President Obama Snubs Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's funeral

Yesterday was the second day of the late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia funeral and a mass was held which among was attended by thousands, including Vice President Joe Biden, Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz, and the remaining eight justices.  Reverend Paul Scalia (One of Scalia's nine children) led the procession on Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with a highly personal tribute to his dad.

Fellow Catholic, Justice Clarence Thomas, read Romans 5:5-11 before Reverend Scalia revealed his father will be buried immediately following the funeral service. In his homily, the reverend said: Many have recounted what Dad did for them- but today we recount what God did for Dad. How he blessed him. He went on to acknowledge his mother Maureen McCarthy Scalia, and his father's '55 years of marriage to the woman he loved'. He said: God blessed Dad with a deep Catholic faith. Dad understood that the deeper he went in his Catholic faith, the better a public servant he became. Reverend Scalia also praised his father's intellect, but pointed out that more importantly, Antonin Scalia was a family man.

He also recalled how his father reacted once after accidentally standing in his confessional line. The justice said: Like heck if I'm confessing to you.' Paul Scalia joked that 'the Roman collar was not a shield against his criticism. The longest-serving member of the current Supreme Court, Antonin Scalia, 79, died last weekend at a remote Texas ranch from natural causes. His casket was delivered this morning at 11am, draped by an American flag which was removed as it entered the church.  In addition to the eight justices sitting on the Supreme Court, retired justice John Paul Stevens attended the service with David H. Souter expected to appear as well. 

President Barack Obama, who paid his respects while Scalia's casket was at the Supreme Court on Friday, did not attend the service despite criticism from some Republicans and as expected  Donald Trump tweeted: I wonder if President Obama would have attended the funeral of Justice Scalia if it were held in a Mosque? Very sad that he did not go! 

Scalia's death has sparked a furor among politicians over Obama's constitutional right to appoint a replacement. The White House Press secretary said the president would spend a significant portion of his weekend reviewing possible nominees.