Republicans were delighted that the Speaker so decisively, if belatedly, handled the politically damaging charge, first leveled in December when the GOP leadership picked a Presbyterian minister for the post, rather than a Catholic priest who had been among the candidates recommended by a bipartisan committee. Speaker Hastert criticized the Democrats for refusing to meet with the Protestant nominee, and expressed regret that as a result of the controversy, the minister withdrew his name from consideration. When he realized that the minister had concluded he couldn't serve such a divided House, Hastert quietly contacted Cardinal George in Chicago for help in identifying another candidate. In rejecting the charge of anti-Catholic bias in the selection of a chaplain candidate, Hastert pointed out that such animus does indeed exist elsewhere — in Hollywood, among radical gay rights activists, and in the arts community (read: in the Democratic base). And, he pointed out the areas of agreement he enjoys with the Catholic Church — on protecting the unborn, the role of Catholic schools, and the Vatican's status at the U.N. (read: opposed by the Democratic base).

Democrats who have battled anti-Catholicism where it doesn't exist among their political enemies, can now take their new-found crusade to where it flourishes: among their political allies.