November 14, 2005 | 09:47 PM

According to newly discovered documents, Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito was proud of the pro-life efforts he backed while working in the solicitor general's office during the Reagan-era, but more recent statements reveal that he has "great respect" for the 1973 Supreme Court decision to kill babies.

In 1985, Alito wrote that he was "particularly proud" of his Reagan-era work in helping the government argue that "the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion." Alito's statements were included in a document while applying to become deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administration. He further stated in the document that he helped to "advance legal positions in which I personally believe very strongly."

Now, fast forward 20 years...

After being nominated by President Bush, Judge Alito met with Senator Joe Lieberman in private. After this meeting, Senator Lieberman told reporters that Alito assured him that "Roe [the decision to kill babies] was precedent on which people, a lot of people, relied and had been precedent now for decades and therefore deserved great respect." A position that the judge reiterated on several occassions since his nomination.

What Alito wrote 20 years ago is certainly good news, but recent statements should prompt serious questions about his stance on the killing of children through abortion. Precedent is not the law of the land; the Constitution is the law, which protects "life", and any other "law" should not be given "great respect".

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (Luke 6:45)

Recommended Reading: From Roberts to Miers, Christian Leaders are Dead Wrong