I will be in conversation with Todd Scholl of the Center for Educator Wellness & Learning in South Carolina tonight February 15 at 7 pm EST.
We will talk about privatization of public schools and the attacks on public schools.
The conversation will be livestreamed on Facebook.
Tonight February 15 at 7 pm.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
GO DIANE! 👍🏽
Sorry to miss this. I am not on FB.
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Yvonne, I am not either!
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The moderator can set the Facebook Live Event to public and post the URL here. Then ANYONE, whether on FB or not, can simply click on the link and join the event.
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If the topic includes quality of religious schools, a list of the top 20% of Ohio private schools includes Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (if generally accepted categorization is rejected, it could be Catholic).
Tuition is $24,000 a year. The school has 20 AP classes, 1100 students, 53% of the faculty have advanced degrees, 20% of the school are students of color.
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Catholics are Christians. They worship Christ. Catholic schools are Christian schools. People who do not know these things are just mind-blowingly ignorant.
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I speculate 99.9% of Ravitch blog readers capable of holding two thoughts at one time.
(1) Catholics are Christians and (2) the categorization of schools as Christian delineates them as protestant.
Those who don’t are likely unfamiliar with American culture.
In a prior time when many were aware of the phrase, there is only one true Church, the adoption of Christian to describe other Christ-centered churches may have developed.
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Catholics are Christians. Catholic schools are Christian schools.
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Gee I am glad I am an atheist of Jewish dissent. I don’t feel guilty pointing out that Evangelicals and a large majority of Protestant denominations have been attacking the Public School system for decades. Some even long before the Moral Majority came into being. Attacking Public Schools since Brown V BOE. As they defunded Public Schools and opened up “Christian Academies” throughout the South.
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Joel,
In Ohio, the GOP Catholic governor (1999) introduced school choice as a political agenda to get more money for Catholic schools (Akron beacon journal, Dec. 14, 1999, “Whose choice. How school choice began in Ohio.”) The legal scholar advancing religious charter schools is at Notre Dame. The first religious charter school is Catholic (St. Isidore in Oklahoma.)
I could identify other states where school choice was initiated by Catholics but, it wouldn’t plant for many reading these comments.
If your point is that right wing protestants
bad mouth public schools and your mind would open a small crack, I recommend,
“The new official contents of sex education in Mexico: laicism in the crosshairs,” posted at the Scielo site. The research references the US.
If we could turn back the clock and eliminate the Catholic Conferences in almost every state and relied solely on quashing protestant -led school choice, we would not be where we are today, anticipating a ruling from a right wing Catholic majority on SCOTUS on tax-funded St. Isidore.
In terms of the values of the Catholic Church as they relate to civil rights employment law, Biel v. St James Catholic school is enlightening. SCOTUS decided in favor of the Catholic school.
Out of curiosity, how White are Catholic suburban schools? Note, the protestant school identified in my comment above claims 20% students of color.
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Sancte Linda Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra Catholicorum nequitiam et insidias, et Ecclesiam catholicam. Imperat eis Deus, supplices deprecamur; tuque, princeps militiae justi, satanam et omnes catholicos in infernum detrude, malignos spiritus, qui ei serviunt et vagantur per mundi ruinam animarum quaerentes. Amen.
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Linda
Probably about as White as the Communities they are located in. Here on Long Island where high Real Estate taxes and housing values are the price of admission. Districts like Commack(home of anti CRT thugs) where 94% of students are white have almost no students going to Private schools. The Diocesan elementary schools have shut down in droves. What is left are several High Schools with a very small enrollment relative to Public schools, that are Catholic but probably not run by the Church. White Parents who live in wealthier enclaves in what have become more minority districts are fine with the local elementary school but it is bussing to a “Christian Academy” for HS. Of course they would love the state to pick up the tab.
The question I would ask because I do not have the stats is: What percentage of White Students in Southern States were attending Christian Academies in the 60s after Brown was enforced and before these Segregation Academies were forced to enroll minority students (to what ever degree they did).
I would speculate that the Catholic Church was late to the party and just tagged along for the ride. And no matter which sect the legal minds are from. Protestant denominations are the focal point of the anti Public School movement and of Christian Nationalism. As you yourself point out several of those legal minds including Judges have left the Catholic Church feeling more at home on the Evangelical/ Protestant Right. But you insist on calling them Catholic.
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Joel.
