Ex-members of religious group mixed on Barrett nomination
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barr e t t ’s affiliation with the Christian community People of Praise is drawing scrutiny because of what former members and observers describe as its ultraconservative views on women. Her defenders say scrutinizing her beliefs and relationship to the mostly Catholic organization is akin to anti-religious bigotry.
But in interviews with a dozen former members of the organization and graduates of the schools it runs, most told The Associated Press that Barret t ’s association w ith the group should be examined when a Senate committee takes up her nomination beginning Monday.
Some were excited that one of their own could soon be on the high cour t, in a position to roll back abortion rights.
Others were deeply concerned about that threat, and also about the community’s teachings on gender and gay rights, as well as what they describe as its authoritarian structure.
Some wondered why Barrett hasn’t disclosed or acknowledged her connection to People of Praise and why the group appeared to try to hide her affiliation by deleting documents from its website.
“I don’t think membership in the group is disqualifying,” said Rachel Coleman, who lef t the community in 2010. “I think that she needs to be open about it.”
The AP has documented extensive ties Barrett and her family
have to the community, including that an old directory listed her as being one of the organizat ion’s “handmaids,” now called a “woman leader,” and that she was a trustee of the group’s Trinity Schools.
People of Praise is not a church, but a faith community. It grew out of the Catholic charismatic movement rooted in Pentecostalism, which emphasizes a personal relationship with Jesus and can include baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophecy. It was founded in 1971 in South Bend, Indiana, and it has 22 branches and around 1,700 members, according to its website. Most members are Roman Catholic.
Among its teachings are that men are divinely
“take positions of power in the community.”
“They are specifically attempting to inf luence politic s and power in the United States,” Wood said. “This is to me why Amy Coney Barrett is so dangerous, because (People of Praise) could not have a bigger win than landing a Supreme Court justice for life.”
Others said teachers were only trying to get across the idea that students provided.with ary Belton thinks a stellar education had Bar ret t ’s history with the responsibility to give People of Praise is disback to society. qualif ying. Belton says Peter Radosevich, a her family was cast out former longtime memof the community around ber in the Appleton, Wis1990 after her mother consin, branch, is proud came out as gay. She said of Barrett’s nomination. it took her years to let go He said the organization of teachings she grew up stays away from politics hearing while involved except about abortion. with People of Praise, “They think it’s a heisuch as that her mother nous crime, akin to inwas a sinner who was fanticide, Auschw itz,” going to a “literal fier y Radosevich said. hell.” She doesn’t think Susie Lea, a retired ordained as the “head” of because they have famBarrett can set those Catholic sister, lef t the the family and faith, and ily involved in the comteachings aside. Shreveport, Louisiana, it’s the duty of wives to munity. “It ’s worrisome. It ’s branch last year. Based submit to them, accordPeople of Praise who she is,” Belton said. on what the judge has ing to current and forspokesman Sean Con“Anyone that I know, said publicly and due to mer members. People nolly declined to comincluding myself, that her involvement in Peowho have been involved ment on members’ views has grown up in it and ple of Praise, Lea believes in and studied the orgaand said the organizahas left has had to go Barrett agrees with her nization say it’s authorition takes no position through a huge transthat abortion is wrong tarian and hierarchical. on Supreme Court nomformation and rewiring and will vote against it Some former members inees. of your personhood, of if she were on the court. told AP of practices such Coleman said People your brain, of your soul Lea believes Barrett’s as leaders deciding who of Praise offers a strong and spirit.” association with People can date who. sense of community ofCara Wood graduof Praise may have had a
Members must sign ten missing in modern ated from the organizahand in her nomination. a “covenant,” pledging secular life, and that tion’s school in Virginia “I’m hoping it helped love and service to fellow can be a powerful draw. in 2010. She recalled that her, you know, all our community members and But she said it adheres to girls and boys were not prayers lifting her up,” to God. They agree to troubling gender ideas. allowed to hug or touch, Lea said. “I just think give at least 5% of their She notes Barrett chose and said it took her years that prayers work. If it’s income to the commuto join as an adult, leadto realize she was bisexthe will of God, that it nity, according to their ing Coleman to ask what ual because “nothing in will work.” website. that means about Barmy environment made it Associated Press
The AP left messages ret t ’s views on gender possible that I could be writer Michael Biesecker with scores of current roles. anything but straight.” contributed to this reand t.formermembers.BarrettwouldreplaceWoodrecallsTrinitypor
About a dozen agreed the late Justice Ruth students being encourContact A P’s global to interviews, several on Bader Ginsburg, who aged to get the best eduinvestigative team at Incondition of anonymity stood against practices cation they could to then vestigative@ap.org such as women not being able to get credit cards in their own names.
“It just kind of bothers me to feel like someone’s being put in her seat who signed into the same sort of oppressive gender ideas that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was trying to overturn,” Coleman said.
She and others said Barrett should make public the covenant she signed to become a member