Quotable & Notable

“I don’t think courts should have the dominant role in society.”

-- John Roberts, nominee for the 17th chief justice of the U.S., testifying at his confirmation hearings. He said judges should be modest and defer to legislatures on policy issues. Courts should be reluctant to overrule precedents, he also said.

“My faith and religious beliefs do not play a role in judging. I look to the law books. I don’t look to the Bible.”

-- Roberts answering senators’ questions about his Catholic faith

“I don’t believe that Afghanistan will come to rest anytime soon.”

-- Afghanistan’s economic minister Amin Farhang before the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections

“In several disturbing ways, Afghanistan is starting to resemble Iraq.”

-- An editorial in The Baltimore Sun, which carried the headline “Four years on, not fixed yet”

“As long as the focus remains ... on priests, the root cause of this [sex abuse] crisis -- cowardly, cold-hearted bishops -- will escape accountability.”

-- Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, reacting to the announced Vatican review of how U.S. seminaries prepare priests to “faithfully live chastely.” Some fear the study may become an inquisition for gay seminarians. Blaine said the focus on gay priests is a smokescreen.

National Catholic Reporter, September 23, 2005