12-12-2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Unitarian Universalist Association Opposes Alito Confirmation as Threat to Civil Liberties

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Washington Office for Advocacy 1320 18th Street, Suite 300B Washington DC 20036 (202) 296-4672 fax (202) 296-4673 www.uua.org/uuawo

CONTACT: Rob Keithan, Director Washington Office for Advocacy 202-296-4672 x15 202-494-6969 (cell) rkeithan@uua.org  John Hurley, Director Information and Public Witness 617-948-6131 jhurley@uua.org

(December 12, 2005 – Washington, DC) The Unitarian Universalist Association today announced its opposition to the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. The religious association's opposition is based on concerns over civil liberties, including religious liberty, the right to privacy, and due process. The Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the UUA said, "Unitarian Universalists have always honored our commitment to uphold civil liberties. Protecting the freedoms that are at the heart of our democracy is for us a religious, as well as a civic, duty."

The UUA has never before opposed the confirmation of a nominee to the Supreme Court. In a statement issued to over 1000 congregations that make up the Association, the UUA's

Washington Office for Advocacy Director Rob Keithan said:

"The decision to take a position on a judicial nominee is not one the UUA takes up lightly. The nomination of Judge Samuel Alito Jr. is significantly different from that of Chief Justice John Roberts or Harriet Miers, in that he has an extensive judicial record that clearly reveals his judicial philosophy on a wide range of issues. After extensive research, Unitarian Universalist Association staff agreed that Judge Alito's rulings revealed a pattern of views that were outside the mainstream and hostile to established precedent favoring civil liberties."

Unitarian Universalists have a long history of support for civil liberties and civil rights. The Unitarian Universalist Association believes that the nation's judiciary should protect the rights of all people, regardless of gender, religion, class, sexual orientation, immigration status, or other factors.

The UUA joins other religious and civil rights groups including the Union for Reform Judaism in opposing the nomination of Judge Alito. In a previous statement, Mr. Keithan stated, "The Unitarian Universalist Association and our allies will continue to challenge conservative religious fundamentalists and others who claim to speak for all people of faith. There is no single religious perspective on this or any other issue. We hope that all parties involved in the nominations process, including advocacy groups and elected officials, will refrain from using religion as a political weapon. There should be no religious litmus test for judicial nominees, nor tactics that mislabel appropriate questions and concerns as 'attacking' a nominee's faith."

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The Unitarian Universalist Association is a faith community of more than 1000 self-governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice.

UUA Opposes Alito Confirmation as Threat to Civil Liberties

Unitarian Universalist Association
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