IOWA CITY, Iowa, April 29 (UPI) -- In a debate held by right-wing organization The Family Leader last Friday, four Iowa Senators revealed their litmus test for federal judge contenders.

"As long as they have a biblical worldview," said Republican candidate Matt Whitaker, "then they'll be a good judge. And if they have a secular worldview -- I'm going to be very concerned about how they judge."


Erik Erickson, editor-in-chief of restate.com, a conservative political blog, moderated the forum.

When Erickson asked candidates what they look for in potential nominees, Whitaker replied, "What I'd like to see are their worldview, what informs them, how do they live their lives, are they people of faith?"

Three out of the four hopefuls vowed to block appointees who didn’t share their views, citing a “biblical view of justice” as the chief criteria for the appointment of federal judges.

Bob Vander Plaats, head of The Family Leader, echoed the candidates' view as he closed the debate with this warning to the crowd: “As we have a culture that runs further and further from God’s principles, His precepts, from God’s heart, it’s only natural consequences that we’re going to suffer. You cannot run away from the heart of God and expect God to bless the country.”