Activist Concerned About John Roberts' Reply to Faith Inquiry
by Jody Brown and Bill Fancher
September 20, 2005
(AgapePress) - A Washington, DC-based Christian activist is admitting he is a little worried about a response from the Chief Justice-to-be last week that may indicate how much influence the nominee's faith could have on his judicial renderings. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to render its vote later this week on the nomination of John G. Roberts for the position of chief justice of the Supreme Court. The committee, with 10 Republicans and eight Democrats, is expected to approve his nomination and send it to the full Senate for a vote, which is expected on September 29. The next session of the high court convenes on October 3.
The Bush nominee spent the better part of last week fielding questions from members of the Judiciary Committee, and was regularly criticized by Democratic members for not answering questions they posed that he felt sought to determine how he might rule in cases to come before the Supreme Court. But early in the hearings, Republican committee member John Cornyn advised Roberts to decline to answer any question he felt would compromise his ability as chief justice. "Don't take the bait," Cornyn told the nominee. (See related story)
While many pro-family supporters are singing the praises of Judge Roberts' performance during the hearings last week, not everyone is joining in the song. For example, when the topic of the nominee's personal faith -- and its potential influence on his judicial decisions -- was brought to the table by California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, Roberts said: "There is nothing in my personal views, based on faith or other sources, that would prevent me from applying the precedents of the court faithfully." He added that when it comes to judging, he looks to law books for guidance -- not to the Bible or other religious sources. (See related story)
Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council says that while he believes Roberts has convinced most observers that he is a conservative and has a conservative judicial philosophy, he admits he was not comfortable with that response. "I am very bothered by the statement that Judge Roberts made when he said that the Bible and his faith do not factor into his judgments on the court," Schenck says.
The National Clergy Council spokesman acknowledges that Roberts may have been saying what he needed to in order to be confirmed -- but the nominee was under oath, and Schenck finds that worrisome. "He could have said that very differently," Schenck suggests. "I think we're disappointed with a process that discourages [frankness and candor]; that, in fact, is hostile to that."
However, Wendy Wright of Concerned Woman for America sees Roberts' response in a little different light. "The Bible influenced how [our founding fathers] set up our form of government," Wright says. "And so if someone were being faithful to the Constitution, they would -- by inference -- be following some of the principles that were laid out in the Bible."
Still, Schenck -- who was initially a strong supporter of Judge Roberts -- says some of the nominee's responses have left room to worry about what kind of justice he will be.
