Republicans Step Up Attacks on Judiciary

Fri Apr 8, 2005 3:08 PM ET

By Alan Elsner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Christian conservatives, led by some top Republicans, are stepping up their assault on the U.S. judiciary in response to the Terri Schiavo case, saying judges are attacking religion and must be reined in.

At a conference on Thursday and Friday organized by the Judeo-Christian Council for Constitutional Restoration, an umbrella group bringing together many religious conservative organizations, prominent Republicans joined with activists to assault what they term "judicial activism."

House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay, under fire for his use of campaign dollars and other ethical problems, addressed the conference in a videotaped message on Thursday in which he denounced a "judiciary run amok."

"Our next step, whatever it is, must be more than rhetoric," the Texas Republican told the conference, entitled "Confronting the Judicial War on Faith."