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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Is Sarah Palin anti-Catholic after attacks on JFK, Nancy Pelosi's religious beliefs?

Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2010 at 05:37 PM

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Is Sarah Palin anti-Catholic?

That might be a real reading of her comments lately on John F.Kennedy when she slams him for making clear the line between his faith and his political beliefs during the 1960 campaign.

She has also questioned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's faith in comments she made in her new book "America By Heart'

Attacking two prominent Catholics should send its own signal to Catholics everywhere what the real game is about here with the once-Catholic Ms Palin.

However, no signal yet from such guardians of the faith as William Donohoe of the Catholic League who is always quick to jump on any slight, real or imagined

It is very noticeable that Palin has glady accepted Mormon Mitt Romney's arguments about his Mormon religion and whether he believes in Jesus Christ or not.

Yet she questions JFK and Pelosi on their interpretation of their Catholic faith.

Who on earth is she to do so?

She has also kow-towed to every fundamentalist preacher, some of whom we know harbor anti-Catholic sentiment.

When JFK was running, leading Protestant figures such as Pastor Norman Vincent Peale launched vicious attacks on Kennedy and his religion. Is Palin cut from that cloth?

Pastor Norman Vincent Peale wrote in 1960 that "faced with the election of a Catholic, our culture is at stake"

Is it from sources like this where she got her attack on JFK and Pelosi from?

I am delighted to see that Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, niece of John Kennedy, has come out so strongly to defend her uncle after Sarah Palin launched a bitter attack on Kennedy in her new book.

Palin essentially attacked Kennedy for his 1960 campaign remark that "I am not the Catholic candidate for president.I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president who also happens to be Catholic."

Kennedy made those remarks because at the time Catholics in power were viewed with deep suspicion

Palin takes those remarks to mean that Kennedy "seemed to run away from his religion."She says that Kennedy declared religion to be "such a private matter that it was irrelevant to the kind of country we are."

That is complete nonsense and Kathleen Kennedy has now defended her late uncle with passion and vigor.

She writes that "Palin's argument seems to challenge a great American tradition, enshrined in the Constitution, stipulating that there be no religious test for public office. A careful reading of her book leads me to conclude that Palin wishes for precisely such a test. And she seems to think that she, and those who think like her, are qualified to judge who would pass and who would not."

Kennedy Townsend writes that Pallin's book makes "clear just how dangerous her proposed path can be. Not only does she want people to reveal their beliefs, but she wants to sit in judgment of them if their views don't match her own. For instance, she criticizes Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), a Democrat and a faithful Catholic, for "talking the (God) talk but not walking the walk."

Who is Palin to say what God's "walk" is? Who anointed her our grand inquisitor?" asks Townsend.

Well actually no one did, but Palin's 'holier than thou' mentality permeates her book throughout.

Palin, Kennedy Townsend says " fails to understand the genius of our nation. The United States is one of the most vibrant religious countries on Earth precisely because of its religious freedom. When power and faith are entwined, faith loses. Power tends to obfuscate, corrupt and focus on temporal rather than eternal purposes."

I

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47 Comments

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mamaginnty | Jan 03, 2011, 11:14 AM EST

GOOD ON YE PATRICK, GOT THE SH...HITTING DA PAN ON THIS ONE, ALWAYS WONDERED WHY I DINNY LIKE PALIN.

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cuisle1st | Jan 02, 2011, 05:47 PM EST

What is it about religion and this site. Every 2nd article refers to religion. Religion is a practice based on superstition. Superstition is is irrational fear of the unknown, misdirected reverence, etc, etc. I am more worried about Palin's lack of knowledge re the North,South, east and west of this world. The separation of church and state is being constantly blurred.

