Following the first day of Supreme Court confirmation hearings for nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, issued the following statement:

“After day one of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, there are still a lot of unknowns, especially when it comes to the preservation of religious freedom. Kavanaugh described his time in the White House as “the most instructive” years in his professional development, including running point on faith-based initiatives and playing a role in negotiating a deal with the Salvation Army that would have allowed them to discriminate against LGBTQ workers while still receiving hundreds of thousands in taxpayer dollars.

“We are also deeply concerned that Judge Kavanaugh cited Christian Scripture in his opening statement as a description of his personal philosophy. The unreleased records, one senator’s stated belief that Congress is responsible for the spiritual well-being of this country and Kavanaugh’s reliance on scripture to formally introduce himself all make our questions more imperative: What role, if any, does his religious faith play in his judicial philosophy? How would he resolve a conflict between his faith and his obligations to the Constitution? What is his judicial philosophy concerning the Establishment Clause? Does he believe that the Free Exercise Clause supersedes other rights? What is his perspective on the current state of law concerning direct government funding of religious institutions? We urge the Judiciary Committee to ask these questions and to carefully consider his answers before making a decision on Judge’s Kavanaugh’s confirmation.”


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.