two cheers for tolerance

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jun 21, 2006

On the First Things blog, Jody Bottum comments on the sacking of a Catholic public official who dared to oppose the gay-rights agenda. It's not a novel argument-- certainly not to readers of this feature-- but it's admirably concise.

Sample:

The lesson many people drew from this incident was that a devout Roman Catholic, or indeed anyone who ascribed to the traditional view in Western civilization that homosexual acts are immoral, was unfit for high office in the European Union. Some people thought, however, that such things could not happen in the United States.

Well, then, could it?

The removal of Robert Smith is thus an early-warning sign.

Maybe not an early warning; those came a long time ago. But we don't really disagree. The advance continues, and our side is in retreat. While those of us who oppose homosexual activities may still be allowed to voice our obections,

There is no guarantee, however, that such generous toleration will continue.

Will American democracy in the 21st century tolerate a public figure who unapologetically professes the teachings of the Catholic Church? Or have the Know Nothings and the Ku Klux Klan won the long-term victory? Read Bottum's analysis and worry.