5 questions for John Roberts. (Remember him?)

From CNSNews.com:

A pro-life lobby is publishing five questions that Judge John Roberts "must be asked."

The National Pro-Life Action Center (NPLAC) -- which calls itself the uncompromising voice of pro-life America on Capitol Hill -- said it is delivering those questions to every member of the U.S. House and Senate in preparation for next week's confirmation hearing.

The group also is launching a print ad listing the questions.

"Until now, most people involved in this process have sadly been content to ask loaded questions that are designed to appease partisan special interests or obfuscate the facts," said Stephen G. Peroutka, NPLAC chairman and co-author of the report.

"The time has come to restore integrity and propriety to the nomination process and the judiciary itself. These questions are designed to legitimately establish the foundation of Judge Roberts' judicial temperament while respecting the standards of the inquiry."

The five questions are:

1.) Do basic human rights come only from government or are they rooted in something that transcends government

They are rooted in the Natural Law, [The exposition of St. Thomas is at once the most simple and philosophic. Starting from the premise that good is what primarily falls under the apprehension of the practical reason–that is of reason acting as the dictator of conduct–and that, consequently, the supreme principle of moral action must have the good as its central idea, he holds that the supreme principle, from which all the other principles and precepts are derived, is that good is to be done, and evil avoided (I-II, Q, xciv, a. 2). ] which comes from God.

2.) Is man's inherent human nature fixed or does raw political power determine who is and is not a member of the human family?

Self evidently, all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. (Ring a bell, kiddies?)

3.) Is law merely the construct of jurists and lawmakers or is it based on first principles of morals and justice?

Positive law (which must be based in the Natural Law to be just) is written by the duly elected representatives of the people, not judges.

4.) Is the proper role of the judiciary to restrain/limit itself to interpreting law or does it possess de facto legislative powers?

See the answer to #3, above.

5.) Should the judiciary share power equally with the other two branches of government (the legislative and executive) or should its powers transcend them?

The the three branches of the federal government are co-equal, as the US Constitution stipulates.

NPLAC said Members of Congress also will receive a 10-minute CD discussing the origin of the questions, the proper answers and why these questions are key to achieving a proper understanding of the judicial temperament of any potential jurist.

The National Pro-Life Action Center on Capitol Hill is located near the U.S. Supreme Court and is a joint effort of Faith and Action, Priests for Life and Catholics United for Life.

Amen to that, Brothers and Sisters.

When completed, it says it will house the largest pro-life library in the country, provide essential resources to advocates before the High Court, and support both those working on legislation before Congress and policy directors in the administration.