SFist will re-energize its comment-of-the-day feature today -- awarding just one comment the honor per day -- starting with this one from charliegal in Photo du Jour 576.

See, after making an innocent remark regarding U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's dirty forehead, many decried the item as anti-Catholic and anti-religion, which couldn't have been further from the truth.

SFist commenter charliegal jumped into the fray with the following insight:

I disagree that the comment is out of line.

Catholics are encouraged by their church to leave the ash on their forehead WHILE THEY ENGAGE IN ACTS OF PENANCE, REPENTANCE, HUMILITY, AND ABSTINENCE.

But the wearing of the ash all day or in public is not part of the faith, especially not while engaging in commercial activities. Wearing the ash while engaging in such attention-seeking acts as holding a press conference would be described by many faithful as sacrilege.

If you want to make a comparison to other religions, the apt comparison would not be the mere wearing of a yarmulke, but wearing a yarmulke while driving a vehicle on the Sabbath to work. Or wearing a burka to a strip club. And such acts would also deserve criticism.

Furthermore, no elected official should be expressing their religious views while conducting the duties of that office. If she wants to wear the ash in private that is her choice. Wearing it to public events where she is supposed to be representing her constituents, who are of all faiths, is not appropriate.