Senators take fire over questions for Catholic judicial nominee

[DonViejo]

By JOSH GERSTEIN 09/11/2017 08:04 AM EDT

At least two prominent university presidents are accusing senators of religious bias for challenging a Catholic judicial nominee over her faith-driven views during a confirmation hearing last week.

University of Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins and Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber both wrote letters objecting to lawmakers' pointed questions on the topic to Notre Dame law professor Amy Barrett last week, whom President Donald Trump has nominated to the Chicago-based 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Jenkins wrote directly to the Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, taking issue with her statements that Barrett's worldview seems strongly driven by "dogma."

"Your concern, as you expressed it, is that 'dogma lives loudly in [Professor Barrett], and that is a concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for years in this country,'" Jenkins wrote. "I am one in whose heart 'dogma lives loudly,' as it has for centuries in the lives of many Americans, some of whom have given their lives in service to this nation. Indeed, it lived loudly in the hearts of those who founded our nation as one where citizens could practice their faith freely and without apology."

"It is chilling to hear from a United States Senator that this might now disqualify someone from service as a federal judge. I ask you and your colleagues to respect those in whom 'dogma lives loudly'—which is a condition we call faith," the Notre Dame president wrote.

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http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/09/11/amy-barrett-judicial-nominee-religion-242550

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Apparently Those Two Haven't Read up on Barrett

She's not driven by dogma. She's driven to ignore settled law due to her "faith". Two very different things.

[Docreed2003]

2. When ones faith supersedes the rule of law

That becomes a huge problem in my book and there's been some compelling evidence, even her own words, that show Barrett to be driven, not by law, but by her own faith background, no different than Roy Moore. In a country that is supposed to respect a separation of church and state, there is no place for a judge like that. That's not an attack on her personal faith, that's standing up for our Constitution

[get the red out]

3. Yes

If people can use their willingness to ignore law to promote a religious agenda, which covers most conservatives, then faith questions should be on the table. God I hate theocracy!

[FBaggins]

4. They should take fire

But let's not pretend this is anything new. Politicians in both parties have suffered from that type of discrimination despite the "no religious test" clause:

[oasis]

5. DiFi defiant. I wonder if any of her detractors on the left will notice.