• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The U.S. Capitol is seen in a file photo. (CNS photo/Aaron P. Bernstein, Reuters)

Archbishop Lori calls line of questioning of judicial nominee ‘deeply disappointing’

September 8, 2017
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Religious Freedom

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, objected to several U.S. senators’ line of questioning of a federal appeals court nominee this week in Washington.

During the Sept. 6 confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame nominated by President Donald Trump to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, some senators raised concerns about Barrett’s Catholic faith.  Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, wondered whether the nominee’s faith would prevent her from being fair.

“When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you,” Feinstein said to the nominee. “And that’s of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for for years in this country.”

Feinstein also raised concerns about the nominee’s thinking on abortion.

“You’re controversial because many of us who have lived our lives as women really recognize the value of finally being able to control our reproductive systems, and Roe entered into that, obviously,” she asserted. “You have a long history of believing that your religious beliefs should prevail.”

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, questioned Barrett’s use of the phrase “orthodox Catholics” in an article about capital punishment. He asked the nominee whether she considered herself an orthodox Catholic.

Other senators raised similar questions.

In a Sept. 8 statement, Archbishop Lori noted that the United States has a “strong and venerable tradition of pluralism that respects all religious views.”

“In this context,” he said, “this week’s hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is deeply disappointing.  Rather than simply consider the professional achievements of a nominee for the federal judiciary, multiple senators challenged her fitness to serve due to her Catholic faith.”

Archbishop Lori added that such questions “are not just contrary to our Constitution and our best national traditions, which protect the free exercise of one’s faith and reject religious tests for public office, they are offensive to basic human rights.”

“They also, sadly, harken back to a time in our country when anti-Catholic bigotry did distort our laws and civil order,” he said. “These comments are a reminder that we must remain vigilant against latent bigotries that may still infect our national soul.”

The archbishop wondered if the comments of the senators were meant “as a warning shot to future law students and attorneys, that they should never discuss their faith in a public forum, if they have aspirations to serve in the federal judiciary.”

“In truth,” he said, “we should be encouraging faithful, ethical attorneys to serve in public office, not discouraging them by subjecting them to inappropriate, unnecessary interrogation based on their religious beliefs.”

The archbishop said people of faith — whatever faith they may hold — “should not be disqualified because of that faith from serving the public good. Rather than hold people of faith in suspicion, our laws and lawmakers should tolerate, if not celebrate, the role faith has in society and in the lives of individuals.  To do otherwise is contrary to the ideals of a healthy, pluralistic society.”

During the hearing, Barrett said she would uphold the law, regardless of her religious beliefs.

According to the White House, Barrett teaches and researches in the areas of federal courts, constitutional law and statutory interpretation. She has published articles in the Columbia, Virginia and Texas Law Reviews.

Barrett clerked for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court of the United States and for Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Who are the Augustinians, Pope Leo XIV’s order?

  • 10 things to know about Pope Leo XIV

  • New interim Hispanic, Urban delegates ready to serve Archdiocese of Baltimore

  • Catholic school academic honorees return to lead alma maters at Bishop Walsh, Archbishop Curley

  • Father Patrick Carrion offers blessing before Preakness

| Latest Local News |

Western Maryland parishes hit by devastating floodwaters

Sister of St. Francis Valerie Jarzembowski dies at 89

Schools Superintendent Hargens honored for emphasizing academics, faith

New interim Hispanic, Urban delegates ready to serve Archdiocese of Baltimore

Father Patrick Carrion offers blessing before Preakness

| Latest World News |

Pilgrimage launch coincides with papal inauguration, marks young Catholic’s ‘radical yes’

Catholic death penalty abolition group eager for new pope to build on Francis’ legacy on issue

U.S. pilgrims to Havana recall Francis’ impact in Cuba 10 years after visit

Homeland Security vetting reality show idea where immigrants compete for citizenship

Senate protest over USAID closure snares Vatican ambassador pick

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pilgrimage launch coincides with papal inauguration, marks young Catholic’s ‘radical yes’
  • Catholic death penalty abolition group eager for new pope to build on Francis’ legacy on issue
  • U.S. pilgrims to Havana recall Francis’ impact in Cuba 10 years after visit
  • The pope is speaking my language
  • Homeland Security vetting reality show idea where immigrants compete for citizenship
  • Senate protest over USAID closure snares Vatican ambassador pick
  • As Trump returns from Middle East with massive arm deals, patriarch says ‘no’ to weapons
  • Pope Leo XIV’s installation Mass: A new beginning rooted in tradition
  • A new documentary, ‘The Inner Sea,’ tells a story of adoption, music and love

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED