Supreme Challenge?

Catholic Exchange is reporting in an article by Russell Shaw that Justice Kennedy is not the justice that many anticipated.

When Ronald Reagan named him to the Supreme Court in 1988, people believed that Kennedy, a Catholic, would be a reliable conservative vote. Instead, the former federal appeals court judge from California was apparently socialized into the mindset of his liberal colleagues.

Over the years, Kennedy, now 69, has helped uphold legalized abortion, spoken for the court in overturning anti-sodomy laws (and thus given a boost to the drive for same-sex marriage, despite assurances that that wouldn't happen), and just last month delivered a majority opinion rendering the same service to the cause of physician-assisted suicide.

The court is now one justice away from a moral majority (my apologies to the reverand Falwell). According to Mr Shaws article, President Bush could, by the end of his term in office, have the chance to appoint another supreme court justice.

There is no guarantee that will happen soon, but it could, even as early as next summer. John Paul Stevens is 85 years old with 30 years on the Supreme Court. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is said to be in frail health. Sometimes it is even rumored that David Souter isn't happy in his work.

Justice Kennedy has voted to strike down sodomy laws, which have given a boost to the issue of gay marriage, supported Roe vs Wade and just last month ruled with the majority for physician assisted suicide.

Let us pray that the Lord intercedes on our behave and that either justice Kennedy "finds religion" or President Bush gets a chance to appoint another Justice.