Christian Faith, Judicial Court Appointments & Janice Rogers Brown

In recent months many liberal Democrats have begun to disparage those who profess the Christian faith (especially Roman Catholics) and who affirm that their faith shapes their politics and world-view. It has been claimed, for example, that if a person's personal faith leads them to believe unlimited abortion is morally wrong, they should be disqualified from serving as a Federal judge. National Christian leaders who have spoken out publicly on these matters have been called "anti-Christ" "un-Christian" "fascist" and "far right-wing fundamentalists" seeking to impose a "theocracy" or (a new term to me) "Dominionists."

This rhetoric has been hard to reconcile with the fact that over half of all Americans attend a house of worship each month and that 90% of Americans believe in God most of whom are Christians. When offered the chance to vote on social issues, state voters have, for example, averaged nearly 70% against the legalization of "same-sex marriage." Similar high percentages of Americans polled consistently oppose unrestricted access to abortion at any stage of pregnancy or for any reason.

One of the Federal Circuit Court nominees receiving the most brazen opposition and explicit discrimination based on her faith is California Supreme Court Judge Janice Rogers Brown. Her legal qualifications are impeccable and, even in notoriously liberal California, voters recently returned her to her State Supreme Court position by a whopping 76% of the vote (contrast this with Bush's 45%). Democratic opposition to her appointment has centered almost exclusively on her being a Roman Catholic who actually takes her faith seriously. (Didn't this issue get taken care of with Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy back in 1960?)

Perhaps the issue would be simpler if Judge Brown were not also African-American. This, of course, poses yet another threat to the Democrat's illusory mantra that minorities are oppressed, weak and desperately clinging to the Democratic Party to save them.....from who? People like Judge Janice Brown?

Despite having her nomination filibustered for months and months, Judge Brown has refused to either back down or to dodge the issue of her faith. In a recent speech she blasted those who suggest that a person's Christian faith should cast a pall upon their qualifications for public service as a Judge or in any other area.

Captain Ed at Captain's Quarters provides a good recap and analysis of Judge Brown's comments. Everyone who, as a (conservative) Christian, has been offended for being categorized as an "out-of-the-mainstream extreme right wing religious nut job" or similar implied bigoted comment from the Democratic leadership in the US Senate, should read this post and be very, very grateful for people like Judge Janice Rogers Brown.

Other posts on Janice Brown and/or anti-Christian comments from Democrats can be found here, here, here, here and here.