A STATEMENT ON THE NOMINATION OF SAMUEL ALITO TO THE SUPREME COURT As a humanist religious fellowship, the Philadelphia Ethical Society is continually concerned with the effects of political and judicial decisions on the freedoms and rights of the American people. After reading reports from many sources on the judicial philosophy, past decisions and public comments of Samuel Alito, we must express our misgivings concerning his nomination to the Supreme Court. We feel we must speak out because our home Senator, Arlen Specter, is chairperson of the Judicial Committee that will conduct the confirmation hearings; and because our city is the birthplace of the Constitution. The Society's Ethical Action Committee (EAC) notes that three organizations we respect -- the Union for Reform Judaism, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State -- have taken the unusual step of announcing their opposition to the nominee even before the Senate hearings on that nomination have begun. These groups' individual decisions to oppose Alito before the hearings begin were not taken lightly; they follow upon much study. Those three groups have thoroughly studied Alito's record as it pertains to civil rights, constitutional liberties, separation of church and state, reproductive freedom, police power, and public access to legal remedies. We attach great weight to their research. Therefore: We call on our Senator Specter to conduct the hearings so they allow full discussion of the issues that these three groups have identified and to ensure that we find out the nominee's stance on these issues. There is no need for haste in making this decision. And we join with these three groups in their call for opposition to Judge Alito. We will revisit this position after Alito's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, in case anything that transpires therein should cause us to reconsider our opposition to him. -- The Philadelphia Ethical Society LINKS TO ORGANIZATION STATEMENTS: