Bigot Attorney Maligns Catholic Judge

Bill Donohue is on the case:

March 3, 2010

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is filing a formal complaint today with the Michigan Attorney Grievance Committee regarding the anti-Catholic comments made by defense attorney Henry Scharg; it is also pursuing other avenues of redress.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue explains why:

In a Wayne County Circuit Court trial concerning a woman charged with smothering her newborn daughter to death, her attorney, Henry Scharg, has sought repeatedly to malign trial judge Dan Ryan, accusing him of allowing his Catholic religion to color his judgment in the case. Not only has Scharg called into question Ryan’s affiliation with Ave Maria Law School, he has sought to remove the judge from the case.

What happened on March 1, however, was much worse. Scharg was angered over the fact that Ryan was taking vacation time to teach at Ave Maria on Mondays (the fact that Ryan rearranged his Monday schedule this past week to accommodate Scharg undercuts his complaint). In any event, on p. 10 of the transcript from Monday’s hearing, Scharg is quoted as saying, “This is the equivalent to an African-American man being on trial and the judge taking Mondays off to attend Klan meetings.”

Scharg has no business representing anyone. To compare an accredited Catholic law school to a racist terrorist organization is more than despicable—it constitutes rank anti-Catholic bigotry. Indeed, this remark is so egregious as to warrant severe punitive sanctions, if not disbarment. We will do what we can to see that justice is done.

Contact Executive Court Administrator Ronald R. Ruffin: Ronald.Ruffin@3rdcc.org

My Comments:
The only person resembling a Klan member in this story is the anti-Catholic bigot attorney who will be fortunate if he isn't slapped with contempt of court and a review by an ethics panel.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time we've seen an attorney argue for a judge's recusal on the basis of the judge's adherence to the Catholic Faith. In fact, this blog has, over the years, documented numerous instances of know-nothing bigots and pro-abort/same-sex marriage zealots calling into question a judge's Catholic faith as a disqualifying factor for sitting on the bench (see the links below from previous Pro Ecclesia posts).

(Hat tip: PewSitter.com)


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Supreme Court Justices, Religion, & Anti-Catholicism

Attorney Seeks Judge's Recusal for Being Catholic

Partial-Birth Bigotry: The Know-Nothing Left Blames the Latest Abortion Ruling on Catholicism

Chuck Colson: "The New Anti-Catholic Bigotry"

And Finally ... The New York Times Weighs In

More Supreme Anti-Catholic Bigotry

Church Defenders Take On Anti-Catholic Cartoonist

And the Philadelphia Enquirer [sic] Joins In (With an Anti-Catholic Cartoon)

In Case You Missed It ...

How Long ...

William Pryor Says Faith Helps His Role as Judge

You Go, Nino!

Slate: The Political Advantages Of Catholic Justices

Fidelis Warns Senators on Questioning of Roberts on Religion

Religious Tests - Where Some Dems Want To Go, But Shouldn't

No Religious Test

Is Judge Roberts a "Serious Catholic"?

Christopher Hitchens' Anti-Catholic Screed: "Quit Tiptoeing Around John Roberts' Faith"

New York Post: "Roberts Critics' Agenda of Hate"

Wall Street Journal: "Roberts and Rome"

Skirmish Over a Query About Roberts's Faith

Fidelis on Roberts Nomination: “Hearings Are Ripe For Anti-Religious Bigotry”

John G. Roberts: Some Interesting Facts

Charles Krauthammer on the "Schumer Doctrine"

Up or Down - Religion, Filibusters, & Judges