Scalia’s funeral set for basilica

The casket containing the body of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia leaves the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington following funeral mass services, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.

Scalia died in his sleep at a Texas ranch on February 13.

More than 6,000 mourners, including Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and members of Congress, stood in long lines Friday at the Supreme Court building for the chance to view Scalia’s casket as he laid in repose.

President Barack Obama did not attend, despite criticism from some Republicans.

“He loved us and sought to show that love and sought to share the blessing of the faith he treasured”, Scalia said.

“But given his personal relationship with the family and given the president’s desire to find a respectful way to pay tribute to Justice Scalia’s service to the country, we believe we have settled on an appropriate and respectful arrangement”.

A hearse carrying Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s casket has arrived at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where a funeral Mass is set to begin.

The younger Scalia also honored his mother, to whom the justice was married for 55 years, as “a woman who could match him at every step and could even hold him accountable”.

The Catholic priest assured the many lawyers in the audience who may have felt the sting of Scalia’s barbed questions during Supreme Court arguments that he shared their pain. Thomas read a passage from the New Testament’s Book of Romans.

“Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us”, said Thomas.

If he does so, Senate Republicans have threatened to block any nominee put forward by Obama, a stance likely to become an issue in the presidential race and in election year contests for seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives. All the current Supreme Court justices attended, along with former justices John Paul Stevens and David Souter, sitting on folding chairs in front of the first pew. About 100 of Scalia’s former law clerks joined the eight surviving and two retired justices, along with other members of his jurisprudential family. As the court’s most prominent conservative voice, Scalia was known for his biting dissents that mixed humor with scathing barbs. He recalled what would happen to anyone who said “um” at dinner. Scalia’s casket was placed upon the same catafalque used for President Abraham Lincoln. GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Saturday tweeted, “I wonder if President Obama would have attended the funeral of Justice Scalia if it were held in a Mosque?”