© Associated PressSupreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia speaks as part of a lecture series at Tufts University, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, in Medford, Mass. Scalia, who has served on the nation's highest court since 1986 following a nomination by President Ronald Reagan, spoke about interpreting the U.S. Constitution.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia isn't afraid to make known his views on controversial issues like gay marriage and abortion, which is why his faith-based comments during
a candid interview with
New York Magazine were perfectly within his character.
The conversation about heaven, hell and Satan began when writer Jennifer Senior asked Scalia if he ever considers the legacy he will one day leave. Responding that he isn't too concerned about what people will think once he's dead and gone, the justice went on to share his theological views.
This most fascinating portion of the interview began when Senior asked if he believes in the afterlife. Scalia answered affirmatively and turned the question around, asking the reporter, "Don't you believe in heaven and hell?"
To his surprise, she said she doesn't. But that didn't stop him from noting that her non-belief won't necessarily exempt her from going to one of those places after she dies.
"It doesn't mean you're not going to hell, just because you don't believe in it," he told Senior. "That's Catholic doctrine! Everyone is going one place or the other."
But rather than espousing a holier than thou mantra, Scalia acknowledged that no one knows the definitive fate of other human beings.
"I don't even know whether Judas Iscariot is in hell. I mean, that's what the pope meant when he said, 'Who am I to judge?,'"
he continued. "He may have recanted and had severe penance just before he died. Who knows?"
At that point, Senior was apparently ready to move on from the theological discussion, but Scalia's unprompted admission that he believes in Satan - and that the Devil is a real person - sparked additional dialogue.
Comment: There you have it folks. While ordinary people struggle to make ends meet, the state's agents are living high on the hog, breaking laws left and right - all in the name of 'protecting' you, of course.
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