Catholic Concern Over Roberts

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“National Catholic Organizations Express Concern Over Nomination of John Roberts as Chief Justice to U.S. Supreme Court”

 

Catholic groups say that John Roberts has a mixed record on issues of protecting human life, concern for the rights of others, record on religious liberty and other aspects of Catholic Social Teaching.

 

Washington, D.C. – On the second-day of confirmation hearings for John Roberts, President Bush’s nominee for chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, two national Catholic organizations have expressed serious concern over the choice of Roberts to lead the Court. Citing comments that Roberts has made regarding issues of protecting human life, individual rights, religious liberty, the death penalty and other principles of Catholic Social Teaching, both Pax Christi USA and Catholics for Faithful Citizenship raised questions about Roberts’ commitment to the core issues of Catholic Social Teaching.

 

Both organizations have measured John Roberts against criteria set forth by Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a letter Bishop Skylstad sent to President Bush regarding Supreme Court nominations. That letter asked the President to consider qualified jurists who support the protection of human life from conception to natural death, who are cognizant of the rights of minorities, immigrants and those in need, who respect the role of religion and religious institutions, who recognize the value of parental choice in education, and who favor restraining and ending the practice of the death penalty in the United States.

 

In evaluating comments that John Roberts has made on all of these issues, Pax Christi USA Executive Director Dave Robinson said that Roberts’ positions were unclear around issues important to Catholics.

 

“When you look at the comments and statements John Roberts has made regarding the rights of minorities, abortion, immigration, poverty and the rights of the disabled, Roberts presents a very mixed record that should raise serious concerns for Catholics,” said Robinson. “Of particular concern to Pax Christi USA are comments that Roberts has made suggesting narrow interpretations of the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as hard-line comments on immigration and international agreements like the Geneva Convention.”

 

Eric McFadden, Director of Catholics for Faithful Citizenship, said it’s clear that John Roberts doesn’t fit the picture of an ideal Supreme Court nominee, using the criteria set forth by Bishop Skylstad.

 

“Though Roberts has made some encouraging comments on issues like the death penalty and religious liberty, there’s enough evidence in his public statements to show that Roberts has a very mixed record in regards to the framework set forth by Bishop Skylstad,” said McFadden. “As the confirmation hearings on Roberts’ nomination continue to move forward, our hope is that Roberts is called to accountability on this mixed record, and asked to explain more clearly his positions on issues that lie at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching.”

 

To view Bishop Skylstad’s letter to President Bush on Supreme Court vacancies, visit www.paxchristiusa.org.

 

For more information or media interviews, please contact Michael Jones at 814-453-4955, ext. 228 or [email protected]

 

Pax Christi USA is a national Catholic peace and justice organization, reaching more than half a million Catholics in the United States. Our membership includes more than 130 U.S. bishops, 800 parishes, 650 religious communities and 300 local groups. Pax Christi USA is a section of Pax Christi International, an international Catholic peace movement with consultative status at the United Nations. For more information, visit www.paxchristiusa.org.

 

Catholics for Faithful Citizenship is a Catholic organization that promotes education and involvement in the U.S. political process from a lens of social justice, just war policy and attention to the poor. Formed in 2004, Catholics for Faithful Citizenship seeks to inform Catholics about the wide range of issues that the Church calls Catholics to evaluate in their public decision-making. For more information, visit www.catholicsforfaithfulcitizenship.org.

 

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That is nothing new. His past decisions & writings reflect a staunch economic conservative & a traditionalist social conservative. I've read nothing that suggests he is anything but a religious conservative when it comes to religious liberty. His presence on the bench is likely to expand religious liberty on both public & private grounds.

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He has interestingly changed his tune with respect to affirmative action. His most recent viewpoints appear more moderate & in line with O'Connors. He may just be posturing but this should appeal more to Catholics & Christians in general.