Catholic lobby rejects Amy Coney Barrett

Here are the words of  Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. This is what a true Christian sounds like.

"As a Catholic Sister who tries to follow the teachings of Pope Francis, I cannot support Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. I know that Judge Barrett shares my faith, but her past words and actions prove that she does not hold all life to be sacred. As a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Barrett voted to allow employment discriminations against the elderly, attacked the protections of the Affordable Care Act, and even tried to uphold the wrongful conviction of a man based on faulty evidence. Shockingly, she does not hold the basic principle of stare decisis that provides for continuity in our Constitutional system. These are not the opinions of a nominee worthy of a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land. 

"President Trump appears to be courting the Catholic vote with this nomination. Judge Barrett was chosen for one reason: she firmly and clearly opposes abortion and the settled ruling of Roe v. Wade. As a Catholic Sister, let me be clear: Catholics will not be bought off by a predetermined vote against Roe v. Wade. It is insulting to act as if my faith boils down to one issue. Catholics cannot support judges or politicians who blatantly ignore the breadth of Catholic Social Teaching on women’s rights, voting rights, immigrant’s rights, health care, environmental protections, and so much more. 

"This crass partisan power grab by the President, Senator McConnell, and his Republican colleagues is an insult to our democracy. It is an assault on our democratic system to rush a vote while they cling to power. The people and their next chosen President must decide on the next Supreme Court Justice. If Senator McConnell and President Trump think that pushing this through will help them win Catholic votes, then they don’t know Catholics. Unlike these politicians focused on taking power at all costs, we love our country more than political power. We Catholics will vote for integrity, justice, and the common good."