Cardinal Keeler urges Senate to reject pro-abortion test for judicial nominees

Washington D.C., Jan 6, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Nominees who oppose abortion should not be disregarded for judicial office in the United States, said William Cardinal Keeler in a letter to members of the U.S. Senate yesterday.

Members of the Senate will be called upon this session to advise on and consent to presidential nominations for the Federal bench, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

“We are troubled by reports that national abortion advocacy groups, and even some U.S. senators, view nominees who oppose the purposeful taking of innocent human life as somehow unfit for judicial office,” wrote the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities.

“It is further reported that attempts would be made to deny them a vote on confirmation by the full Senate,” he continued.

“Insisting that judicial nominees support abortion throughout pregnancy is wrong,” said the archbishop of Baltimore. “By any measure, support for the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision is an impoverished standard for assessing judicial ability.

"When considering nominees the Senate should not allow itself to be held captive to such an unfair and unreasonable standard,” he said.

Cardinal Keeler said civil society would be at “all the poorer” if Senators prevented a Senate vote on well-qualified judicial nominees who believe that people have a right to life from conception until natural death.

"I pray God will bless Congress' efforts to ensure that Federal judges are persons of integrity and good character who will respect the rights of all, born and unborn,” he concluded.