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How can Catholic Supreme Court justices be fair on abortion?

Supporters of legal access to abortion, as well as anti-abortion activists, rally outside the Supreme Court on March 2 as the Court hears oral arguments in the case of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, which deals with access to abortion, in Washington, D.C.
Supporters of legal access to abortion, as well as anti-abortion activists, rally outside the Supreme Court on March 2 as the Court hears oral arguments in the case of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, which deals with access to abortion, in Washington, D.C. TNS

Can someone please explain to me how the four conservative, Catholic justices can sit in judgment on abortion cases when the church they belong to preaches that abortion is a sin?

How can they be faithful to their chosen religion and ever rule in favor of abortions? Isn’t the country entitled to justices who don’t already have an opinion about such a volatile subject? A good Catholic worries about their immortal soul, and a vote in favor of abortion puts that soul at risk. How can they resolve that conflict, and doesn’t the country deserve an answer?

Past cases decided by this court point to the fact that these judges will follow their religion rather than the law, regardless of what the public supports. Is this fair? Shouldn’t we demand more honesty from these men?

Thomas Schaffer, San Luis Obispo

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 8:33 PM with the headline "How can Catholic Supreme Court justices be fair on abortion?."

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