Religion

Walter Murphy, Antonin Scalia, and Cafeteria Catholicism

In response to Michael's posting of the interview with Walter Murphy:

Professor Murphy -- an accomplished scholar, by any measure -- says that he is "on a terrorist watch list" and that the "only reason he can think of" for this is because he "did speak against Bush."  For a critical examination of Professor Murphy's claim, go here.  (Just to be clear:  It would, of course, be outrageous if an eminent Princeton scholar were put on a "Terrorist Watch" list for "speak[ing] against Bush."  I suggest, though, that Professor Murphy's conversation with an American Airlines "clerk" does not provide particularly strong evidence for thinking that this is what happened.)

As for being a "Catholic of sorts" and a "cafeteria Catholic" -- like, Professor Murphy thinks, Justice Scalia -- well, I suppose we're all "works in progress" when it comes to being the Catholics we should be.  I suspect, though, that Professor Murphy is misjudging the Pope when he surmises that the Pope would regard him as a "heretic." 

From Mirror of Justice posted 2007-04-19.