(Boston, August 12, 2005) The Rev. William G. Sinkford, UUA President, joined other progressive religious leaders on a teleconference External Site yesterday which challenged the focus of the upcoming "Justice Sunday II" event. The teleconference, which was covered by 35 reporters and news organizations, included Sinkford, the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy (President, The Interfaith Alliance External Site), Rabbi David Saperstein (Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism External Site), the Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar (General Secretary, National Council of Churches USA External Site), and Ms. Mirin Kaul Phool (President, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund External Site).
Teleconference speakers addressed the Religious Right's plans for "Justice Sunday II," External Site an evangelical event subtitled "God Save the United States and this Honorable Court" which will be held in Nashville on August 14th. The progressive religious leaders offered a different religious perspective on the nomination and addressed the role of faith in politics.
In his statement, Sinkford said, "It is important to understand that when we say people of faith in this country, we are talking about a wide spectrum of Americans who have many different beliefs and practices. The United States of America today has become the most religiously pluralistic society the world has ever known. Americans are not only Methodists, but Mormons and Muslims; not only Baptists, but Buddhists and Baha'is."
Later in his statement, Sinkford said, "We are concerned that the events planned by conservative groups in Nashville will continue to falsely claim to represent the only faithful perspective on the Roberts nomination. We affirm the right of any group to express its position on the issues of the day, but we will not remain silent when any group falsely claims to speak for all people of faith. There is no one "religious" position on the Roberts nomination, no one religious view on the future of the Court or the cases it will hear."
At the end of his statement he concluded, "I believe that America 's vision of justice is much broader and more inclusive than the one being offered by conservative religious groups. Our country's vision of justice is one of equality for all people, regardless of race, religion, or political perspective. We believe that the words We the People from our Constitution mean all people, not just those of a particular faith or party or political persuasion. As people of faith, we are called to witness for justice so that one day this vision will be a reality."
A wide range of events and activities scheduled for August 14 in Nashville will express support for separation of church and state. These events are planned by a variety of local and national interfaith groups and will involve a number of speakers, including the Rev. Gail Seavey, the newly-called minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville.
