Catholicism is a wide tent in terms of political and legal positions. We could have nine Catholics on the Supreme Court and a great deal of diversity toward the law.

In this quote, Cass Sunstein is emphasizing the diversity within Catholicism when it comes to political and legal positions. He suggests that even if all nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court were Catholic, there would still be a wide range of views on the law, highlighting the fact that Catholicism is not monolithic in its approach to legal and political matters. Sunstein’s point is that religious identity, even one as deeply ingrained as Catholicism, does not necessarily dictate a uniformity in judicial decision-making or ideological alignment.

Sunstein's comment reflects a broader conversation about how personal identity, including religion, influences a person's views and actions in public office. He is addressing the misconception that Catholicism might inherently lead to a single ideological stance, particularly in a legal context. By noting that even among Catholics, there can be diverse opinions on complex legal issues, Sunstein emphasizes the importance of individual judgment and the plurality of perspectives in shaping law.

The origin of this quote comes from Cass Sunstein, a legal scholar and former Harvard Law School professor who has written extensively on constitutional law and jurisprudence. Known for his work on behavioral law and economics as well as his time as the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under President Obama, Sunstein often explores how personal values intersect with legal theory and practice. His comment here reflects his understanding of the complexity within systems that are often thought to be homogenous, like the Catholic faith or the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ultimately, Sunstein’s quote underscores the idea that religion—even a shared one like Catholicism—does not lead to a singular approach to law or politics. Instead, it highlights the rich diversity of opinions that can exist within a single religious tradition, especially when individuals are tasked with making legal decisions. This challenges assumptions about uniformity and invites a more nuanced view of how personal beliefs interact with public duties.