Religion is one of the most polarising factors dividing US society today. During the presidency of Donald Trump, the evangelical Christian right gained unprecedented power in the Republican Party and finally acquired significant influence over US foreign policy.
A new five-vote, hardline conservative majority on the Supreme Court bench also reflects a religious conservatism that is historically remarkable and profoundly out of sync with the views of most Americans on social issues. The Supreme Court's new term began this month, and it may reveal a huge divergence of values between the public and the highest court in the land.
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Several justices have recently insisted that they do not take ideology or party affiliation into consideration. Yet, most Americans know they typically do. Worse, it's no longer just about party or ideology, but essentially about religious zealotry.
No one sensible is going to be persuaded that these judges' "judicial philosophy" just so happens to produce results that conveniently coincide with deep-seated religious beliefs and that delight their political patrons. What's the difference, anyway?
If these justices don't exercise considerable, and improbable, restraint, eventually the American majority may decide to use their constitutional prerogatives to restructure or otherwise constrain the court.
Mr Roberts may advocate restraint. But, thus far, it doesn't seem the other five Republican appointees have much regard for what their supporters appear to view as his insufficiently pious outlook.
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