Posted on 07/25/2005 8:20:20 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
WASHINGTON, July 25 - Congressional Republicans warned Democrats on Monday not to make Judge John G. Roberts's Roman Catholic faith an issue in his confirmation hearings for a seat on the Supreme Court, reviving a politically potent theme from previous battles over judicial appointees.
The subject came up after reports about a meeting on Friday at which Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, is said to have asked Judge Roberts whether he had thought about potential conflicts between the imperatives of their shared Catholic faith and of the civil law. The discussion was described by two officials who spoke anonymously because the meeting was confidential and by a Republican senator who was briefed on their conversation.
Judge Roberts responded that his personal views would not color his judicial thinking, all three said, just as he has testified in the past.
An opinion-page article in The Los Angeles Times on Monday by Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, included an account of Mr. Durbin's question. Professor Turley cited unnamed sources saying that Judge Roberts had told Mr. Durbin he would recuse himself from cases involving abortion, the death penalty or other subjects where Catholic teaching and civil law can clash.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
It must be truth! Stop Judge Roberts now!
"Judge Roberts had told Mr. Durbin he would recuse himself from cases involving abortion, the death penalty or other subjects where Catholic teaching and civil law can clash"
What? Do other judges have to recuse themselves where their personal beliefs clash with the civil law? (If the civil law permits the death penalty, and they oppose it, do they have to recuse themselves?)
Or are we just saying that Catholics can't be on the federal bench?
By that token, Catholics can't be president, either, since they can't preside over civil law.
Just the sort of arrangement Ted Kennedy should be proud of!
Oh, brother. I don't think Turban Durbin is smart enough to remember it, but this was exactly the question people kept asking John F. Kennedy.
I remember when there was a big controversy about John F. Kennedy being Catholic. Some people just cannot reach maturity I guess.
It wouldn't matter to the dems what faith this judge was, (well, maybe wiccan) they'd find something to complain about.
Yeah, I know. They have such short memories though.
It's not the same party JFK belonged to. That's kind of sad though. At one time, the democrats loved our country. Now, they just hate it.
The irony is that in 1960 the people who said that were those we call the Religious Right today. Interesting how things change.
lol.......I think we should all send the NYT editors a box of bandaids. Their "poor wittle fingers" must be worn out from typing up all the anti President/America propaganda.
By that token, most other Christians can't either.
That makes a mighty big excluded majority. Guess Newdow is about the only one eligible by Turban Durbin's principle.
Methinks Turban had better look to his own ethics.
You should appreciate this.
Kennedy was pressed by Baptist ministers to disavow his Catholicism. Many Protestants feared that a Catholic president would be ruled by the Vatican. Things have changed a lot since then. Now we have Baptists urging the Pope to be more Catholic, because they know a good strong Catholic pope will be a better ally in the fight against the leftist onslaught.
No, that kite won't fly any more.
The New York Times tried to drive a wedge between Bush and Catholic voters in the primary fight against McCain, who maliciously bashed Bush for visiting Bob Jones University. That didn't fly, either.
Why in the world would you be skeptical that Roberts would have told Durbin this? It sounds, well what judges do, take themselves out of any matter where they have personal opinions about policy, because they just know it might color their legal judgment.
This piece was written by Scrappleface wasn't it, in NY Times drag?
Even Scappleface and the Onion couldn't do "justice" to this.
The Dems can not just go to hell. They ARE going to hell!
Are we now saying "unfaithful Catholics only need apply"?
thanks so much for posting this!!!
You're welcome. It's so interesting to see how the enemy works.
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