Though I'm not personally acquainted with Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. from the things he has written and the postitions he has espoused, the belief system he has bought into seems pretty clear. So, let's have a look at the Roberts Catechism. That Roberts is a practicing Roman Catholic seems entirely coincidental. The person who's designated him for a spot among the Supremes shares the same antagonistic beliefs.
First in the Roberts Catechism is probably the conviction that man (both male and female) is basically born bad. But, the evidence for this intrinsic characteristic is not to be found in acts which harm or injure someone else. No, bad is the man who fails to do what he's told to do. In other words, evil exists whenever authority is opposed.
While this position might seem to conflict with a belief in free will. It really doesn't. That's because man was endowed with free will for only one purpose, to give greater significance to his submission to the will of another.
How does this principle mesh with the assertion that the authority of the American government, as outlined in its Constitution, is derived from the "consent of the governed?" Quite simply by locating this consent in one moment in time, when the Constitution was approved, so that, in effect, ever after, the relationship between the government and the governed is no different than if the ruler were divinely installed.
The origin of authority, under this schema, is not nearly as important as that authority is maintained. And the way to maintain authority is to make sure that authority is the focus of all social relationships and that this essential component is continually reinforced by the law. Which is why Roberts not only does not recognize that the government should be accountable to the populace, but considers the very notion anathema. It's not possible for authority to be accountable to those whose sole function is to obey and, if at all possible, do so cheerfully.
Of course, when obedience to authority is the essence of good behavior, then any mechanism which promotes this attitude, such as a religious institution devoted to modulating free will and expression in its membership, is properly supported, not to be interfered with, by the secular authorities. So, the Constitutional prohibition against interfering with the establishment of religion is designed not to protect such institutions from secular restrictions, but to make sure they have free rein in their efforts to make wicked people good. Religious establishments need to be promoted, not restrained.
Indeed, the same principle is evident in Roberts' commitment to the principle of "judicial restraint." While common sense might argue that this principle refers to judges restraining their urge to correct legislative ommissions or conflicts with Constitutional and human rights, what it really means in the Roberts catechism is that the judicial branch of government should, like the legislative, serve as a handmaiden to the executive by re-enforcing authority, not raising issues of accountability. "Judicial restraint," in effect, makes the principle of "checks and balances," which seeks to insure that authority does not become oppressive, nul and void.
Perhaps it is unfair to refer to these principles as components of Roberts' Catechism. After all, the Catechism is central to Christian religions and Christianity is a new dispensation, based on the recognition of God-given individual human rights--of individual innocence until some guilty behavior has been proved. Despite the much-touted commitment by the Republican leadership over the past two or three decades to Christian principles, upon closer consideration it seems fair to argue that a hankering for the absolute authority of the pre-christian era has proven more attractive to them.
To the extent that Roberts shares this predilection, a commitment to the absolute authority of government and a disregard for man's God-given human rights, he must be considered unfit for a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Posted by Hannah at August 20, 2005 11:57 AM