Unitarians Oppose Alito Confirmation

[arendt]

Two days old, so I couldn't put it in LBN; but I haven't seen
this discussed on DU.

Way to go UUA!

arendt

-------------------------------

http://www.uua.org/news/2005/051212_alito/index.html


Unitarian Universalist Association Opposes Alito Confirmation as Threat to Civil Liberties

(December 12, 2005 – Washington, DC) The Unitarian Universalist Association today announced its opposition to the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. The UUA's opposition is based on concerns over civil liberties, including religious liberty, the right to privacy, and due process.

The UUA has never before opposed the confirmation of a nominee to the Supreme Court. In a statement issued to over 1000 congregations (in PDF format ) that make up the Association, the UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy Director Rob Keithan said:

"The decision to take a position on a judicial nominee is not one the UUA takes up lightly. The nomination of Judge Samuel Alito Jr. is significantly different from that of Chief Justice John Roberts or Harriet Miers, in that he has an extensive judicial record that clearly reveals his judicial philosophy on a wide range of issues. After extensive research, Unitarian Universalist Association staff agreed that Judge Alito's rulings revealed a pattern of views that were outside the mainstream and hostile to established precedent favoring civil liberties."

[Imagine My Surprise]

1. Way ta go UUA!!!

It's extra ooomph knowing that they have never, as an organization, made such a declaration before. That's really telling.

[ananda]

2. So am I. So is the CBC.

So, who prolly supports Alito?

KKK
AHI
AEI
RNC

etc.

[arendt]

4. Don't forget that the Reformed Jewish Congress (or somesuch) also opposes

Let's see what other Churches have the guts to call
a fascist a fascist.

Where is Martin Niemoller when you need him?

arendt

[joeybee12]

3. Unitarians? if thta's the one true religion, then I'll eat my hat!

I think I really got that wrong--Ned Flanders said something about them in one Simpsons episode.

Anyway, good for them!

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. How is this different from the RCC supporting Alito?

Other than the "it's ok when a religious group endorses my political views" game?

I don't mean to diss the UUA or Catholic Church. My question is why, really, is it ok for one religious body to endorse a political stand, when another religious body endorsing a different political stand draws crys of "Separation of Church and State!" and "Yank their non-profit status!"

[arendt]

7. UU is the most democratic religious organization around

Since no one is bothering to pull Pat Robertson or Jerry
Falwell's non-profit status, why the hell should UU shut up?
I'd love to see the government come after UU. Then we'd see
the true face of fascism in America.

But UUA is on firm ground here.

UUA is opposing Alito's hostility to DEMOCRACY, not to their
particular religious beliefs. They are saying the man is a
threat to the Republic. They are behaving as citizens. This
is really a "render unto Caesar" kind of action they are taking.
They aren't talking about his religious beliefs. They are talking
about his CIVIL decisions.

> "Unitarian Universalists have always honored our commitment to uphold
> civil liberties. Protecting the freedoms that are at the heart of our
> democracy is for us a religious, as well as a civic, duty."

Does that answer your question?

arendt

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. You ignore the meat of my question

When it is a different religious organization taking a different stand, a great many progressives speak up that churches have no business taking political stands and that they should either stay out of politics or be stripped of their non-profit status.

While I share the UUA's assesment, I wonder that one church's political position should be endorsed by the people of DU while a different church's political position should evoke appeals to the United States Constitution. While I expect Republicans to be hypocrites, I expect better of progressives :toast:

[arendt]

11. Do you think we are Bahai's, to acqueisce in our own slaughter?

You may have missed it, but last year, the State of Texas brought
suit against the UU's non-profit status. The suit was immediately
thrown out of a Texas court.

Do you think the UU is out of line to oppose people who want to
hurt it as a Church?

Do you know that the government offered Federal funds to restore
the Old North Church in Boston (the first Unitarian church in America),
but the UUs turned down the money because of Separation of Church
and State issues?

Do you see the kind of fine line UU has to walk because of its
embrace of democracy as a religious principle?

Do you see no difference between theocrats who want to overthrow
our democratic Constitution and patriotic church-goers who want
to preserve democracy?

Doesn't it say anything to you that Old North Church (Paul Revere
and all that) is Unitarian?

I grant that the UUs have a tough path, but you're questions don't
seem to show an awareness of UUs traditions (doctrines - we don't
have any) and its history.

arendt

[FtWayneBlue]

14. In my understanding, a church jeopardizes its non-profit status

when it endorses a particular political party or a particular person running for a political office.

I believe that the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justices falls outside of that prohibition. I could be wrong, but I doubt if the UUA would take such a stance if it was illegal.

[ultraist]

6. Isn't the UU association the same org that aired the pro gay ads?

During the campaign, they had an ad, saying they welcomed gays in their church. Unless, I'm confusing them with some other church org.

[arendt]

8. That was UCC (United Church of Christ), H. Dean goes there. n/t

[Gothmog]

9. URJ also is opposing Alito

The Union for Reform Judaism is also opposing Alito. I was at the Biennial where the resolution was debated.

[JVS]

12. Isnt' that crossing the line into political activity that shouldn't happen

[arendt]

13. read discussion above with TechBear_Seattle n/t