Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Jeopardizes Americans’ Moral and Constitutional Freedoms

Extreme Supreme Court Justice out of step with the majority of the U.S. Catholics, Americans 

WASHINGTON – Catholics for Choice, which lifts up the voices of the majority of Catholics who support safe, legal abortion, issued the following statement on today’s confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

The following can be attributed to Catholics for Choice President Jamie Manson:

“Americans must now contend with a Supreme Court that is even farther out of step with the rest of the country with it comes to birth control, abortion, LGBTQ rights and a number of other basic freedoms.

“With the confirmation of Judge Coney Barrett, six of the nine Supreme Court justices will now be Catholic, and – with the notable exception of Justice Sotomayor – extremely conservative. In its far-right positions, the court neither represents American Catholics nor the whole of the American people, and we are deeply concerned about the implications for reproductive freedom and religious liberty for all.

“Catholics in the United States represent a vast range of experiences, backgrounds and upbringings. But across our differences, the majority of Catholics are united in their support for access to safe, legal abortion, as well as the right to make moral decisions about abortion in keeping with our own conscience. We also believe that there should be true religious freedom, predicated on the separation of church and state, something the bishops and jurists like Judge Coney Barrett have sought to eliminate.

“We welcome the selection of qualified, impartial people of all faiths or no faiths, including Catholics, to serve on the court, measuring them by the same standard we would apply to any nominee: that they are willing to apply the law equitably and uphold the fundamental freedoms of all people. Unfortunately, little in Judge Coney Barrett’s statements, rulings or recent testimony suggest that she will be a voice for ‘the least among us.’ Instead, she has consistently aligned herself with powerful people and institutions, which conflicts with the most fundamental values of Catholic social justice teaching.

“The fundamental Catholic value of conscience, as well as our constitutional rights as Americans, are made less secure by today’s Senate vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.”

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Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to a person’s well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of all people to make moral decisions about their lives.