WaPo Editor’s Startling Defense: ‘Maybe the Founders Were Wrong to Guarantee Freedom of Religion’

The Blaze ^ | JONATHON M. SEIDL

[Michael van der Galien]

We’ve covered the hot debate raging between the Obama administration and the Catholic Church on this site. And we’ve covered plenty of arguments for and against the Obamacare mandate that businesses, through their insurers, offer free contraception. But we haven’t covered a defense quite like this. It goes like this: “Maybe the founders were wrong to guarantee free Exercise of religion,” but they did and the administration needs to respect that.

Wait, what?

That‘s what Washington Post editor Melinda Henneberger told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews last night while defending Catholics. Here’s the full quote:

“Maybe the Founders were wrong to guarantee free exercise of religion in the First Amendment but that is what they did and I don’t think we have to choose here.” She went on to to say that “…What [the Obama administration is] doing is guaranteeing people, you know, these Catholic outfits and others can’t serve the populations that they were called to serve.” That’s a good point. But the comment about the founders seems startling. Newsbusters may have put it best when it said, “Henneberger’s larger point was defensive of the Catholic Church and of religious liberty. However, her comment on the First Amendment was poorly phrased.”

You can watch the segment at The Blaze.

[nhwingut]

Anti-Catholicism really is the last acceptable form of bigotry in the U.S.

I would say anti-Christian. Anti white old fat guy too.

[houeto]

Anti-Catholicism really is the last acceptable form of bigotry in the U.S.

Anti-Catholic bigotry ok.

Anti-Protestant bigotry not ok.

Really?

[Michael van der Galien]

Yes, very true. And the sad thing is: the freedom of religion lies at the very core, the very foundation, of freedom in the West. If it is down away with, freedom itself will cease to exist.

[Shadow44]

See my second post FRiend. I was lazy, and should have made it all in one. We’re all on the hook for this.

[Lou L]

Anti-Catholicism really is the last acceptable form of bigotry in the U.S.

Well, that and white males. If you're a white male, a CEO, and you're Catholic...you will be the first to be pilloried under the new regime.

[Wordkraft]

It won’t be long before this country has its own “kristalnacht” where Leftist/Democrat/Union thugs attack and vandalize Christian-owned businesses.

Germany 1933 is starting to look very familiar.

[Michael Barnes]

Where are all the liberals and commies that usually bitch about separation of church and state??

oh, right, it's "their" guy doing this.

[kcvl]

Melinda Henneberger (@MelindaDC) anchors She the People, a forum for women writing on politics, culture and news

[Sans-Culotte]

Bill of rights bump.

[llandres]

“But the comment about the founders seems startling. Newsbusters may have put it best when it said, “Henneberger’s larger point was defensive of the Catholic Church and of religious liberty. However, her comment on the First Amendment was poorly phrased.”

I think she meant it just the way she said. It reflects the same ideology as BHO’s when he said the Founders made it difficult for him to force Congress and do all that he wanted.

Very disturbing. Our Constitution, religion and WE are all under attack by powerful forces.

[llandres]

“Anti-Catholicism really is the last acceptable form of bigotry in the U.S.”

Anti-Christianity in general - and a frightening resurgence of anti-Semitism (thanks in part to Ru-Paul fan-atics).

Atheists and Muslims are rampant in the BHO regime’s reign of terror. WHY can’t more of the public see this?

[LibLieSlayer]

Maybe the Founding Fathers should have included the right to hang any liberal as soon as they open their progressive mouths for the first time.

LLS

[central_va]

Founders are all spinning now in the grave at about 3000 RPM.

[central_va]

Founders are all spinning now in the grave at about 3000 RPM.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I heard the quote on the Roger Hedgecock show yesterday. I don’t really think the woman meant to imply she thought freedom of religion was a bad thing. More like, “like it or not, freedom of religion was guaranteed by the founders.” There are plenty of real causes for outrage in the obamacare mandate business, but I don’t think this WaPo-ette’s commentary is one of them.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

She’s right. Dump the whole First Amendment, and the Second one too (shhhudder!).

Obama will take care of us.

And strengthen the FACE and Patriot Acts!

We don’t need jobs, we have unemployment checks.

[Matchett-PI]

This is a must read in the WSJ today:

WSJ
WONDER LAND
FEBRUARY 9, 2012, 9:51 A.M. ET By DANIEL HENNINGER
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204136404577211280758375336.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

Transformers

The Catholic church learns the true meaning of Obama’s ‘transformative’ presidency. ...

[....snip....]

[Sans-Culotte]

I don’t really think the woman meant to imply she thought freedom of religion was a bad thing. More like, “like it or not, freedom of religion was guaranteed by the founders.”

I actually tried to interpret her remarks that way. However, wouldn't it have been easier to simply phrase her remark the way you did? I think she probably thought she said what you suggest; but the rest sort of "Freudian slipped" out.

It's perfectly in keeping with Hussein's remarks that "the Constitution didn't make any allowances for redistribution of wealth"; that "the constitution makes it harder to govern"; and Ginsburg's remarks that the Muslim Brotherhood should emulate South Africa's constitution rather than ours.

[Oratam]

Anti-Catholicism really is the last acceptable form of bigotry in the U.S.

Everybody relax. Shadow44 is paraphrasing of a famous quote (if you're Catholic) by either G.K. Chesterton or Archbishop Sheen.