McConnell Condemns Continued Attacks on Judge Barrett's Religious Faith

Statement

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding continued attacks on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's religious faith:

"Judge Barrett's hearing last week confirmed beyond any doubt that she is a brilliant scholar and judge who is exceptionally qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. Clear majorities of Americans agree the Senate should confirm this outstanding nominee.

"Since the nominee's credentials are unassailable, Democrats and their press allies continue to fumble for other lines of attack, including her religious faith.

"In her prior hearing to be a Seventh Circuit judge, these attacks were open and unveiled. This time, euphemisms and insinuations have carried the day. One Judiciary Committee Democrat attacked the nominee's "closely held views.' Another Senator wrote a letter arguing that Judge Barrett's normal and widely-held Catholic views on when life begins should disqualify her from judicial service. The press has worked overtime to paint Judge Barrett's private faith practices as exotic, ominous, and fair game for public critique.

"Today, the Associated Press reports that Judge Barrett served as a trustee for her children's Christian school, a fact she had already disclosed. The slanted story then attacks the school for holding traditional views about sex and marriage, and baselessly asserts that Judge Barrett's personal views on these matters would be "particularly crucial' to her jurisprudence. In reality, Judge Barrett has taken the same oath of impartiality as every other federal judge, and has affirmed over and over that her legal judgment is independent from her private opinions.

"It is so revealing to watch elite society keep stumbling upon mainstream religious beliefs and practices that are shared by huge numbers of Christian Americans and thinking they've discovered some secret scandal.

"Our Constitution forbids disqualifying people from public service on the basis of their religious beliefs. Even the recent Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage went out of its way to affirm that religious people and institutions are entitled to continue preaching and practicing their own traditional beliefs. Whether the far left has forgotten these things or simply does not care, it only underscores why we need well-informed jurists like Judge Barrett to protect our Constitution and Americans' rights.

"The anti-religious bigotry needs to stop. It is an embarrassment to those who propagate it. Fortunately, it will not stop the Senate from voting to confirm this outstanding nominee in just a few days."

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