Washington, DC – Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President of The Interfaith Alliance issued the following statement following the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:

No administration in our history has trampled the First Amendment more than the Bush Administration, and since the beginning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been a key player in those policies. On behalf of a nation torn apart by the politicization of religion The Interfaith Alliance would welcome a nominee who would work to preserve and protect religious freedom in America. Unfortunately he or she will join an administration with a track record showing they only believe in one of the First Amendment’s two religious freedom clauses: Free Exercise but not the Establishment Clause.

Programs like Attorney General Gonzales’ “First Freedom Project” are great examples of how the administration’s rhetoric does not always match its actions. Despite this project’s stated objective of protecting religious liberty, the administration has continued to erode our freedoms with projects like this and the faith-based initiative.


Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.