As a person of faith, I urge you to oppose Judge Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court. After four days of hearings, I am deeply concerned about Judge Alito's position on a wide range of issues.

As a pastor and a former attorney, I enter the fray over this nomination with great trepidation. I have always felt that the 'advice and consent' powers afforded to the Senate should be concerned mainly with a candidate's qualifications. I also support the idea that one's religious beliefs should not disqualify him or her from assuming a position that may call for balancing core values and beliefs with public needs and settled law so long as the candidate understands that imposition of a particular religious point of view on all violates the spirit, if not the the letter, of the First Amendment.

That being said, the current court vacancy is perhaps the most important in a generation. The next justice will likely be the swing vote on dozens of key issues, not the least of which are a woman's right to choose and the breadth of congressional power under the Commerce Clause.

Given Judge Alito's refusal to make even the same acknowledgments as the new Chief Justice concerning Roe v. Wade, and his alarming un-disavowed positions while serving in this and prior administrations--not just as an neutral attorney/advocate but as a legal and policy advisor--I am truly fearful of what damage a Justice Alito might do to our environment, our basic liberties, and our fundamental rights.

I appreciate you taking the time to consider my input and wish you all the best as you seek to do what is best for the future of Illinois and for the United States.

Wishing you grace and peace,