Philly Leader

Maureen Fratantoni is not pleased by the direction she sees the country headed.

The 60-year-old South Philadelphia native said when she sees statues removed, learns of the history being taught to her children and witnesses protests and demonstrations that frighten her, she is deeply concerned about the nation’s future. 

Fratantoni wants someone to stand up for traditional values and thinks Judge Amy Coney Barrett is just right for the job as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Barrett, who serves on the Seventh U.S. Circuit of Appeals, is President Trump’s nominee to fill the seat on the high court seat vacated by the death of longtime Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Maureen Fratantoni | Submitted

Barrett has been targeted by some critics for her Catholic faith and conservative views. To Fratantoni, those are appealing qualities.

“I think she’s a very strong person,” she said. “I give her very high marks. I believe she is a woman of strong faith.”

Barrett testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee four days, Oct. 12-15. The committee will vote Thursday on if it will forward her nomination for a full vote on the Senate floor.

A simple majority will approve her nomination and give her a lifetime seat on the high court. With Republicans holding 53 seats, and Democrats 45, with two independents affiliated with them, the GOP has a firm handle on the Senate and should be able to seat Barrett. If there is somehow a tie, Vice President Mike Pence could cast a deciding vote.

Fratantoni is confident Barrett will be approved, and senses a higher power at work.

“I believe she can,” she said. “I do believe President Trump, although I never looked at him as a person of being real strong faith, is being used at this time.”

Fratantoni was raised in a devoutly Catholic family. She has blended faith, devotion to her family and music during her life.

After earning a college degree in theater and music, she performed as a musician and singer. Fratantoni said she did “all sorts” of music but was particularly proud to be a member of the Cathedral choir at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, where she was a cantor and lector.

The group traveled to Rome to perform for the pope and also sang at a 1982 requiem mass for Princess Grace of Monaco, a Philadelphia native.

Fratantoni has been a homemaker and caregiver to relatives, including her late husband.

“I’ve been caring for people for many years,” she said. “I’m a faith-oriented person.”

Fratantoni said she is strongly pro-life, another reason she admires Judge Barrett. She also favors school choice. She attended both public and private schools, but her son and daughter attended public schools.

“I believe a person has a right to pick what school they want to go to, be that a Christian school, a Catholic school or a public school,” Fratantoni said.

She said the history lessons her children received do not match what she was taught. Fratantoni also disagrees with the messages being conveyed to students.

“It’s like they were indoctrinated. They’re learning history but they’re not learning history the right way,” she said. “They don’t tell you the whole story. This is where this is headed with these terroristic groups, left-wing extremists.”

Fratantoni, an Italian-American, said she is appalled that statues of Christopher Columbus, the Genoan sailor who led four expeditions to the Americas, are being removed and his name has been vilified.

She also is opposed to the removal of statue of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, who served from 1972-80. The 9-foot bronze statue of Rizzo, who died in 1991, was placed at the steps of the city Municipal Services Building across from City Hall in 1998 but was moved to a storage facility June 3 following Black Lives Matter protests.

She has even heard people denounce the late Mario Lanza, a Philadelphia native whose soaring tenor voice made him a global star until his death at 38 in 1959.

“They have it against Italian-Americans,” Fratantoni said. “We’re being persecuted here. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. We need to be aware of what’s going on here.”

She fears bad times are ahead and said the way she reads history, once iconic images and objects are torn down, major changes are planned.

“Then it’s time to be scared and worried about that,” she said. “Then it’s the precursor of telling me what to do. That’s what I see coming here.”

Fratantoni said she has been accused of using her “white privilege,” a charge she denies. She said her father worked hard for his family and no one handed them anything because of the color of their skin.

But she does not fear for her own future because of her strong faith.

“We have nothing to worry about. He will protect us,” Fratantoni said. “Those who won’t have faith. Those are the ones I worry about.”

Although raised a Catholic, she has started to attend Protestant churches to listen to their message. It resonates with her, Fratantoni said, and she likes how the pastors act as shepherds, not as all-powerful figures.

But she feels all Christians must rally together at a time when they are under attack.

“Anybody who believes in God is [under attack],” Fratantoni said. “I grew up Roman Catholic and I still go to funerals and functions and things like that, and Masses at time. Just like in the old days, they persecuted Christians. That’s what is coming here. They don’t want God to be your God. They want the government to do that.”

She hopes Judge Barrett can become Justice Barrett to help stem the tide.

“President Trump not my favorite person in the word. Never was,” Fratantoni said. “I do believe he is trying to do the right thing. He is going against certain people and they are going against him.”

That includes opponents of the nomination of Barrett, whom Fratantoni wants to see elevated to the Supreme Court.

“I think she will. I’m hoping she will,” Fratantoni said. “I think she will be great and do great things. We need more people like her to fight corruption. We need more like her.”