Upon today’s Senate vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court (by a razor thin margin), Americans United for Separation of Church and State President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement:

“Brett Kavanaugh has shown himself to be unworthy of a seat on the Supreme Court, and today’s vote in the Senate is a stain on that institution. Rather than a full and fair hearing that would have examined Kavanaugh’s record and the serious charges against him, the country saw a rushed, perfunctory process that had all the hallmarks of a sham.

The city of Philadelphia does not have to contract with religiously affiliated foster-care placement agencies that engage in discriminatory policies against potential foster parents, Americans United for Separation of Church and State argues in a legal brief filed today.

The case, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, concerns a decision by Philadelphia officials to stop referring children to Catholic Social Services for foster-care placements after the religious group made it clear that it would not accept same-sex couples as foster parents.

“Based on his record, Kavanaugh is wrong on the fundamental principle of separation of church and state and wrong for the Supreme Court. He supports the misuse of ‘religious freedom’ to undermine LGBTQ rights, women’s rights and the rights of religious minorities. This alone should disqualify him from the Supreme Court," said AU President and CEO Rachel Laser.

“President Trump has granted leaders of a narrow segment of one religion unprecedented influence on policy decisions that affect all of us,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. “Americans have a right to know that – and to have a government that works for everyone, not just some.”

“Government’s first duty is to treat all citizens equally, regardless of what they may believe or not believe about religion,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. “Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives failed in that task, and we’re glad the court has set them straight.”