How long before faith becomes a bar to public service?

Dr. James Holsinger has acquitted himself well at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and also within the administration of Gov. Fletcher. So much so that he is now the nominee for surgeon general of the United States.

Upon the announcment of his nomination, even Kentucky's liberal daily newspapers sang his praises and editorialized on what a great choice he was.

But when the news broke that (gasp) Dr. Holsinger holds strong Christian views, the world stopped turning. Our least favorite no-longer-in-Kentucky blogger and his merry band of sycophants proclaimed him a national embarassment and another stain on Kentucky's reputation.

All because Dr. Holsinger subscribes to the Biblical view that homosexual activity is a sin, and he has commented on the unsafe health risks associated with male homosexual contact.

Suddenly, his medical credentials are crap. He's a raving ideologue who will let his faith override his scientific judgment. Presidential wannabe Barack Obama is going to use Holsinger's nomination as a platform on which to grandstand when confirmation hearings get underway.

This treatment of Holsinger and other prominent people who are strong believers in the Christian faith (including Gov. Fletcher) makes us wonder just how long it will be before being a person of faith, and particularly of the Christian fath, automatically becomes an exclusionary factor for public service?

Will it be improper to have decided views on right and wrong? Will having an absolute view on morality as something that is not an individual choice be an automatic disqualifier if you want to run for office or be appointed to a policy-making position?

Let's watch what happens to Dr. Holsinger. Oftentimes the character of an individual can be determined by the identity of his or her enemies. If this is the case, Dr. Holsinger (and, too, Dr./Gov. Fletcher) have been identified as above reproach, considering who they're going against.