By Stephen P. White, The Catholic Thing - The distinctiveness of Barrett’s faith – and the consternation it causes among the champions of certain secular pieties – is refreshing. It also underscores the indistinctiveness of so many Catholics who hold public office... The uncomfortable truth is that “being Catholic” in the U.S. no longer indicates a distinctive approach to politics. Even more concerning, from a Catholic point of view, is that “being Catholic” in America no longer indicates a distinctive set of religious practices. Indeed, the “mere” fact that someone is Catholic tells us next to nothing about the content of his or her religious beliefs.