Cheapening Faith

Healy: Using Faith As Political Weapon Serves No Purpose

(CBS)  This column was written by CBS News Sunday Morning producer Brian Healy.

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Last night at his press conference, President Bush separated himself from some of his strongest supporters. It was a bold and smart thing to do.

Last Sunday, the Family Research Council staged a televised rally called "Justice Sunday." Its purpose was to pressure Senate Democrats not to filibuster two of the President's nominees to the Federal Courts. Both judges have raised questions about abortion rights. The FRC has often been the Administration's voice on such issues as stem cell research, abortion, and same sex marriage.

Not this time.

The FRC's charge that Democrats were attacking "people of faith" with their opposition to the nominees was even too much for the President. He said the Democrats were attacking the "judicial philosophy" of the two judges, not their religious beliefs.

Claiming that a political opponent disagrees with you because of your religious faith is a dangerous path to travel. It turns our religious heritage into a bumper sticker slogan. It attempts to divide the country into the "infidels" and "the Party of God." It cheapens the word "faith" so precious to millions of America.

Here's why. There is no universally accepted theological position I've ever read on the filibuster. Both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have used it. There is no "Thou Shall Not Filibuster" in the Decalogue. Maimonides, Aquinas and Martin Luther had more important things on their minds.

Let's be clear about what's happening here. It's about abortion.

The president has appointed two judges who, he believes, will be unfriendly, if not hostile, to abortion rights. The Democrats propose to stop them since abortion does appear to be the party's litmus test on whether a judicial nominee is acceptable.