Judge says it’s wrong for church to try to intimidate judges, because “This isn’t a religious state yet“. (Oh, but the zealots are trying to make it so.)

The judge was reacting to Florida diocese employee, upset over judge’s ruling in a minor’s abortion case, saying he wants to contact the judge’s priest so he can be denied communion.

Diocese employee says judge in abortion case should be denied communion

Diocese employee says judge in abortion case should be denied communion

By Kathleen Chapman

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, May 06, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH %u2014 An employee of the Diocese of Palm Beach said Thursday that Palm Beach County Juvenile Court Judge Ronald Alvarez, a Catholic, should be denied communion for allowing a 13-year-old foster child to have an abortion.

Don Kazimir, who works for the diocese’s Respect Life Office, which opposes abortion and the death penalty, called Alvarez’s office Wednesday to ask which church the judge attends. Kazimir said he wanted to speak with Alvarez’s priest, who he said might have a problem with a Catholic judge agreeing to an abortion.

Alvarez was angry about the call. It is wrong, he said, for the church to try to intimidate a judge into putting his faith above the law.

“This isn’t a religious state yet,” he said.