Religious freedom is one of the bedrock principles of the Constitution. So is the separation of Church & State. Senior officials are entitled to their beliefs. But when those beliefs threaten the freedoms of others, it is not only fair game to discuss them, it is our obligation.

At the highest levels of this admin there is already a concentration of officials whose extreme religious views are coloring public policy and threatening the freedoms...and religious views...of others. These include Attorney General Barr, Secretary of State Pompeo & VP Pence.

Amy Coney Barrett might well become another. Their presence is made worse by a president who has no values or religious beliefs at all who cynically empowers religious extremists in order to win political support.

This deal between a man whose entire life is an offense to the most basic principles of every world religion and those who purport to be guided by faith is a telling and damning indictment of both sides.

Our experience to date tells us that a president who will sell out the country to a foreign enemy to maintain power will offer the same deal to fringe groups within our society who seek to use their power to impose the will of a minority on the majority...

...and take away hard-earned, Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms in the process. That is why we must be candid and clear-eyed about who the President picks for the court or who he places in high position should he win re-election.

What is at stake, in fact, is true religious freedom and the most cherished values we hold as a democracy. Asking questions, understanding motives, considering conflicts of interest, is not denigrating the faith of candidates, but vital to protecting our faith in our system.