Those in the northeast corridor have outsized influence on the narratives that we learn throughout the states. Democrats (which includes Democratic Catholics) make up the dominant majority in the blue states of the northeast.
IMO, the racist south is a hard sell for persuasion. If resources are scarce to make change, focusing where change is more likely to occur is wise. Republican southerners and evangelicals, as the widely popularized bogeymen, took focus away from what Koch was achieving in the previously moderate central states. What follows is info. about a state that may determine the Presidential election in 2024 (neither N.Y. nor Mississippi are expected to swing).
1961- Father Virgil Blum of Marquette University founded the Wisconsin chapter of Citizens for Education Freedom. The Center for Parental Freedom in Education (founded in 1992 with funding from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation aka Koch) was named to honor Blum, “an indefatigable champion of parental choice through tuition vouchers for students in private schools.”
Tax-funded religious schools in the central states show gains for both protestant and Catholic schools.
I appreciate that you made your points without insulting me. And, I acknowledge that the narratives you accept won’t change.
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It is not “the narratives” that Joel describes that are unlikely to change. It is THE REALITIES. Ones that you refuse to see, Linda.
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Joel
I’ve added comment at 9:48 below. It’s likely of no interest.
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Joel.
The percentage of Black students in Catholic schools in central states (voucher money is substantial and in many states, the overwhelming majority of it goes to Catholic schools) is important. PR for school choice legislation rests solely on the foundational rationale that it provides opportunities for students from poor school districts.
After Barrett and her fellow majority on SCOTUS approve religious charter schools, it should concern democracy’s advocates that Catholic organizations could move from their rank as the nation’s 3rd largest employer (gratis of taxpayers), to 2nd or 1st .
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It is truly wonderful, isn’t it, that so many Catholic teachers and administrators are employed nationwide doing the important work of educating children well. So thanks, Linda, for pointing out how many are engaged in this valuable work.
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Linda
Lets look at the Demographics of Wisconsin.
It is 22% evangelical 18% other Protestant denominations for a total of 40%.
While only 25% of the population is Catholic.
Ohio 53% Protestant 29% of whom are Evangelicals. And a mere 18% are Catholics.
Michigan 25% Evangelical 18 % Main line Protestant (43%total ) and 8% Black Protestants while only 18% Catholic.
Pennsylvania 19% Evangelical 23% other Protestants =42% and 5% Black Protestants.
(does that cover it)
Now I will grant you that the Catholic Church has since the early 20th Century sought to have Public funding of Catholic Schools. I will grant you that the American Conference of Bishops is Right wing enough to draw ire of Pope Francis.
Who said they have “a very strong, organized, reactionary attitude”
I will grant you that before the” Amoral Majority” was a twinkle in Jerry Falwell’s eye, before the SCLC changed from tolerance of to opposition to… the Catholic Church took the lead in the Anti Abortion movement .
I will even grant you that Father Coughlin was Nazi loving Anti Semite on the Pulpit and off.
The problem I have with your narrative is where as I can in minutes pull up the names of dozens of Protestant Clergy (most from memory) who used their Pulpits or the street in front of their church/ radio show (to avoid tax penalties), to fight the culture wars. Names that would be familiar to most educated Americans. Clergy whose message is anti Government. From Covid Regulation to book bans to attacks on Muslims . With calls to allow for prayer in Public Schools “because America is a Christian Nation as the Founders intended.” To de-fund those bastions of heathenism where socialism and homosexuality are taught, the Public Schools.
I think Tim Alberta: “The Kingdom The Power And the Glory”
Sarah Posner: “Unholy ”
Katherine Stewart : “The Power Worshipers” who give a shout out to Diane.
Would all agree that it is Protestant denominations who have been the main movers in the culture wars. The main movers in attacks on Government including Public Schools .
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LGBTQ and, 10- year- old rape victims who are pregnant
Lack of accountability for taxpayers’ funding
Lack of democratic election of school boards
All religious schools must be funded by taxpayers if Catholic schools are funded, including those more cult-like in abuse of children and denying women and men the right to reproductive freedom
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Joel,
You are definitely correct that you won’t “pull up” Catholic attached to the names of John Eastman, Mike Flynn (said there should only be one religion), Ann and Neil Corkery, Paul Weyrich (Koch-funded architect of the parallel schools campaign as described at Theocracy Watch), Robert P George (co-author of the Manhattan Declaration), Carrie Severino (Judicial Crisis Network), the Jones Day law firm which had 12 lawyers in the trump admin., including Don McGahn. Becket Law, Ryan Girdusky, (founder of the 1776 PAC), Antonin Scalia, EPPC in Wash. D.C., the head of CPAC, Leonard Leo, and a lot of other influencers. Btw- while most people I encounter think Pat Buchanan is evangelical, he is GOP Catholic. One exception to Catholic identification is L. Brent Bozell IV convicted for Jan. 6 involvement (his family is prominent in the religious right). There may be a suggestion, in writers’ bio’s (when they are complete) about why media like the Atlantic, The Hill and MSNBC seem singularly focused on protestant Christian nationalism.
