son-in-law more than $100,000 to develop the site. You don’t get what you pay for when you’re a taxpayer in a corrupt system.
He has two websites: one is his campaign website, while the other is governmental. 😐
On his governmental website, Braun has a comments’ page for various topics. 🙂