In America, it seems impossible that an atheist would ever become a top government official, much less in a position like Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In Argentina, however, such things are possible - judge Carmen Argibay, who has been criticized for being a leftist and a "militant atheist"., is also a candidate for the Argentine Supreme Court of Justice.
IPS News reports:
Argibay is the first woman to be nominated by a democratic government to serve on the Argentine Supreme Court. ... Argibay's candidacy has already received strong support, especially from organisations of human rights defenders and attorneys. But spokespersons from the Roman Catholic Church and from Pro Vida, a group opposed to certain reproductive health rights and to the legalisation of abortion, have filed objections to her nomination.
Pro Vida president Roberto Castellano criticises the fact that Argibay is single, childless and that she did not consider creating a family. This means she is not representative of Argentine women, he told the Argentine daily Página/12, because most are not "abortionist or against God." Argibay told IPS she thinks that being up front about one's identity and beliefs is an indication of honesty and fairness. "[I]f one reads my declarations correctly. I believe that saying up front who one is or what one thinks is an indication of honesty, which is the first step towards impartiality. My beliefs, or lack thereof, should not interfere in the judicial decisions I take," she said in the e-mail interview.
Assuming that she is well qualified - and I suspect that she wouldn't have been nominated otherwise - I hope she is successful and gets on the court. It's a shame that so many people oppose her simply because she is an atheist. Such religious bigotry is deplorable.
Thanks to Brent Rasmussen for pointing out this story...
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