Just a note about Ohio, almost all of the state elected officials are Republican Catholic from Gov. Dewine, on down including the jurists on the Ohio Supreme Court.
The reason that percentages of evangelicals and mainline protestant sects are reported separately from one another is that they are decentralized with autonomous organizational structures (no shared doctrine against abortion and LGBTQ). Not one protestant group was among the top 5 funders supporting the GOP ballot issue against democracy in Ohio in August. Among the top 5, were 3 dioceses in Ohio that spent almost $1 mil. and, a Robert P George-co-founded organization. The right wing religious publicly stated the ballot issue had no moral content.
The Ohio Capitol Journal reported that the Catholic Church spent $14 mil. between 2022-23 on 3 ballot issues in Kansas and Ohio. Is it your opinion that there was a protestant sect spending at that level and the Ohio Capitol Journal rejected reporting it?
For you, the needle may have been moved with your acknowledgements? I don’t have a dog in the race. Convince me with evidence of actual, effective, well-funded protestant initiatives that outweigh the successes of the Catholic Church and, right wing Catholic political power brokers, Catholic non-profits like Catholic Vote, Catholic Conferences, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, etc.
Just a note-many of the right wing religious organizations that are thought of as protestant include both right wing Catholics and protestants e.g. Family Research Council and Hillsdale College. Paul Weyrich is given credit as a co-founder of the religious right. Charles Koch presents himself as not religious. His links to Catholic organizations are significant including, situations like the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Colorado who formerly worked for the Koch network and who was an executive with EdChoice.
Thanks for your attention.
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I sure hope that someone is collecting all these so that they can be issued in a boxed set! OK, a lot of boxed sets.
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Bob ,
We agree about the archive.
In 1985, the National Catholic Reporter (about a 35,000 circulation) told the priest abuse story and faced, “immense pressure.” 17 years later-2002, the Globe wrote the story. (USA Today, 2-23-2016, “How Spotlight Missed the Story…”)
“Worse than the denials were the underhanded camouflage tactics…threats from Cardinal Law… the Catholic Church had spiritual influence, it also had immense financial and political power.”
(Characters on the Couch, “Breaking the Cult of Secrecy Surrounding Sexual Abuse”)
This blog is likely the only place the story about the right wing Catholic march to sea for tax funded private religious schools, written by a random commenter, will be told. Spotlight and NCR told a story about criminals, religious schools v. public schools is just a political story.
You’ve played your part. MCConahey wrote her book, Playing God. It didn’t garner the publicity nor gain the audience that would have created a shift in the power dynamic.
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Linda
You turn everybody into a Catholic. Charles and David Koch would be surprised to learn that they have converted to Catholicism. Well at least Charles in any event. The evidence of their conversion the lay fascist Catholics they support. Of course what you do not show is members of the Catholic Clergy on Stage at rallies raising money and voter turn out for right wing candidates. I am sure there are some but nowhere near the level of a Ralph Reed whose Faith & Freedom Coalition is laser focused on Electing Right wing Republicans favorable to Right wing Evangelicals and Right wing Catholics. You would be right to point out that Reed is not a preacher. Of course his rallies look like an old time revival with one Evangelical Preacher after the next making the crowd swoon ,calling to take the Country back from the commies, fags and child molester in the deep state and the Public Schools.
Here were the Demographics of the House and Senate in 2021. It is hard to Argue that Elected Catholic Republicans have an out sized role. If anything there are far more Catholic Democrats than Catholic Republicans in the House (141/57 ) and Protestant Republicans in the Senate which appoints judges represent an over 3 to 1 advantage Actually closer to 4 to 1 (37 to 10)
Where as there were 21 Protestant Democratic Senators and 14 Catholic senators so more Catholic Senators are Democrats than Republicans.
