Washington, DC – Interfaith Alliance President, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, issued the following statement today following President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court:

President Obama exercised one of his most important responsibilities today in nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be appointed a justice on the United States Supreme Court.

The president’s choice of a Hispanic woman as his nominee moves the nation closer to a court that represents the grand diversity of America. Far more important than the nominee’s gender and ethnicity, however, is her commitment to the Constitution and determination to respect the inherent rights of every citizen.

The U.S. Senate must now examine Judge Sotomayor and ensure she is up to the challenge the president has asked her to assume. Given the tenuous nature of the public’s continued support for the religious liberty clauses in the Constitution and constant assaults on the separation of church and state from both government and religion, I will be particularly attentive to the nominee’s views on the importance of preventing any entanglement between the institutions of religion and government in our nation. Though this is not the only concern that merits attention and examination, support for religious freedom is crucial to maintaining the foundation on which our system of government has been constructed and sustained

Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.