It's time. A Protestant hasn't been nominated to the Supreme Court for almost 32 years

[Jose Garcia]

David Souter was the last Protestant nominated to the court, despite the fact that almost half of Americans are Protestant.

[bigtree]

1. black woman never

...past time.

[Xipe Totec]

2. A black woman hasn't been nominated to the Supreme Court for almost... well, never. nt

[RobinA]

61. Didn't Clinton Nominate

Lani Guinier for SC? I could be remembering this wrong and it was for something else.

[tblue37]

68. Attorney General I think.

[FoxNewsSucks]

3. Better yet, a non-religious affiliated individual.

A black, female with no religious ties works great for me.

[chowder66]

35. +1

[USALiberal]

45. +1000

[lagomorph777]

64. An atheist would be great.

But let's start with Article VI

no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States

[BSdetect]

70. Yes, that is overdue.

[FoxNewsSucks]

74. Absolutely

I think Article 6 together with the 1st Amendment is supposed to be that "wall of separation" between church and state. The fact that Article 6 appears and was written ahead of the 1st amendment makes me think that keeping church out of state was a priority.

[kairos12]

77. I agree.

Let them swear in with a hand on a Pottery Barn Catalog.

[Angleae]

4. When was the last time an Athiest was nominated?

Never?

[NightWatcher]

27. Nope, we're at the mercy of people who believe in a magic sky dude for concise analytical thinking

[Mr.Bill]

33. Atheists are the most under-represented

minority in our government

[BootinUp]

46. lol nt

[Hortensis]

67. We don't know. Most sensible people who don't believe

in a deity and do lead public lives don't make a big thing of their lack of "faith."

When religion is not what you're about, you don't want others making you about it either. And that involves not letting others turn your disinterest in religion what you're about. I look for signs of religious involvement in their history instead.

As for actually labeling oneself "atheist," I wonder how many people do. You seldom hear it. Wouldn't thoughtful people who really don't care nevertheless first feel obliged to see what it means before slapping it on as a label? Which school of religious-intensity atheistic belief should they adopt after lengthy study? My beliefs on such things could far more accurately be summed up as "beats me" and that's as far as my delving goes. Disinterest is the opposite of religion, not atheism.

[RobinA]

72. That

will be the day.

[Leith]

5. Why is that important?

ALL SC justices have been Christian - isn't that "good enough?"

Perhaps you would like to explain why it is important to have more nominees and judges of certain sects on the highest court?

It took almost 200 years to get a Catholic president. Was it because Catholics didn't make up a large enough portion of the population?

Has there ever been an atheist, Sikh, Muslim, or any member of other religions nominated or seated? Is it because there aren't enough of them among the citizenry to seriously consider them? Well, more than half the population of the US are female. How does that compare to the number of women on the court?

[Mossfern]

12. Ahem...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was Christian?

[Leith]

16. I stand corrected

Yes, I forgot about that.

It still doesn't mean that a protestant is next in "the rotation."

[Polybius]

53. Breyer and Kagan are Jewish too

And there are others.

[Hekate]

21. Abe Fortas, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan...

All Jewish.

[BlackSkimmer]

37. Thank you. nt

[Hekate]

22. Brandeis, Cardozo, Frankfurter, Goldberg, Fortas, Ginsberg, Breyer, Kagan...

They are, in chronological order: Louis Brandeis, Benjamin Cardozo, Felix Frankfurter, Arthur Goldberg, Abe Fortas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-8-jewish-justices-who-made-the-us-supreme-court-jump/

[ForgedCrank]

29. This one baffles

me as well.
Qualifications would seem to be primary on the list or prerequisites. Why make it about religion?

[RobinA]

75. I Don't Think

it should be about anything but qualifications. As a female, I could not care less about the gender, race or religion of the justices. I just want someone who will rule the way I feel is appropriate. The all male, all white (until the end) Warren court was the most liberal in my lifetime. Amy Comey Barrett is a female and benefits females not at all. And let's not even go there with what an asset Thomas has been to those of similar race. Or anyone else, for that matter. Just give me a smart liberal and I'll be happy.