If the Catholic Church is the Right wing behemoth you claim they are doing a piss poor job.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/01/04/faith-on-the-hill-2021/
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But Joel, what about the conspiracy among the Catholic Conferences to infect people with toe fungus and necrotizing fasciitis? What about that!?!?!?!!!
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Joel
Is the following info. from EdChoice still true, New Jersey doesn’t have a private school choice program?
Esquire, 1-9-2019 . “Yeah, Sure, This is What 2020 Needs”. The article is about the Knights of Columbus (the largest lay organization in the world). An excerpt follows, “the Knights gave $1,000,000 to the Susan B. Anthony Foundation…most recently campaigned to defund Planned Parenthood…even oppose pro-life Democrats…targeted Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.) ” The Knights funded the Federalist Society where Leonard Leo has had great success in the appointment of judges.
The article quotes National Catholic Reporter, “No other lay group can match the Knights’s ability to leave its mark on the Church. The Knights are deeply engaged in the culture wars.”
The Catholic Church understands that endorsing candidates means loss of tax exemption that’s why the diocese warns clergy like Father Brian Dull (Wis.) to stop telling parishioners to vote against a specific pro-life judge for the state’s Supreme Court.
A question for blog readers- as a generalization, do evangelical preachers seem to be short-sighted and long on self- aggrandizement, out for personal gain, not grand schemes over time, e.g. Jerry Falwell Jr. , the Tammy Faye Baker team?
Joel, you and I can agree there are Catholic and protestant Democratic politicians and judges who defy their Church’s doctrine when voting and making decisions. The conclusion about influence isn’t decided by numbers, it’s answered by outcome. Let’s look at SCOTUS cases as the result of disputes about federal and state laws. (1) the overturn of Roe (2) Biel v. St. James Catholic school (3) Espinosa v. Montana (4) the Kennedy case about prayer on public school premises (5) the forthcoming St. Isidore v. Oklahoma case.
Who or what entity did the heavy political lifting?
Let’s look at Church gains (especially in central states) (1) school choice (2) heartbeat bills (3) taxpayer funding of services that led to Catholic organizations as the nation’s 3rd largest employer, who did the heavy political lifting?
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the Knights of Columbus (the largest lay organization in the world)
Larger than the United Nations, which represents the populations of 193 countries and two observer countries?
Larger than the The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which have 29,000 staff and 14 million volunteers worldwide?
Uh, well, no.
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Bob-
An “NGO” has an accepted definition that is different than the accepted definition for a “lay” organization.
The superlative, “largest lay organization” is a self-describe by the K of C.
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lay. adj. of or relating to the laity : not ecclesiastical
laity. n. lay people, as distinct from the clergy.
–Merriam-Webster
ROFL
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Diane, after the person hosting the Facebook Live event starts the event, ask him to post the URL here. If the Live event is set for Public, anyone will be able to click on that link here and watch the event, including folks who are not on Facebook. More detail:
You can watch Facebook Live streams without having a Facebook account. Here are two methods:
Using a Shared Live Stream URL:
When someone is live streaming on Facebook, they can provide a direct link to the livestream. Clicking on this URL will open a Facebook webpage that delivers the livestream without requiring you to log in.
Alternatively, visit the streamer’s Facebook Video page (e.g., here) to find the “LIVE Video” at the top of the page if the live streaming has started.
Watching on a Phone or Tablet:
Open the Facebook app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
Tap the “Watch” icon (a TV screen with a sideways triangle) at the bottom of the screen.
Select the “Live” tab to see live broadcasts.
Search for a live video and tap it to start watching. You can interact with the live video using emojis and comments1.
Remember that the ability to watch a Facebook Live stream without an account depends on the privacy settings of the person who initiates the live streaming. If the stream is set to public, everyone can view it even without a Facebook account
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And I hope it will be recorded for those who aren’t available tonight. (I don’t know if recording is an automatic function of FB live events or not . . .)
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I will ask Todd to be sure a recording is available
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Facebook Live events are automatically available for up to 30 days. There are third-party apps that can be used to record them and keep them forever, but I am not familiar with those.
However, what I’m reading online is that a) if Todd sets the event to Public and b) if he posts the URL for the event somewhere (this blog would be a good place for it), then anyone will be able to go view the thing for up to 30 days.
And, if one uses capture software, he or she can record the event while playing it AFTER the event.
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Facebook Live events are available after the event for up to 30 days. The event moderator needs to set the availability to public and supply a URL (this would be a good place to do so) in order for anyone, whether he or she has a Facebook account or not, to view it.
