Posted on 12/23/2018 6:25:28 AM PST by NYer
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have questioned a candidate for the federal bench over his membership of the Knights of Columbus, with some calling the group’s Catholic views on abortion and same-sex marriage “extreme.” Senators also questioned if belonging to the Catholic charitable organization could prevent judges from hearing cases “fairly and impartially.”
Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) raised membership of the Knights as a point of concern during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s consideration of Brian C. Buescher, an Omaha-based lawyer nominated by President Trump to sit on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.
In written questions sent to Mr. Buescher by committee members Dec. 5, Sen. Hirono stated that “the Knights of Columbus has taken a number of extreme positions. For example, it was reportedly one of the top contributors to California’s Proposition 8 campaign to ban same-sex marriage.”
Hirono then asked Buescher if he would quit the group if he was confirmed “to avoid any appearance of bias.”
“The Knights of Columbus does not have the authority to take personal political positions on behalf of all of its approximately two million members,” Buescher responded.
“If confirmed, I will apply all provisions of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges regarding recusal and disqualification,” he said.
Kathleen Blomquist, spokesperson for the Knights of Columbus, told CNA that the senators’ questions echoed the kind of anti-Catholicism seen in previous generations.
“We were extremely disappointed to see that one’s commitment to Catholic principles through membership in the Knights of Columbus—a charitable organization that adheres to and promotes Catholic teachings -- would be viewed as a disqualifier from public service in this day and age,” Blomquist told CNA.
President Trump nominated Buescher to serve on the U.S. District Court on Nov. 3. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Buescher’s nomination Nov. 28, sending written questions to him on Dec. 5.
The Knights of Columbus is present in 17 countries world-wide. In 2017, members carried out more than 75 million hours of volunteer work and raised more than $185 million for charitable purposes. Successive popes, including Pope Francis, have written to the group praising them for their charitable work and the manner in which they articulate Catholic faith and values.
“Our country’s sad history of anti-Catholic bigotry contributed to the founding of the Knights of Columbus, and we are proud of the many Catholics who overcame this hurdle to contribute so greatly to our country,” Blomquist said.
In her questions to the nominee, Sen. Harris described the Knights as “an all-male society” and asked if Buescher was aware that the Knights of Columbus “opposed a woman’s right to choose” and were against “marriage equality” when he joined.
Responding to the senator’s questions, Buescher confirmed that he has been a member of the Knights since he was 18 years old, noting that his membership “has involved participation in charitable and community events in local Catholic parishes.”
“I do not recall if I was aware whether the Knights of Columbus had taken a position on the abortion issue when I joined at the age of 18,” he wrote in response.
Harris highlighted a statement by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson that abortion constituted “the killing of the innocent on a massive scale” and asked Buescher if he agreed with Anderson.
Buescher said he was not responsible for drafting statements or policies made by the Knights and that, as a federal judge, he would consider himself bound by judicial precedent regarding abortion.
“I did not draft this language. If confirmed, I would be bound by precedent of the United States Supreme Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and would not be guided by statements made by others,” Buescher told the senator.
In reaction to the questions put to Buescher, Blomquist told CNA that asking a judicial nominee to defend his membership of a major Catholic charitable organization was disturbing.
“We believe that membership in the Knights of Columbus, which helps everyday men put their Catholic faith into action, is worthy of commendation and not something a nominee for public office should be asked to defend," she said.
In 2014, Buescher ran as a candidate in the Republican primary election for Nebraska attorney general. During that campaign he described himself as “avidly pro-life” and said that opposition to abortion was part of his “moral fabric.”
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) noted the nominee’s previously outspoken opposition to abortion and asked “why should a litigant in your courtroom expect to get a fair hearing from an impartial judge in a case involving abortion rights?”
Buescher responded that “as a candidate for Nebraska Attorney General in 2014, I did what candidates for any major state or federal office do, which is to take political positions on a variety of issues of the day.”
“However, there is a difference between taking political positions as a candidate for elective office and serving as a federal judge. I believe a judge’s role and obligation is to apply the law without regard to any personal beliefs regarding the law,” Buescher wrote.
“If confirmed, I will faithfully apply all United States Supreme Court and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent on all issues, including Roe v. Wade."
Buescher also fielded questions from senators about Trump administration policy on Title X funding for clinics providing abortions and referrals, as well as on the application of anti-discrimination law to gay people and on LGBT questions.
The nominee underscored that, as a judge, it was not for him to advance personal or political opinions but to make fair and impartial rulings based on the law and judicial precedent.
If confirmed by the Senate, Buescher will fill the vacancy left by Judge Laurie Smith Camp, who assumed senior status - a kind of judicial semi-retirement - on Dec. 1.
I hope our Catholic members take note, voting straight ticket democrat brings consequences.
Ditto for police and firefighters. They run in when others are fleeing for their lives.
Wow! I’m an “extremist”! In fact, I’m a 4th Degree Sir Knight, past and former officer!
Gotta go down to the bowling alley and tell all my buddies.
Oh wait. They’re all “extremists,” too.
“”They wouldn’t be there if thousands of voters hadn’t supported them. Whole sections of the country hate us enough to want us totally gone.””
Who is “they”? Who is “them”? Who is “us”?
Non-Masons sure seem to think they know more about the Masons than Masons. His comment about the Masons ruining someone’s life? I can’t even wrap my mind around that.
