Alito was knighted - f*** the Constitution

[gounion]

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article ... splay.html

Even when it’s not Halloween, a certain breed of religious traditionalist longs for the days when men donned capes and cloaks decorated with symbolic sashes and ribbons, got knighted, laid holy swords in caskets lined with red velvet, and pledged oaths to monarchs and popes. Conservative lobbyist and court-packer Leonard Leo belongs to the Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of Malta, a Catholic lay order that dates to the Crusades. The Opus Dei organization, best known for its super-kinky corporal-mortification rules, sent a priest wearing a spiked garter under his cassock to convert a swath of Republicans in Washington — a project that has proved quite successful.

It turns out the last time Donald Trump was president, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, author of the Dobbs decision setting women’s health care back a few centuries, added a knighthood to his own résumé, pledging an oath to the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. The knighthood, bestowed in 2017, wasn’t widely reported at the time, but the order’s website was updated in July with Alito’s investiture on the front page.

That’s plainly unconstitutional.

Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution reads, in relevant part:
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

But never fear, Glenn and GG will tell us how it’s perfectly acceptable, after all, not even the Constitution is something that binds this Supreme Court.

They believe they are royalty.

[Greengrass]

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article ... splay.html


That’s plainly unconstitutional.


But never fear, Glenn and GG will tell us how it’s perfectly acceptable, after all, not even the Constitution is something that binds this Supreme Court.

They believe they are royalty.

You really can’t be that big of a fool.

You are low hanging fruit.

The key qualifier from the constitution “ from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” Printed right there in your post for you to read.

It’s a religious order. No king, no prince, no foreign state.

I expect Alito has also been knighted as a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.

[gounion]

You really can’t be that big of a fool.

You are low hanging fruit.

The key qualifier from the constitution “ from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” Printed right there in your post for you to read.

It’s a religious order. No king, no prince, no foreign state.

I expect Alito has also been knighted as a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.

Told you that you guys would defend it.

[Greengrass]

Told you that you guys would defend it.

Not a defense to point out how stupid it is. Just shows you have no idea what the words in the constitution actually say. Thats ignorance on a profound level. The knights of Malta are not a prince, a king, or a foreign state.

Alito’s a catholic. It’s what they do.

[gounion]

Not a defense to point out how stupid it is. Just shows you have no idea what the words in the constitution actually say. Thats ignorance on a profound level. The knights of Malta are not a prince, a king, or a foreign state.

Alito’s a catholic. It’s what they do.

Catholic Church in Rome. They are part of a foreign state. And he gives an oath to them. You’re fine with it. You would be nuts if it were a liberal Justice.

Those of us who know our history know that the GOP said that Kennedy couldn’t be President because of his oath to the Pope.

There’s a reason Alito kept this a secret since 2017.

[ap215]

Bush Jr. was the culprit nominating Alito in 2005 this is definitely an impeachable offense should we reclaim The House on Tuesday he's an ass.

[gounion]

Hell, Alito could take a knighthood from Putin and GG would defend it.

[Glennfs]

Told you that you guys would defend it.

No he was just pointing out that you as usual are wrong.

It sounds like some ritual from the KofC. Hell I am a Knights Templar. Which is nothing more than a ceremonial thing we do to raise money for charity.

[Glennfs]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soverei ... r_of_Malta

A humanitarian group omg stop the presses. Ailto belongs to a humanitarian group of pretend knights that does humanitarian work for charity.
That no good bastard.

[gounion]

No he was just pointing out that you as usual are wrong.

It sounds like some ritual from the KofC. Hell I am a Knights Templar. Which is nothing more than a ceremonial thing we do to raise money for charity.

Ah right, perfectly acceptable. That’s why Alito has kept it secret since 2017.

[Greengrass]

“In the 11th century the Knights of Malta, known then as ‘Knights Hospitaller’, established a hospital in Jerusalem to care for pilgrims of any religious faith or origin. The work of the hospitallers grew in fame and in 1113 Pope Paschal II officially recognised the monastic community as a lay religious order. The Pope identified the Hospitaller Gerard as the Order’s founder, together with an established group of monks – the ‘Professed’ – who are still at the heart of the Order of Malta today.

Throughout the centuries the number of members coming from all over Europe continued to grow and contributed to the strengthening of the Order during its presence in Rhodes (1310-1522) and in Malta (1530-1798).

While members of the Order of Malta in former times traditionally belonged to the aristocracy, the emphasis today is on a nobility of spirit and conduct. The 13,500 Knights and Dames of the Order of Malta remain true to its inspiring principles, summarised in the motto “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum” – nurturing, witnessing and protecting the faith and serving the poor and the sick – which become reality through humanitarian projects and social assistance in 120 countries. Members must demonstrate dedication to these principles and are admitted country-by-country through Priories and national Associations.

The three Classes
According to the Constitution, the members of the Order of Malta are divided into three Classes. The members are to conduct their lives in an exemplary manner in conformity with the teachings and precepts of the Catholic Church and to devote themselves to the assistance activities of the Order.

