text: Life of the Lay, I believe you misunderstand the foundation of Senator Feinstein's questions. She addressed the specific ways in which Barrett has referenced and acted on her Catholicism in her legal career. Barrett has made her Catholicism part of her legal and professional record. Thus, her professional and legal record as a Catholic are appropriate subjects of evaluation for legal and professional jobs. The Senator "pre-judged" nothing. She did not arrive at the hearing knowing only that Barrett is Catholic. The Senator researched Barrett's professional legal work and discovered through that work that she prominently identifies herself professionally and legally as a Catholic legal thinker. Feinstein, to my knowledge, does not prominently identify herself professionally and in her policy work and votes as a Jewish Congresswoman.  Feinstein's Judaism is immaterial here. Barrett has made her Catholicism a material and prominent and influential part of her legal work and  life.