I’m not a Catholic apologist. But it’s written right there in black and white on the Constitution, no religious test for an office. I’d like to see this judge point that out to him, and refuse to answer any questions about his religious beliefs.
Me too. It's pulling me away from the Catholic church as I've come to view the Pope himself to likely be in on it.
Don’t let that happen!
The Pope is not the Church
The Bishops are not the Church
Even the Priest are not the Church.
The Church is the Faithful Baptized People that follow Christ.
Fight the unfaithful, heretic Pope and his lackey Bishops. Join forces with the Bishops that fight to keep the Church faithful to the true teachings of the Catechism.
Demand that the child molesters be named, defrocked and be turned over for legal punishment.
Don’t leave the Church. Reclaim the Church.
This would NEVER happen to JEWS, MUSLIMS or ATHEISTS!!~! STAND TALL
Regardless of the edicts of Supreme Court activist justices concerning these issues, the Constitution’s silence on things like abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and euthanasia means that these issues are automatically state power issues, no business of the feds. Activist federal judges who stick their big noses into the affairs of the sovereign states need to be removed from the bench.
”... the care of the property, the liberty, and the life of the citizen, under the solemn sanction of an oath imposed by your Federal Constitution, is in the States, and not in the Federal Government [emphases added].” —Rep. John Bingham, Congressional Globe, 1866. (See about middle of 3rd column.)
”From the accepted doctrine that the United States is a government of delegated powers, it follows that those not expressly granted, or reasonably to be implied from such as are conferred, are reserved to the states, or to the people. To forestall any suggestion to the contrary, the Tenth Amendment was adopted. The same proposition, otherwise stated, is that powers not granted are prohibited [emphasis added].” —United States v. Butler, 1936.
In fact, and with all due respect to the family and supporters of the late Terri Schiavo, the Supremes were right to send her case back to the state imo. Concerned citizens need to work with state lawmakers, not federal lawmakers, to make laws to protect people like Terri.
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This thread almost rates a “Barf Alert!”
What man of substance in the RC is not a member of Knights of Columbus?
I’m not catholic, but I have worked with so many catholics that are KOC that I cannot see it as anything but normal.
This senator needs to be rebuked!
.
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Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) are members of extremist leftist/fascist orgs, so will they be stepping down?
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I would love, for once, to see a nominee "take the sixth" and refuse to answer the question by invoking their Article VI protection against religious tests.Each time the Senator pushes the question, the nominee should just declare "I am asserting my Article VI protection against religious tests and refuse to discuss the matter."
When the Senator persists, I would suggest replying with the following:
"How would you use my answer in your deliberations? You can't use it to disqualify me, so isn't it best that we don't even go there so there is no perception of taint in the confirmation process?"Article VI is the same Article that requires the oath that YOU, Senator, swore to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.' Why won't YOU defend my protection against religious tests?"
-PJ
They seem to have forgotten again that there is a senatorial prohibition against this line of questioning. I recall the liberals in the press had no problem pointing that out in the case of President Kennedy. Of course that was before the DNC merged with the American Communist party.
So your weakling relative is responsible for your attitude. Put the blame where it belongs! Squarely on HIM! My entire family as well as in laws and grandparents and myself are/were members of one branch or another of the Scottish Rite. I know more than you do about what I am talking about.
You are bitten with the bug of today, “Everything that goes wrong is somebody else’s fault!”
Yes and the Lions and all the other groups.
to Pepsi_junkie…
The sins of priests or any other people should not keep you away from the faith that is 2000 years old. So sad, but true, that the harm from this scandal is continuing to affect even innocent Catholics. Abandoning the church separates you from receiving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
The tragedy of the sexual scandals and abuses of minors by some members of the clergy do not negate the very important Holy Eucharist wherein faithful people can receive the Body and Blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Just my opinion. Hang in there and pray for a new St. Francis of Assisi to come forth and rebuild the church.
I could understand labelling Opus Dei as “extremist”.
But this is libelling the K of C.
Are Hirono (Bhuddist) and Harris (non-religionist) going to demand the resignation of fellow Catholic (in name only) Senate Democrats Casey, Leahy, Durbin, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Kaine, Manchin,, Markey, Cortez, Murray, Reed, and let’s not forget, Speaker Pelosi?
Now, in that case, I might side with these too bigots.
Lol ... same here. I have found that my relatives who voted democrat simply never took time to question what the media was feeding them. Moreover, most of them were never properly catechized in their faith. Like so many Jews, Catholics only attend church on important feasts like Christmas and Easter and are unfamiliar with our Lord's teachings. They still hold the view that democrats are for the "little guy", like them. Ignorance is bliss until it bites you.
While it's true that a small percentage of priests have failed in their moral duty, this is also true in other religious organizations, as well as secular groups and associations. The Catholic Church is the easiest target for attack because of its central leadership. You realize, of course, the devil hates the Catholic Church and uses all means necessary to demolish it. However, we have the reassurance of Christ Himself (Mt. 16:18) that the gates of hell will not prevail against the destruction of His Church. It is not the moral failings of a few but the teachings of the whole that we need to look at. There are many wonderful priests, bishops and cardinals who have devoted their lives to protecting the deposit of faith. Follow the words of Christ to St. Faustina: "Jesus, I trust in you!"
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