[hedda_foil]

32. There have been a total of eight Jewish Justices of the Supreme Court.

They are: Louis D. Brandeis, Benjamin Cardozo, Felix Frankfurter, Arthur Goldberg, Abe Fortas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, and Elena Kagan.

[USALiberal]

47. Do more research! Nt

[pamdb]

6. protestant

Far, far, far, too many catholics on the court. Frankly, I would love to see an atheist on the court.

And I was raised catholic, 12 years of catholic school. Never took.

[Gore1FL]

7. An atheist would be a boss selection if we have to use this as a litmus. nt

[Deuxcents]

8. Well..this is interesting

Thankfully, there’s no litmus test for religion for the SC..at least that I know of. Their oath, as w/ the office of President, Congress, etc. is to the constitution.

[lagomorph777]

69. Religious tests are banned by Article VI of the Constitution.

no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States

[Deuxcents]

71. Ty..

[Celerity]

9. Well past time for an atheist, and who is also a black woman. Queer would be a bonus.

[markpkessinger]

10. Sorry, but the "no religious test" clause of the Constituion means exactly that n/t

[lagomorph777]

65. no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust...

+1000

[William769]

11. I want to see a LGBTQ on the court!

Damn it!

[BlackSkimmer]

38. I'm a gay woman, and I couldn't care less about anyone's sexual orientation. nt

[William769]

56. You have my sympathy. nt

[markpkessinger]

13. Just a reminder that Justice Sotomayor is Catholic n/t

[Zeitghost]

14. As are

Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett

[SharonClark]

15. If only all the Catholics on the court was as brilliant and talented as Justice Sotomayor

and not to the right of Father Coughlin.

[sarisataka]

17. Of 115 SCOTUS Justices

91 have been Protestant, 15 Catholic, 8 Jewish and 1 unspecified.

'Other' is far more overdue.

[BlackSkimmer]

39. Well spotted. nt

[dclarston13]

18. Separation of church and state

Religion should not play ANY role in the selection process.

[Mr.Bill]

34. And yet...

announce you are an Atheist and run for office. See what happens.

[Torchlight]

19. Yet Protestants have made up over 85% of ALL justices.

The inherent bias of flawed religious litmus tests aside, I don't think your argument is on firm ground.

[tenderfoot]

20. Why not a Unitarian?

What a silly op.

[Hekate]

25. Early on, I believe there was; and/or Deist

[VGNonly]

23. Gorsuch confirmed as a Catholic.

He attends an Episcopalian church, for the last 15 years.

[Captain Zero]

50. There is a split in Episcopalianism that is VERY

VERY VERY conservative on one side. It's a minority in that denomination, but there is indeed a conservative Episcopal Church in the US. I would bet Gorsuch attends that one (?).

They are especially opposed to women as priests or bishops as I remember.

[muriel_volestrangler]

59. The particular church seems to be fairly welcoming, which was enough for the rabid RW to attack it

He was raised Catholic but now worships with his wife and two daughters at St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder, Colorado. Like the city, the congregation is politically liberal. It bars guns from its campus and installed solar panels; it condemns harsh rhetoric about Muslims and welcomes gays and lesbians. And its rector, the Rev. Susan Springer, attended the Women's March in Denver, though not as a form of protest but as a sign of support for "the dignity of every human being."

Springer says St. John's is carrying out the covenant Episcopalians recite during baptisms: to strive for justice and peace among all people. Her congregation, she added, includes liberals, conservatives and all political points in between.
...
"Be advised," blared a tweet from Bryan Fischer, a host on the American Family Radio Network. "Gorsuch attends a church that is rabidly pro-gay, pro-Muslim, pro-green, and anti-Trump."
...
Another columnist argued that if conservatives complained about Barack Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, shouldn't they also grumble about Gorsuch's?

