Jason Altmire: Representative of his Church or for the People?

Democrats in the House of Representatives had to go to great lengths to appease anti-choice Democrats who threatened to vote against health care reform. The price was to impose even greater costs and burdens on poor women who wanted abortions.

The reasons for this are entirely religious in nature -- all the reasons increasing government restrictions on women's autonomy come from authoritarian religion. One Democrat, Jason Altmire, is reported by CNN to have admitted openly that his vote was basically controlled by his bishop.

Several Democrats, including Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pennsylvania, said they are in touch with their Catholic bishops back home. Altmire said he must have the approval of his bishop in Pittsburgh before he can vote yes.

Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-Ohio, said he's "trying to get to yes," but said he won't vote for the health care bill unless it says "no federal funds used to pay for abortions and so that means no federal funds used to pay for abortion in the public option."

Source: CNN

I wouldn't be surprised if quite a few other lawmakers and politicians operated under similar constraints as Jason Altmire -- that is to say, they won't support certain bills or policies without explicit approval from some religious leader. I am surprised, though, to see anyone actually admit this openly and without apology. Even if a politician doesn't have enough sense to exercise their civil, secular office according to civil, secular standards, they at least have enough sense to not admit what they are doing.

Let's contrast Jason Altmire's position with that of John F. Kennedy:

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote--where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference--and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.

I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish--where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source--where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials--and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.

Does Jason Altmire seek approval from his bishop for any other votes? Does Jason Altmire check in with his bishop before votes on taxes, military spending, or environmental regulations? Come to think of it, why does Jason Altmire even bother setting in for votes in Washington anyway -- why not just send his bishop to cast the votes directly?

There was a time when Catholics in America experienced a great deal of bigotry and discrimination. Protestants justified treating Catholics as less than full equals by claiming that Catholics would vote and act based on orders from the Vatican -- that if Catholics gained too much political power, then America would in effect be controlled by the pope. Since at the time the Vatican was far more politically active, with censorship lists and condemnations of liberal political philosophies, it's not hard to see why people could develop such fears.

Even then, though, there weren't any Catholics openly calling for Catholic politicians who took orders from Catholic clergy.