Bishops' president spells out issues, positions for court nominee

Published: 2005-07-06

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. bishops' conference has spelled out specific positions on a range of issues he said he hoped President George W. Bush would look for as he chooses a nominee for the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. "I urge you to consider for the court qualified jurists who, pre-eminently, support the protection of human life from conception to natural death, especially of those who are unborn, disabled or terminally ill," said Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., in a letter to the president dated July 1. The text of the letter was released July 6 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The letter said that "when a nomination is made" the USCCB "does not participate by endorsing or opposing specific nominees," but that the bishops are concerned about the way the Supreme Court can affect "both principles and policies."

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