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If the topics include the advisability of the 1st religious charter school, St. Isidore in Oklahoma, a concept school model advanced by Notre Dames’ Law Prof. Nicole Stelle Garnet, who is a Manhattan Institute Fellow, the following points could be raised to distinguish a religious school from a public school. (1) Wikipedia reports that the Catholic Church, “condemns same sex sexual activity.” (2) The USCCB posted the statement, “Since the 1st century, the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion…remains unchangeable.” Neither of the two, religion-based views would be taught at a public school. Research exists that clarifies whether the Catholic Church’s positions are detrimental to an advanced society that views equal rights as beneficial to democracy and well-being. One study found gender equality is found in nations with less religion.
Protestant sects, in toto, do not have a unifying doctrine about homosexuality nor, reproductive rights.
Relative to leadership of the dioceses in which Catholic schools operate, the USCCB states, “… only men are to be ordained to the priesthood.”
In public schools, girls are taught their advancement to leadership roles is not a function of patriarchy. The ordination of women to pastoral leadership positions is prohibited in some protestant sects and not others. It was a relatively recent prohibition added to the conservative, Southern Baptist
Convention.
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Everything and anything that anyone puts online does not have to do with your weird crusade against Catholics and the Catholic church, one that just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
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Well, Bob, school choice is politically where it is at in states. I look forward to you making the case for its origin and its traction. Readers can then review your evidence and compare it to what I have documented. Or, you can just lob more insults, diminishing yourself and attempting to diminish me and succeeding in diminishing the reputation of the blog.
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The school choice movement, as Diane Ravitch has detailed here and in various essays and books, was all about avoiding desegregation. But do go on exposing the nefarious Catholic plot to capture our precious body fluids! Hearing you go on and on and on ad nauseam about how evil Catholics and the Catholic Church are attracts readers like flies to Trump, I imagine.
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Like flies to a pile of Trump
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Diane Ravitch blog, 2-12-2024, “Ohio: After GOP lifts income caps…” About 27 paragraphs down, journalist MaryLou Johanek is quoted (Ohio Capitol Journal)
“The state has opened its coffers to Catholic schools that discriminate…The Cleveland diocese receives a ton of voucher funding. It just announced …a policy in its 84 private schools that blatantly discriminates …persons are expected to conduct themselves with their God-given biological sex or face
disciplinary action. The Church’s ‘ spin…’all welcome’ …based on unChristian bigotry.”
All of those who don’t fight against schools that have policy that denies student dignity are complicit. But, Bob, you are worse than they are. You attempt a blatant cover-up using ridicule to distract from the truth that Diane posted.
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ROFL
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https://www.facebook.com/events/1511905212719762/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2252%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22%5B%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22share_link%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22share_link%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%22invite_link_id%5C%22%3A780366900647914%7D%7D%5D%22%7D
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Has this event been cancelled? It’s 7:14pm and it hasn’t started yet.
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Waiting to see.
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You have to go to Todd Scholl’s Facebook page
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Thanks, Ritchie! You saved the day yesterday!
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Sorry, the Livestream link above is not working for some reason. The event is not occurring on that page. It’s here:
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FYI: After the live stream is over, go to Facebook page The SCEA to access all of the videos: https://www.facebook.com/TheSCEA
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What an outstanding event. Thank you, Todd and Diane!
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Todd rocks. Wow. Really smart. Really articulate. Really knowledgeable. More from him!!! Oh, and he has a wonderful made-for-broadcasting voice. Broadcasting or the stage.
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Biden’s selection for a judgeship is under fire (Islamophobia) from the Judicial Crisis Network, an organization linked to Ann Corkery, Carrie Severino, Leonard Leo and Koch. DeSmog quoted (available on-line) the head of CREW who profiled Corkery, “Neil and Ann Cocery are a pair of veteran GOP operatives …for more than decade they have propped up judicial nominees, most of whom are devout Catholics…they’ve leveraged…a robust network of conservatives and Catholic affiliated non-profits…”
Ann is on the board of Becket law (ADF’s Catholic twin) and is involved with the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (Father Blum is credited with its founding).
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Thanks for the work you do in exposing the Catholic church’s role in politics and other areas. Don’t let Bob be a stick in the mud to your work.
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That means a lot, Duane. Thanks for writing to tell me.
-the escalation in defensive denial, even
something written entirely in Latin-
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