Once again, State Senator Tom Reynolds (R-West Allis) has done his best to insult Catholics.

As I pulled up to St. Theresa's Catholic Church, a woman told me "it's not worth going in — only one candidate bothered to show".  She had brought her son with the intention of it being a civics lesson but when Reynolds didn't show up, it became more of a lesson in bad politics.

In the basement of the church, 75 catholics gathered to hear the debate between Reynolds and his challenger, Wauwatosa Alderman Jim Sullivan.  Reynolds decided to skip the event citing his fear of cameras whose footage could be used by his opposition in campaign ads.  In order to alay Reynolds fears, the organizers agreed to prohibit taping of the event by anyone but news media.  This was insufficient for Reynolds who insisted that anyone who was recording the event, even if just with a cell phone camera or still picture, needed to be ejected.

Here's the interesting thing — any outside groups that wanted footage to use against Reynolds already have it.  In a forum held by Marquette University Republicans, Reynolds already made several over the top comments.  New footage isn't even necessary.

So which nefarious group sponsored the event?  It was MICAH (Milwaukee Inner City Alliance for Hope) and their Waukesha counterpart SOFIA (Stewards of Prophetic Hope and Intentional Action). These are church organizations who are concerned about the poor and support issues of social justice, yet Reynolds appears to be calling these groups "special interests".

Despite Reynolds not showing up, Sullivan stepped up to allow himself to be grilled on multiple questions.

Attendees emotions ran from angry to disappointed to just confused.

Marcus White, Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference said, "It's disapointing that Tom Reynolds didn't show up.  We're always supportive of MICAH and SOFIA and their efforts to help people discern electoral decisions." 

Sullivan said, "At this point, I think we can all agree that Tom Reynolds doesn't care to be bothered with the concerns of the constituents he is supposed to represent.  He's been dishonest, elusive, and an embarrassment to our communities."

At the end of the debate turned forum, attendees held hands and prayed the "Our Father".  Then they piled out and drove to Tom Reynolds house to ask him why he blew off the forum.