Members of the First Class are Knights of Justice, or Professed Knights, and the Professed Conventual Chaplains, who have made vows of “poverty, chastity and obedience aspiring to perfection according to the Gospel”. They are religious according to Canon Law but are not obliged to live in community.

The members of the Second Class, by virtue of the Promise of Obedience, are committed to living according to Christian principles and the inspiring principles of the Order. They are subdivided into three categories:

– Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion in Obedience
– Knights and Dames of Grace and Devotion in Obedience
– Knights and Dames of Magistral Grace in Obedience

The Third Class consists of lay members who do not profess religious vows or the Promise, but who live according to the principles of the Church and of the Order. They are divided into seven categories:

– Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion
– Conventual Chaplains ad honorem
– Knights and Dames of Grace and Devotion
– Magistral Chaplains
– Magistral Deacons
– Knights and Dames of Magistral Grace
– Donats (male and female) of Devotion”

https://www.orderofmalta.int/about-the- ... -of-malta/

Only a fool would think this is unconstitutional.

[gounion]

That’s why Alito kept it a secret for YEARS!

Fuck the Constitution.

[Greengrass]

That’s why Alito kept it a secret for YEARS!

Fuck the Constitution.

Alito knows that the Knights of Malta are not Princes, Kings, nor foreign States so it was no big deal constitutionally. He didn’t keep it secret. It’s a religious group. It’s simply not a thing. Only an idiot and fool would think this is unconstitutional.

[gounion]

Alito knows that the Knights of Malta are not Princes, Kings, nor foreign States so it was no big deal constitutionally. He didn’t keep it secret. It’s a religious group. It’s simply not a thing. Only an idiot and fool would think this is unconstitutional.

Yes, he DID keep it secret. It happened in 2017.

And it's a big deal Constitutionally. Swearing fealty to the Catholics in Rome. It's why he votes as he does - he cares about his religion more than the Constitution.

[Greengrass]

Yes, he DID keep it secret. It happened in 2017.

And it's a big deal Constitutionally. Swearing fealty to the Catholics in Rome. It's why he votes as he does - he cares about his religion more than the Constitution.

It’s like being knighted by the Shriners.

[gounion]

It’s like being knighted by the Shriners.

No, it’s not. It’s like being Knighted by the Pope. And if it were a liberal Justice, the entire GOP, you included, would be demanding impeachment.

[Greengrass]

No, it’s not. It’s like being Knighted by the Pope. And if it were a liberal Justice, the entire GOP, you included, would be demanding impeachment.

“Alito, who referenced a 17th-century witch-hunter’s legal reasoning in his Dobbs decision, accepted the Knight Grand Cross of Merit, the highest rank available to non-nobles in the order, at a mass in St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in 2017. He pledged the requisite oath: “We declare and promise to Almighty God, to Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the powerful intercession of Saint George the Martyr, to observe as true soldiers of Christ everything that is asked and recommended of us.”

Not like being knighted by the pope. That would actually require the pope. And note the term “non-nobles” in your post. So no title of nobility as required in the constitution. Reading and Comprehension dude. Reading and Comprehension.

[Glennfs]

It’s like being knighted by the Shriners.

Exactly something everyone here knows except one person.
BTW you don't get knighted in the Shrine. That happens in the Scottish Rite which you have to belong to in order to become a Shriner.

The York Rite is also big on knighthood and the crusade.

[Greengrass]

Hell, Alito could take a knighthood from Putin and GG would defend it.

That would actually be a foreign state, so no. Comprehension, dude, comprehension.

[Glennfs]

That would actually be a foreign state, so no. Comprehension, dude, comprehension.

In a world of really stupid things to be outraged over. Receiving an honorary knighthood from a charitable organization has to rank right uo there.

However, it does go to show how media outlets cater to low information people.


Sidebar surprise surprise the author of the article is a regular contributor to Alternet

[Greengrass]

In a world of really stupid things to be outraged over. Receiving an honorary knighthood from a charitable organization has to rank right uo there.

However, it does go to show how media outlets cater to low information people.


Sidebar surprise surprise the author of the article is a regular contributor to Alternet

Actually, I only found a couple of articles on this. The vast majority of the media weren’t so stupid as to fall for it.

[Glennfs]

Actually, I only found a couple of articles on this. The vast majority of the media weren’t so stupid as to fall for it.

That is good to know as only the truly stupid world fall for it

[Number6]

Catholic Church in Rome. They are part of a foreign state. And he gives an oath to them. You’re fine with it. You would be nuts if it were a liberal Justice.

Those of us who know our history know that the GOP said that Kennedy couldn’t be President because of his oath to the Pope.

There’s a reason Alito kept this a secret since 2017.

Sorry gounion, but I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a lay Catholic organization but it is not an independent state. Therefore, Alito being knighted is not an official act of the Vatican City, which is considered a state, so Article 1, Section 9 does not apply.

[gounion]

Sorry gounion, but I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a lay Catholic organization but it is not an independent state. Therefore, Alito being knighted is not an official act of the Vatican City, which is considered a state, so Article 1, Section 9 does not apply.

Doesn't really matter anyway. They do what they want.