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JeanneTherese | Jan 02, 2011, 02:51 PM EST

SARAH IS CORRECT IN CRITIXZING PELOSI....SHE IS NOT A TRUE CATHOLIC. NAME ONLY. SHE BELIEVES AND CONDONES ABORTION AND THAT IS TRULY A REASON TO BE EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. WHY? SHE HAS NOT? I DO NOT KNOW BUT EVEN SEN KERRY AND THE KENNEDY'S WERE PRO ABORTION...TED, PATRICK AND ?. THEY SHOULD ALL BE EXCOMMUNICATED BUT BECAUSE OF MONEY?? I GUESS, HAVE NOT BEEN. SO DON'T CRITICIZE PALIN....SHE IS ONLY SPEAKING THE TRUTH. WHY SHE IS NOT CATHOLIC ANYMORE...I DO NOT KNOW....BUT THAT IS PERSONAL AND SHOUD NOT BE PUT IN THE MEDIA....FAIR IS FAIR....PELOSI, KERRY, KENNEDYS...IF THEY ARE PROTECTED SO SHOULD PALIN.

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teacher1101 | Dec 31, 2010, 11:41 AM EST

take her for what she really is---not much!

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rockwood127 | Dec 26, 2010, 02:08 PM EST

i look at palin as third rate.who tells people what they want to hear that all ways end up on the wong side and as far right as you can go

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hancock | Dec 22, 2010, 12:56 PM EST

You have one now.

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paddypower | Dec 20, 2010, 09:48 AM EST

Palin is quite stupid and absolutely perfect for the job of pretending to be US presidentess. I can't wait to have a complete and total idiot in the White house (again)because it is exactly what USans deserve considering that brand democracy is obsolete in this country anyway. But having said that presidentess Clinton would do just as well at play acting leaderess of the "free" world. Big money will buy the slickest product as always and the show will only get worse.

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hancock | Dec 19, 2010, 11:39 PM EST

All Palin, ALL THE TIME.

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2BorNot2B | Dec 19, 2010, 05:51 PM EST

Since when is Petrock Roberts concerned about who is a true Catholic or not? --- Oh, I get it... it's only when it gives him the chance to write another dribble piece against Palin.

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whiteycat | Dec 13, 2010, 12:57 PM EST

What is wrong with writing speech notes on your hand? I dont see your point. Others use cue cards that have now become teleprompters.Who cares. If thats the only bone you can pick, Sarah is in great shape. I also did not know she was an unwed mother.

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whiteycat | Dec 13, 2010, 12:51 PM EST

Have not read her book yet (sent for it tho')but I think the folks that are slamming her interpretation of Kennedy and Pelosi are leftists so its to be expected.On the church and state coming from Townsend, It does not signify. The law was made to keep state out of churches not churches out of state. The left always misstates this.Read the constitution. I read it in school and had no problem understanding it.

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Monsoonman | Dec 12, 2010, 12:09 PM EST

Really liked the Sarah palin reality segment I saw last night about halibut fishing off of Homer Alaska. Nice boat!

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phearne | Dec 07, 2010, 05:55 PM EST

I am from Alaska and Sarah Palin does not represent the more educated factor,thank God.Sarah Palin wants her 15 minutes of fame and mine and yours. It does not seem to matter to her how she goes about getting it.In that one endeavor,the pursuit of fame or was that infamy, she is brilliant.In almost every other way she is a farce. A self important media hound who represents all that is wrong with America,the political arena, and possibly a large part of the human race.How dare she presume to know what God wants,thinks or feels. She couldn't even write her own book!God help us if she runs for president and actually wins.The book did what it was intended to do,not enlighten or educate,but gain attention and turn the spotlight on this pathetic woman.Ireland could have an influx of American born people with Irish roots begging to immigrate to Ireland.

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seanomelbourne | Dec 07, 2010, 05:21 PM EST

seig heil

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warrenpoint00 | Dec 07, 2010, 12:17 AM EST

Do not forget my fellow Americans this is the vocal tirade that ADOLPH HITLER spewed before his infamous power surge...beaware of Herr Sarah

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