Senator Brownback Stands With Grassroots Religious Leaders to Show Support for Alito

January 10, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC - People for the Alito Way, a coalition of more than 300 organizations supporting the confirmation of Judge Samuel A. Alito as Associate Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court, was heartily encouraged by a press conference on religious freedom hosted by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) today in the Senate Hart Office Building.

Senator Brownback said today, "The Alito hearings raise important questions about religion in the public square and freedom of religious expression in America. This is not a country where people should suffer consequences for expressing their faith, and Judge Alito would bring a constitutionalist legal philosophy to the bench that is welcome and needed in these cases."

Kevin "Seamus" Hasson, Founder and Chairman of the Becket Fund characterized Alito as a defender of religious liberty who provides "equal justice under law" for people of all faiths. He called Alito a "regular guy who is a legal genius." Mr. Hasson has both worked for Judge Alito and argued cases before him.

Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., Pastor of the Hope Christian Church near Washington, DC, said that "religious liberty is at the core of the opposition to Alito." He identified legislation as the key to advancing civil rights.

Nathan Diament, Director of the Orthodox Union s Institute for Public Affairs, is "very encouraged" by the religious liberty cases of Judge Alito. In Mr. Diament s view, religious freedoms in the First Amendment do not have the same protections as the other First Amendment freedoms.

Kimberly Daniels, co-pastor of Spoken Word Ministries, in Jacksonville, Florida said, "Without religious liberty in America there is no liberty and there is no America." She noted the irony of being able to pray with a man on death row but not with a kindergarten student.

Sandra Banning, whose daughter was used by Michael Newdow to ban the Pledge of Allegiance, related how she had no interest in judicial appointments before her daughter became part of the Ninth Circuit Court case stripping "under God" from the pledge. She now has "great appreciation for the process of judicial appointments" and believes judges should "not [be] social engineers."

Jordan Lorence, an attorney with Alliance Defense Fund said, "It s clear he understands and applies the Constitution as the framers intended." He envisions an "Alito effect" on the Court upon confirmation, an effect which will have the great impact on the Establishment Clause and will clear the apparent confusion in the court s decisions in these cases.

Carl Herbster, pastor of Tri City Ministries in Independence, MO, summarized support for Alito by reiterating Alito s competence for the court, his commitment to his family and the constitution, and his concern for religious freedom.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Samuel Alito was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President George W. Bush. People for the Alito Way believes in a fair hearing followed by a civil debate and a prompt vote. For more information please visit www.peopleforthealitoway.com.