Christian Groups Call for Prayers at the Court
Christian leaders and organizations are making a national call to join in public prayer and fasting ahead of next week's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.
Christian leaders and organizations are making a national call for public prayer and fasting ahead of next week's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.
Pray at the Court, hosted by the National Clergy Council, the Christian Defense Coalition and the National Pro-life Action Center, is being held at the United States Supreme Court Sept. 12-16.
"We've called for prayer because no one can ever really know how a Supreme Court nominee may in fact rule after he or she is seated on the bench, said Rev. Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action.
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While the hearing for Roberts to succeed Sandra Day O'Connor was set to take place this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced on Tuesday a later date. The hearing has been pushed back to next Monday in the event of Willliam H. Rehnquist's death and President Bush's recent decision to elevate Roberts to be the Supreme Court's chief justice.
Although Christian groups, including Faith and Action, already kicked off the joint prayer rally on Sunday afternoon, Pray at the Court has been postponed until next week. An evening prayer vigil is still planned for Sept. 7.
"It is imperative that the faith community passionately seeks God for His mercy, direction and guidance," according to a statement released by the assembly organizers.
With prayer removed from public schools, abortion being decriminalized and the Ten Commandments being taken down from public courtrooms, Pray at the Court urgently calls the nation to pray for the blessing of a judge "that will rule 'in the fear and knowledge of the Lord.'"
"Because no one will know and no one can know how Judge Roberts will rule, we must seek God for His will to be done," said Rev. Pat Mahoney, event coordinator.
Republicans say they will give Roberts a final vote before Oct. 3, which is the start of the new Supreme Court session. Democrats have not yet guaranteed when they will conclude Roberts' confirmation.
