One would think an organization that has been accused over the centuries of, as The Big Site of History puts it, “preaching and practicing the doctrine that the end justifies the means and also of pursuing worldly power and success” would be particularly careful when it came to modern day inquisitions.
Oh, right, there’s that, too. The Jesuits were also condemned for being particularly eager participants in the Catholic Inquisition and “promoters of a widespread reign of terror.” The Inquisition was an ecclesiastical court where rumors and false charges of heresy against the church were enough to subject innocent Catholics to a trial that often featured the horror and pain of torture on the rack, as the accused attempted to convince their torturers of their religious innocence.
The standards for evaluating the credibility or accuracy of charges against the accused at that time were low to non-existent. Which bears a remarkable resemblance to the criteria used by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to evaluate charges against President Trump’s most recent nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
Just as Jesuits during the Inquisition considered the accused to be guilty unless they could prove their innocence, some modern Jesuits consider the accusation all that’s needed to disqualify a nominee.
A few weeks ago, before the beginning of the Senate confirmation hearings, America Magazine, which the AlterNet terms “a major Catholic Jesuit outlet,” endorsed Judge Kavanaugh “on the basis of his legal credentials and his reputation as a committed textualist.”
That changed during the second set of hearings. In fact, on the evening of Dr. Christine Ford’s testimony and Judge Kavanaugh’s spirited rebuttal, America Magazine reversed its endorsement of Kavanaugh.
“For the good of the country and the future credibility of the Supreme Court in a world that is finally learning to take reports of harassment, assault and abuse seriously, it is time to find a nominee whose confirmation will not repudiate that lesson,” the magazine concluded.
Essentially these Jesuits are willing for Judge Kavanaugh to be a sacrificial lamb to appease the gods of a secular culture that worships at the altar of abortion.
The fact that the forgetful Dr. Ford couldn’t remember where the alleged attempted groping took place, how she got there, how she left, and when it happened didn’t matter to the magazine pundits. And the truly damning (in a secular way) fact that Ford’s good friend, who she said was at the event with her, completely rejected the doctor’s claims made no difference.
For the Jesuits at America Magazine that accusation was enough for conviction.
Fortunately, there were enough senators, who refused to surrender to Trial by Innuendo, for Judge Kavanaugh to be confirmed last weekend.
Justice Kavanaugh can now go about restoring his good name. We don’t know what America Magazine will do to restore its credibility.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Michael is an in-demand speaker with Premiere speaker’s bureau. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.