Rob Chambers
P.O. Box 3925, Tupelo, MS 38803
Phone: 662-844-5036

October 12, 2020

The Honorable Lindsey Graham
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
290 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Chairman Graham,

We commend you for your strident efforts to confirm constitutionalist judges appointed by President Trump. We are also thankful for your steadfast commitment to the confirmation process of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Over 59,000 supporters of AFA Action and American Family Association have signed a petition urging you to protect the religious liberty of Judge Barrett during her confirmation hearing.

The petition states:

Senate Judiciary Chairman Graham,

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states, “[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

I urge you, as the presiding officer of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to rule any attack on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s religious faith out of order.

It’s time to stand against any unconstitutional, anti-religious bigotry.

We recall the religious, bigoted attacks Judge Barrett was subjected to in this committee during her 2017 hearing for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) attacked Judge Barrett’s religious faith during her confirmation hearing.

Sen. Durbin asked Judge Barrett, “Do you consider yourself an Orthodox Catholic?” Later, Sen. Feinstein blatantly attacked Judge Barrett’s religious faith by saying:

Why is it that so many of us on this side have this very uncomfortable feeling that, you know, dogma and law are two different things, and I think whatever religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different, and I think in your case, professor, when I read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you.

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states, “[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” Yet, Sen. Durbin and Sen. Feinstein violated the U.S. Constitution by using Judge Barrett’s faith as a qualifying test during the Judiciary Committee hearing. If similar attacks come against Judge Barrett, we urge you to rule these constitutional violations out of order.

Chairman Graham, we have witnessed how you have come under attacks very similar to those against Judge Barrett. We will be praying for you during this confirmation process. More specifically, we pray that the Lord God Almighty will place a shield of protection about you and protect you from harm and give you the patience to endure relentless attacks. We pray the Lord will give you the wisdom, courage, and discernment you need during the confirmation process.

Blessings,

Rob Chambers
Vice President, AFA Action

AFA Action is the governmental affairs affiliate of American Family Association in Tupelo, Mississippi.