Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Tempe shared a recent note from the pastor about Catholicism and this election season.

The Rev. John Bonavitacola wrote that Catholicism has been integral in approximately half the positions of this nation's High Court, while Catholics make up only 25% of the population. 

“The curriculum and teaching methodology in our schools focuses on teaching critical thinking which is essential to the type of reasoning needed for solid jurisprudence,” Bonavitacola said in the Oct. 4 church bulletin. “Our catechetical programs use scholastic philosophy, inductive reasoning and logic to teach the faith to children. But in general, our schools have done a superior job of educating students and setting them up for success in a variety of careers, many of which are in public service.”

We should notice, however, that there have been strong representations from other religions in the Supreme Court, which perhaps points to the fact that individuals drawn to religion are also predisposed, as it were, to the application of the Law. 

Another interesting consideration is the fact that Vice President Joe Biden and Judge Amy Coney Barrett are both Catholics but so vastly different from one another. 

“Barrett always has modifïers that describe her faith: conservative Catholic, ultra-conservative Catholic, serious Catholic; but Biden is just Catholic,” Bonavitacola said. “The media never accuses Biden of trying to impose his Catholic beliefs on the public; but Barrett, well she just might make the entire country adhere to Catholic doctrine somehow.”

Bonavitacola noted that perhaps the true concern of the media is that Barrett is actually serious about her faith informing her decisions, whereas Biden is seemingly not as worried about such issues. One such example is Biden’s decision to disagree with the Hyde Amendment, which does not allow for federal funds to be used for abortions. 

“During the run-up to this current presidential run he changed his position and now supports repeal of the Hyde Amendment,” Bonavitacola said. “That change of position makes his Catholicism harmless in the media’s eyes and so no one is going to question him about his faith or if he would ‘impose’ it on the rest of the country.”

As October’s focus is the dignity of human life, these questions are incredibly important. The Hyde Amendment is what is preventing our tax dollars from contributing to the evil of abortion. 

“It’s way past time to overturn Roe; let the states decide for themselves how to handle abortion and rid the nation of this divisive issue that affects every national election and every Supreme Court nomination,” Fr. Bonavitacola said.