Nebraska’s Anti-Catholics

Ku Klux Klan Spirits

Update 2: I responded to Tim who has commented on this post. Since my response is hard to find, I provide it here as well:

Tim,

Thank you for the civil response. What is the enlightened position in opposing the Opportunity Scholarship Act?

You can make whatever case you want, but the end result in repealing the act is to take away opportunities from poor children which makes the motives for repeal suspect and without reason. The main argument I have heard is the Act violates the separation of “Church and State” and was a motive for people to sign the petition for repeal. This is why I referenced the anti-Catholicism of President Grant and Congressman Blaine, and the work of the Institute for Justice which has opposed the Blaine laws. Perhaps you have acclimated and grown accustomed to such prejudices that they have become too ubiquitous for you to notice, let alone, understand their impact. However, in the Sunday Omaha World of February 18, Pulse writer Kenneth D. Keith, Ph.D of Lincoln, alluded to Nebraska’s Blaine law in opposing the Act, and did so as his first argument, and specifically mentioned “parochial schools”.

Update: I welcome civil discussion and even uncivil discussion. However, you may have noticed I have temporarily “banned” an anonymous user by the name of “Dawna” who cannot stay on topic and is known for trolling behaviors, name-calling, insults, and posting nonsequiturs as if they were drunk or something. I hate to do this but I have a responsibility to my subscribers to facilitate thoughtful discussion but don’t worry. The restriction is only temporary.

Right now, the Opportunity Scholarship Act of Nebraska is under attack with a pending ballot initiative for repeal. State Senator Lou Ann Linehan is going through heroic efforts to push to preserve the Opportunity Scholarship (https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/22/legislative-committee-advances-new-opportunity-scholarship-bill/).
 
However, some opponents are claiming public funds cannot go to private schools as it supposedly violates the "separation of church and state". They are actually referring to the Blaine law written into many state laws such as Nebraska. After the Civil War, Congressman Blaine, as well as President Grant had opposed government funds going to private schools (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Blaine and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaine_Amendment). Grant was prejudiced against Catholics and Jews (https://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.php?ID=184567) as German and Irish Catholics came to the United States (https://www.ushistory.org/us/25f.asp). In fact, they were soldiers in the Civil War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_enlistment_in_the_American_Civil_War).

While many states have these Blaine laws (https://ballotpedia.org/Blaine_amendments_in_state_constitutions), the Constitutionality of such laws has become increasingly dubious. The Institute for Justice has challenged such laws (https://ij.org/issues/school-choice/blaine-amendments/) and offers an update on such laws, including Nebraska (https://ij.org/report/a-guide-to-designing-educational-choice-programs/?state=US-NE). The US Supreme Court has heard cases and is stripping the power out of Blaine laws.

Nebraska has had a history of taking issue with Catholics, despite the Irish colonies of John O’Neill (https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2016/12/03/hard-graft-grasshoppers-irish-homesteaders-in-1870s-nebraska/). After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, O’Neill was a captain in the 17th United States Colored Infantry. He also supported Irish Independence by attacking British Canada (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ridgeway). Irish are such troublemakers!

The Ku Klux Klan existed in Nebraska in the early 1900's (https://history.nebraska.gov/when-nebraskans-celebrated-july-4th-with-kkk-cross-burning/). This was largely the result of a popular movie, Birth of a Nation, which was viewed by President Wilson in the White House (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_a_Nation).

While the attacks of the Ku Klux Klan, in general, often focused on Black Americans: in Nebraska, the Ku Klux Klan had other people to oppose. In Nebraska, the Klan opposed Catholicism, defended Protestants, and defended the prohibition of alcohol. Their hatred specifically focused on German Americans as World War I began. The hatred for the German Kaiser was overwhelming and with such hatred, anything German-related was discriminated against (https://www.npr.org/2017/04/07/523044253/during-world-war-i-u-s-government-propaganda-erased-german-culture).

Now, with the Opportunity Scholarship Act being opposed, you can see where the prejudice comes from. Nebraskans must say no to vile prejudices and vote "NO" to the repeal of the Act.