ACTION ALERT

Oppose religious test for Supreme Court nominees

Note on Oct. 27: Miers withdrew her nomination today. We support looking at the actual qualifications of any nominee; not using religiosity as a test of whether or not any person should serve.

Oct. 12, 2005 - President Bush claims his focus on nominee Harriet Miers' religion is just information about her background. The Secular Coalition for America believes that the only background that should be considered for judicial nominees is their judicial and legal experience. The focus on her religion points out the discrimination against the nonreligious which exists in our society. Although the U.S. Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office, voters are unwilling to vote for an atheist for president (according to a 2004 Pew Research poll); now, the executive branch has made it clear that religion will be used in considering who should sit on the highest Court.

Take a Stand: Call the White House at 202-456-1414, and tell them you oppose consideration of religiosity as part of the necessary background for judicial appointments, especially to the U.S. Supreme Court.