Nov 4, 2016 / 10:51 am
Among the first acts of the next president of the United States will be the appointment of a new justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, comprised currently of eight members since the February death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.
In the short term, the new president will appoint Scalia's successor - someone who will be a deciding factor in whether Catholic entities like EWTN and the Little Sisters of the Poor should be forced by the federal government to violate their religious beliefs by providing contraception and abortifacient drugs in their health insurance plans. The new justice will also help decide whether or not a Virginia girl, who now identifies as a boy, should be allowed access to the restroom that corresponds with her self-chosen sexual identity.
We have already witnessed the Supreme Court redefine marriage. With another liberal activist on board, we will witness the court redefine discrimination to include sexual identity. No doubt, we will also see the court continue down the path of further chipping away at our constitutional rights to religious liberty, freedom of expression and so much more.
In the long term, there perhaps will be no other more important decision made by our next president than who will be nominated to the Supreme Court. A new president with a pro-life commitment will be able to shape the future of a court that will help the United States avoid the disaster of this culture of narcissism and death and move toward one that more resembles what the Founding Fathers established. On the other hand, a new president with the opposite agenda will continue to perilously lead the United States along a path that cheapens life and demeans and threatens people of faith.
In the last of the presidential debates, both candidates made it abundantly clear where they stand on the issue of respect for life.
As we step into the voting booth on Tuesday, we are faced with a supremely important decision. Let us be clear in making that decision - there is no issue more important than respect for the dignity of human life.
May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.