Catholic groups congratulate Roberts on confirmation

Washington D.C., Sep 29, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The confirmation of John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court "is an encouraging sign that this time, at least, pro-abortion groups did not have the ability to hijack the judicial nomination process in Washington,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who attended Roberts' swearing-in ceremony at the White House.

“Chief Justice Roberts responded to his harshest critics on the Senate Judiciary Committee with skill, honesty and good humor,” he continued.

A number of Catholic organizations issued statements yesterday congratulating Judge John Roberts on receiving Senate confirmation as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States.

“It is disappointing that 22 senators chose to vote against a man who is so clearly well-qualified for this position,” said Anderson. He said the Knights are glad that opponents did not resort to a filibuster, and hope that “future nominations to the Supreme Court will be handled in a similarly straightforward manner."

Concerned Women for America also noted that 22 Democrats voted against Roberts.

"Judge Roberts deserved unanimous confirmation by the Senate and the fact that he didn't get it is further proof of how the left is politicizing the judiciary," said Jan LaRue, CWA's chief counsel.

However, LaRue said Roberts’ opinions and statements during the nomination process assure Americans that “'Equal Justice Under Law' under the Roberts Supreme Court is a personal guarantee and not just words carved in granite.”

Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life said he and the members of his organization “look forward to this new chapter in the history of the Supreme Court.

“We ask the Holy Spirit to give the new Chief Justice the wisdom and prudence that this role requires," he said.

"We also pray that all Americans will come to a new understanding of the proper role of the Court, which is to apply the laws created by the people through their elected legislatures, rather than replace those legislatures with policy-making of its own," he concluded.