Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who made President Trump’s Supreme Court shortlist of potential nominees himself, used his opening statement to define “a pattern and practice of religious bigotry” he said Democratic members of the committee have shown against Barrett.
"This freedom of conscience and religious liberty underscores all of our other rights because it tells the government that it cannot tell us what to think or who we can assembly with or how we can worship or what we can say,” Hawley said. “This bedrock principle of American liberty is now under attack.”
Hawley deemed stories attacking Judge Barrett's faith "an attempt to bring back the veto power of the powerful over the religious beliefs and sincerely held convictions of the American people.”
He suggested a public official’s freedom of religion is at stake in the confirmation hearing.
“Judge Barrett is a Catholic. We all know that... Heck, 65 million Americans are Catholics and many, many millions more are Christians of other persuasions. Are they to be told that they cannot serve in public office? That they are not welcome in the public here unless the members of this committee sign off on their religious beliefs?” Hawley said. “I don't want to live in such an America.”
“I hope when we look back at the confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Barrett -- soon I hope to be Justice Amy Barrett -- one thing I hope we say is that was the year that the attempt to bring back religious test for office was finally stopped,” Hawley concluded.
He did not mention Trump has repeatedly attacked the faith of his political rivals.