Prominent historian: Catholic justices should recuse themselves from abortion, same-sex marriage cases

June 09, 2009

In an op-ed column, prominent historian Joyce Appleby expresses concern about the prospect of a sixth Catholic Supreme Court justice and argues that “perhaps the time has come to ask them to recuse themselves when cases come before their court on which their church has taken positions binding on its communicants.”

Appleby-- the former president of the Organization of American Historians and the American Historical Association-- adds, “Who will argue that religious beliefs and the authority of the Catholic Church will have no bearing on the justices when presented with cases touching these powerful concerns?”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Joyce Appleby: Should Catholic justices recuse selves on certain cases? (Tallahassee Democrat)
• Joyce Appleby (UCLA)