New York City, N.Y., Jul 15, 2009 / 01:19 am
A prominent commentator and a prominent law professor have questioned whether there is a “double standard” in the treatment of Catholic Supreme Court nominees, depending upon whether or not each nominee is faithful to Catholic teachings.
William McGurn, political commentator and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, claimed in his Wall Street Journal column that Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s professed faith is being treated far differently than previous Catholic nominees to the high court.
In the discussion surrounding Justice Alito’s January 2006 confirmation hearings, Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal complained that the majority of the Supreme Court would be Catholics if he were confirmed, McGurn recalled.
In Chief Justice John Roberts’ confirmations, a Los Angeles Times article stressed the “strong anti-abortion views” of Roberts’ wife and characterized her as an “extremely, extremely devout Catholic.”