tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3222418233330841391.post5774535752216285761..comments2024-03-27T05:25:04.829-04:00Comments on Hallowed Secularism: Outrageous Breach of Wall of Separation as Rabbis Urge Lieberman to Support Health Care ReformBruce Ledewitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419873523392584062noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3222418233330841391.post-19376521910535001802009-12-21T12:41:35.950-05:002009-12-21T12:41:35.950-05:00Rabbi Arian:
Regular readers of this blog we...Rabbi Arian:<br /><br /> Regular readers of this blog were aware that the title of the blog entry your were referring to was a spoof on hyper secularists who criticized the Catholic Bishops in regard to the health care debate and who would, if they were consistent, criticize you as well. (They won't do so only because they happen to agree with you on the merits.) The fact that you argued from shared religious commitments is the problem, from their point of view. As a hallowed secularist, I welcome your involvement in the political arena. And, as a long-time friend of Joe Lieberman, I hope you had some success.Bruce Ledewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10419873523392584062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3222418233330841391.post-57900090543719938892009-12-20T09:32:41.069-05:002009-12-20T09:32:41.069-05:00I'm one of the 29 rabbis who signed. In fact I...I'm one of the 29 rabbis who signed. In fact I helped draft the letter.<br /><br />Here's how it's different from the bishops: we're not threatening to punish Lieberman because he doesn't vote the way we want him to. We're not challenging his religious commitments or bona fides, we're just attempting to sway him using argumentation from our common religious language.<br /><br />The bishop of Rhode Island denied Rep. Kennedy communion. That goes beyond suasion to punishment. It's a big difference.<br /><br />Neither one is a violation of the First Amendment, as you know. The First Amendment restricts government action, not the actions of clergy or religious organizations.<br /><br />But there's still a big difference between what we did and what Bishop Tobin did.Rabbi Charles Arianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02936036682918877496noreply@blogger.com