…When John Kennedy, a Catholic, ran for president in 1960, groups such as Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State opposed his candidacy because they believed a Catholic’s loyalty would always be to Rome and to his religion and not to the rule of American law.

Kennedy’s presidency should have proved once and for all that Catholics were capable of following the law regardless of their religious beliefs. Given this — and the similar performance by legions of Catholic public servants at all levels of government — you might think that by 2023, being a Catholic would no longer be a justification or basis for invidious treatment.

But, if you believe that, you are wrong. Although the bigotry has been sugarcoated for intellectual consumption, and the Klan robes are being left in the closet, the ugly intolerance and ignorance remain. They come to us today under the cloak of liberal progressivism, which advocates an inclusive society open to all cultures and beliefs — unless you happen to be a traditional practicing pro-life Catholic.

Following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, there has been a nationwide wave of property damage, threats, theft, and arson of Catholic-affiliated pregnancy centers and churches. In testimony before the Senate, Director Christopher Wray insisted that the FBI takes these crimes “very seriously”.

But, despite over 230 such incidents of violence, the FBI has yet to arrest anyone. Instead, in the same period of time, FBI SWAT teams have put the cuffs on 21 pro-life demonstrators.