Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, issued a statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Roberts in a 78-22 vote.
«We at Priests for Life congratulate the new chief justice of the United States, John G. Roberts, Jr.,» it said. «We look forward to this new chapter in the history of the Supreme Court. We ask the Holy Spirit to give the new chief justice the wisdom and prudence that this role requires.»
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, of the Knights of Columbus, said that Roberts’ confirmation «is an encouraging sign that this time, at least, pro-abortion groups did not have the ability to hijack the judicial nomination process in Washington.»
«[W]e are glad that opponents did not resort to a filibuster, and hope that future nominations to the Supreme Court will be handled in a similarly straightforward manner,» Anderson said.
The 50-year-old Roberts was sworn in hours after he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He succeeds William Rehnquist, who died Sept. 3.
