Secular Coalition opposed to Kagan nomination

Elena Kagan (AP Photo/Alex Brando)

Congress is holding confirmation hearings today for Elena Kagan, President Obama’s pick to be the next Supreme Court Justice, replacing John Paul Stevens.  The Secular Coalition of America has come out in opposition to her nomination because they are concerned that she does not “embrace the fundamental American principle of church-state separation with the vigor and force of Justice John Paul Stevens” whom she would be replacing.

The Secular Coalition of America is a 501(c)4 lobbying organization located in Washington DC. They advocate on behalf of non-theistic Americans on issues of concern to that community.  The most common issue being the maintainance of the separation of church and to fight against religious discrimination by the government to ensure not only the freedom of belief for all Americans.

The Secular Coalition of America lists 5 examples where her position on church state separation is troubling. In one, she argued that businesses should be allowed to discriminate in housing for religious reasons, in another she argued that no one should be protected from having to answer religiously motivated questions, including questions about their religious beliefs when applying for work or housing. She also appears to have changed her position on issues relating to government programs being used to fund religious groups, which she is apparently in favor of. And finally, in 2003 she gave a speech to Princeton University where she implied that the courts could cede to Congress the right to decide how fundamental American rights should be interpreted.  This would not only upset the carefully established system of checks and balances, but would open the door for majority groups to decide which fundamental rights minorities could excersize, which would obviously open the door to widespread discrimination, and not just on the basis of religious belief.

The Secular Coalition of America is opposing “Ms. Kagan's nomination until she makes her support for church-state separation much more clear and emphatic.”

Locally, Humanist and Freethought leaders are ambilivant about the Secular Coalition of America’s opposition to Ms. Kagan’s nomination. Virginian Kohl, the executive director of the Humanists of Florida Association, which is a member group of the American Humanist Association which is a member of the Secular Coalition of America is personally “unsure of (Ms. Kagan’s) qualifications.” While she understands the reasons why the Secular Coalition of America is opposed to her nomination, as an individual, she sees her as a much needed counter to the more conservative voices on the existing court.

Rick O’Keefe, acting director for the Center for Inquiry in Tampa, which is a branch of the Center for Inquiry International which is a member of the Secular Coalition of America is also unsure of Ms. Kagan’s qualifications. He hopes “the hearings will bring out her abilities to serve, or expose the opposite.” And like Ms. Kohl is hopeful that if confirmed Ms. Kagan will help make the Supreme Court  “a more balanced, less activist ‘turn over precedent and established law’ Supreme Court.

For more information:
Visit the Secular Coalition of America website - http://www.secular.org/