I don’t know, but I remember reading about the 1960 Presidential election between Kennedy and Nixon. I recall how many were openly worried that a Catholic might be subject to the whims and wishes of the man sitting on the Chair of Saint Peter in Rome. I can remember some of the same arguments being thrown out when Bobby Kennedy was seeking the nomination as well. It was all rather worisome to many in the States that perhaps someone as devout or as Catholic as the Kennedy’s were, might be controlled by the Vatican. Hell many openly said it too and the biggest argument was that it was important to elect Nixon to insure that there was no interference of the State by Religious Orders.
God, how things have changed in 46 years.
Today Bush and the Congress are more tied to religion than at any time before. Even when the founding fathers left Europe to come to America, there wasn’t as much interference in the rights of States as there is today. You have Evangelical leaders preaching from the very steps of Congress it seems. I mean it is unreal how much influence they now have, and I wonder, whatever happened to that American need to keep Church separate from the State?
When did it disappear?
Yet what is strange is that while the Churches exert so much influence in the States, only in the Middle East does religion have a similar hold, the Italian Senate is pushing for the Italian Parliament to pass legislation to grant same sex marriage rights. They aren’t calling it marriage, but still its a step forward. They are urging passage of some measures that are still not available to Gays in the United States on a federal level.
The motion cited “the growing debate within politics and public opinion concerning common law unions and the rights and duties stemming from them,” and said that the bill should “recognize the rights, including regarding taxes, of persons in de facto relationships”. (see Story)
South Africa, the home of Apartheid, has passed one, even the Jewish Conservative Religion is granting the right of same sex marriage in their synagogues and the right for Gays to become Conservative Rabbis. Yet in the United States, the opposite is happening. One should note that the Italian Senate passed this bill, despite heavy opposition from Pope Benedict.
Speaking at a Vatican conference on marriage and the family, Benedict condemned gay unions – especially marriage – noting that marriage must be a union between a man and a woman and must be open to procreation. (see Story)
Perhaps the Pope and his followers should simply move in with George Bush at the White House?
