Americans United urges Congress to investigate Justice Alito’s display of the Christian Nationalist ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag

Americans United for Separation of Church and State President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement following reports that the Christian Nationalist “Appeal to Heaven” flag flew at the New Jersey vacation home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito:

“The Appeal to Heaven flag that flew at Justice Alito’s vacation home is the flag of the Christian Nationalist movement in America, the endpoint of which is nothing less than the toppling of our democracy. Christian Nationalists believe that the United States should be a Christian theocracy. Insurrectionists carried the flag when they attacked the Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Partisan politicians – like U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, and Pennsylvania state Senator and failed gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano – fly this flag to announce their sympathies to fellow Christian Nationalists.

“That this partisan Christian Nationalist flag flew at the beach house of a Supreme Court justice raises serious questions about impartiality and the fair administration of justice at the nation’s highest court. Congress must hold hearings to assure the American people that Justice Alito will honor his oath of office and put the Constitution first, before the tenets of the Christian Nationalist movement.”