Fidelis: Assault on John Roberts’ Faith and Family Begins

Fidelis.org issued the following press release yesterday concerning the nomination of Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2005

Assault on John Roberts’ Faith and Family Begins
Fidelis Cites Developing Pattern of Anti-Religious Bigotry

WASHINGTON — Citing recurring instances of hostility toward Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts, Fidelis, a national Catholic-based advocacy organization, said it appears a full-scale assault on Roberts’ faith and family is now underway. Fidelis pointed to a developing pattern of attack by liberal groups and certain members of the U.S. Senate and media.

Fidelis President Joseph Cella commented: “We warned the public that anti-religious bigotry would enter the confirmation process just as it did in the past. Less than twenty four hours after Judge Roberts’ nomination, we began seeing these mean-spirited attacks surface.”

The statement comes two weeks after Fidelis unveiled newspaper and radio ads accusing DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of anti-religious bigotry. The ads highlighted anti- religious remarks made by both Dean and Reid and called upon both leaders to prevent such bigotry from entering the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Fidelis is readying the next phase of their media and grassroots campaign.

“Senators Schumer, Durbin and Bayh once again have dragged hate politics into the confirmation process. Their anti-Catholic bigotry is carefully cloaked by questioning Judge Roberts’ ‘personal views’ and hypothetical questions involving his religious faith which he holds dearly. Roberts’ religious faith and how he lives that faith as an individual has no bearing and no place in the confirmation process,” Cella said.

Fidelis cited quotes from National Public Radio, People for the American Way, the Los Angeles Times, ABC News, CNN and the Center for American Progress as instances where the Roman Catholic faith of the Roberts family, including Jane Roberts’ professional and charitable activities was called into question. Cella stated: “These smears insulted all Catholics when Barbara Walters and other talking heads asked bigoted and irrelevant questions about Judge Roberts’ Roman Catholic faith.”

“Judge Roberts is eminently qualified to serve on the United States Supreme Court, and deserves a fair hearing free of any unconstitutional exploitation of his personal religious beliefs. Senators Schumer and Durbin have already signaled that they intend to abuse their positions on the Judiciary Committee and scrutinize Roberts’ personal beliefs, and now Senator Bayh has joined their ranks,” Cella concluded.

To learn more, log onto www.Fidelis.org.

Fidelis is a Catholic-based organization working with people of faith across the country to defend and promote the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and the right to religious liberty by electing pro-life, pro-family, and pro-religious liberty candidates, supporting the confirmation of judges, and promoting and defending laws faithful to the Constitution of the United States.

“He has been arguing cases as an able lawyer for others, leaving many of his personal views unknown.”
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)
CNN American Morning
7-20-05

“And he is Roman Catholic, and that might affect the way he views an issue like abortion, for instance.”
Lynn Neary
National Public Radio
7-20-05

"John Roberts is a Roman Catholic. How important to him is his religion? Do you think it might affect him as a Supreme Court Justice?"
Barbara Walters
ABC Good Morning America
7-20-05

“He’s, by all accounts, a Roman Catholic who adheres to the tenets of that faith. Do you suspect that he will advocate, when the opportunity comes up, reversing some of the key aspects of Roe v Wade, which provide abortion rights in this country?”
Miles O’Brien
CNN American Morning
7-20-05

“A Roman Catholic like her husband, Jane Roberts has been deeply involved in the anti-abortion movement. She provides her name, money and professional advice to a small Washington organization—Feminists for Life of America—that offers counseling and educational programs. The group has filed legal briefs before the high court challenging the constitutionality of abortion.”
Richard Serrano
Los Angeles Times
7-21-05

"It's unclear how all this (Jane Roberts’ role with Feminists for Life) will affect her husband.”
Jennifer Palmieri
Center for American Progress
7-21-05

Two years later, the “Religious McCarthyism” campaign is back.
People for the American Way
7-25-05

"You wouldn't run for the United States Senate or for governor or for anything else without answering people's questions about what you believe. And I think the Supreme Court is no different."
Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
CNN "Inside Politics" July 25, 2005