The chairman of the US bishops' Committee for Religious Liberty called on the leadership of the Senate Judiciary Committee to end a line of questioning for judicial nominees at confirmation hearings that involves their religious faith.

This type of questioning "amounts to a religious test" for serving in office, is unconstitutional and in recent hearings for Catholic nominees discriminates against them for their religion, said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky.

He made the comments in a February 4 letter to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, ranking member.