T U E S D A Y , J U L Y 2 6 , 2 0 0 5Is John Roberts' Faith Off Limits?by Michael in New York on 7/26/2005 02:36:00 PMNew, conflicting reports about what Roberts said to Durbinabout his Catholic faith.</p><p> But the far right wants to pretend thatsimply asking a candidate about their faith and how it mightconflict with their role as a public servant is wrong.</p><p> Ridiculous.As a Supreme Court justice and a Catholic, Roberts will befaced with issues where voting one way could expose him torefusal of Communion and even excommunication from hisChurch.</p><p> That is extraordinary and NEW pressure that Catholicshave never faced before.</p><p> In the past, the Church went out ofits way to dismiss as absurd any idea that Catholic politicianswould be puppets of Rome.</p><p> Now the Church says very explicitlythat politicians MUST do as Rome says or suffer theconsequences.</p><p> This is a BRAND NEW situation that has neverbeen in effect.</p><p> Roberts is the FIRST Supreme Court nomineewho will be put into his lifetime position with this addedpressure weighing down on him.As a Catholic myself, I could state publicly that I see my dutyto the American people first and my faith second and that thebishops are wrong to insist faith must trump the Constitution.We live in a democracy, not a theocracy, and I see a greatdanger in placing any one faith above any other in the publicsphere.</p><p> I would also challenge those bishops publicly on theirinconsistency -- threatening to refuse communion overabortion but not over capital punishment; having the Popecondemn a war as unjust but insisting it would be a sin to NOTvote for the president that began it and so on.Finally, no one is objecting to anyone's faith.</p><p> We are objectingto anyone who says they would place their personal beliefs --whether in Catholicism or Judaism or Scientology or Smurfs orany New Age philosophy -- ahead of the law.</p><p> If you're anOrthodox Jew, fine.</p><p> But if that means you're going to ruleagainst any business that wants to do business on Saturdays,you don't belong on the Supreme Court.</p><p> It's as simple as that.Do you place your faith above the Constitution? If not, can yougive us ONE example where you've gone against your faith? Ifyou can't, why should we believe you? 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