Unanimous Endorsement

For Immediate Release:
January 17, 2006

Knights of Columbus endorses nomination of Samuel Alito to Supreme Court Resolution praises his views on religious liberty

(NEW YORK, NY) - In a resolution adopted unanimously by its Board of Directors, the Knights of Columbus has endorsed the nomination of federal circuit judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. The action, taken during the board's quarterly meeting in New York City, called upon "members of the United States Senate to vote in a timely anner to confirm" him asassociate justice.

The resolution observed that "during his fifteen years as a federal judge[Alito] has articulated a clear and well-reasoned view of the religion clauses of the First Amendment that is protective of religious liberty and which incorporates an appropriately broad view of the Constitution's guarantee of religious free exercise."

"Samuel Alito is a distinguished and highly regarded judge," the resolution continued, adding that he "demonstrated exceptional knowledge of Constitutional law and a laudable judicial temperament during hearings on his nomination." It noted that he "has been found to be 'well qualified' for that position by the American Bar Association."

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest lay Catholic organization, with more than 1.7 million members in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Philippines.