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/18/politics/neil-gorsuch-religion/index.html

The Hill managed to ask if Gorsuch was a "secret liberal". Dumbasses.

[Hekate]

24. Why not just state no more Federalist Society picks?

[FoxNewsSucks]

42. That would be best,

but I don't think it'll be a problem while Biden's president.

[Mr. Ected]

26. A principled jurist with an eye on the future. Nothing else is relevant.

No political affiliation, just jurisprudence in line with Democratic ideals.

For life.

[Act_of_Reparation]

28. Yes, the poor underrepresented Protestants of this country will have their day at last.

If my eyes could roll back any further, I'd be looking straight ahead.

[iemanja]

30. Affirmative actions for WASPS

We already have it. It's called America.

[Xolodno]

31. Athiest? No.

I want a Pagan.

[BlackSkimmer]

36. I have to admit. I've never paid attention to the religion of any of them.

[Bluesaph]

40. I'd rather have an atheist or Buddhist

Than another Christian.

[fishwax]

41. Gorsuch is a protestant

He was raised Catholic, but has apparently been episcopalian for years. (Also, for the record, Harriet Miers was nominated and I think she was Methodist, though of course her nomination was quickly withdrawn.)

Personally I'd be happy to see a non-affiliated person get the nod, though.

[Goodheart]

43. Thank God!

[Voltaire2]

44. An atheist of any sort, never.

[BootinUp]

48. I want someone who never references their own faith

in connection with their job as a judge/politician. And I have no preference for their religious affiliation. Of course, they must meet other more important qualifications.

[brooklynite]

49. How about: religion shouldn't be a factor at all?

[NutmegYankee]

51. This is a proxy debate over abortion

My protestant family had this discussion over the holidays. Are we really going to lose freedom on reproduction and be forced to follow the tenets of a faith not our own? Make no mistake, my solidly Blue family was all in on that feeling.

There are no secular arguments to ban abortion. It's a purely religious view that will be forced on those who don't agree by force. And people will die, just like my Great Great Grandmother. She died of sepsis from a "back alley" abortion.

[brooklynite]

52. But no Biden nominee is going to be opposed to abortion rights...

And no Republican is going to vote for them on that basis. Religion isn't a relevant factor.

[RB TexLa]

55. Amazing how 32 year without a Protestant nominee is apparently more offensive than the 210 years

before there was a Catholic nominee.

I don't see anything wrong with a Jesuit educated African-American woman nominee.

[muriel_volestrangler]

60. Not sure where "210 years" has come from

47 years - 1789 to 1836: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/07/18/why-do-catholics-make-majority-supreme-court

[tenderfoot]

57. Troll

eom

[RandiFan1290]

58. Yep

Not even a good attempt.

Glad someone noticed

[msfiddlestix]

62. I think it's time for Atheists to be appointed. Sick and Tired of Religious based decisions

I want a hard line between Church and State which includes the United States Supreme Court!

[lagomorph777]

63. "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust"

Article VI

Which part of this do you not understand?

Personally, I'd like to see some Atheists on SCOTUS; would allow more rational decisions. But I'll go with what the Constitution says.

[FoxNewsSucks]

73. No kidding.

Just more rightwing hypocrisy.

Employers aren't allowed to ask about applicant religion. Yet every damn election, which is literally politicians applying for their jobs, they spend more time professing their piety and "faith" than they do on issues. Making a spectacle of themselves praying or going to church. Every election has been a clear violation of Article 6.

[SYFROYH]

66. I give no fucks about justices' religious views -- I only care about their take on the law.

[CrackityJones75]

76. Fuck ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of THAT!!!!!

[Happy Hoosier]

78. And an atheist NEVER...

So.... ummmm....

[kcr]

79. Ridiculous n/t

[LizBeth]

80. As silly as I think this post is, I see no reason to delete it. I think all us calling

it out is more effective.