Roman Catholic supporters of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett said on Monday they fully anticipate a strong broadside by Democrats against the jurist’s faith in the upcoming confirmation hearings.
Brian Burch, head of CatholicVote.org, spoke to reporters hours before Barrett is scheduled to begin testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In response to a question, Burch specifically said he expected the confirmation hearings to focus on Barrett’s membership in a Catholic organization known as “People of Praise.”
“It’s another form of interrogation that is inappropriate and unconstitutional,” he said.
Burch likened the anticipated questioning of Barrett on “People of Praise” to that of U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher last summer about his membership in the Knights of Columbus during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“[Buescher] was asked five questions about his membership in the Knights of Columbus and whether he would recuse himself from cases in which it was involved,” he said, noting that among the most pointed questioning came from vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
The Knights of Columbus is a charitable organization with 2 million members who have donated nearly 80 million in volunteer hours. The Knights also donate $180 million a year.
Among its members have been John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic President, and New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith, who became the first Catholic to be nominated by a major party (Democrat) for president in 1928.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.