Contact: Stephen M. Gelé, American Public Policy Alliance, 800-968-4211, admin@publicpolicyalliance.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Eight leaders of the Jewish and Anglican religious communities have released letters in partnership with the American Public Policy Alliance (APPA) endorsing the American Laws for American Courts (ALAC) model bill (publicpolicyalliance.org/?page_id=38) and affirming that ALAC will not interfere with the religious freedom of any denomination.

The eight leaders are:

Rabbi Aryeh Spero
President, Caucus for America

Rabbi Jonathan Hausman, J.D.
Congregation Ahavath Torah
Stoughton, Massachusetts

Bishop David C. Anderson
President and CEO, American Anglican Council

Reverend Canon J. Philip Ashey, Esq.
Chief Operating and Development Officer, American Anglican Council
Official legal and canonical adviser to churches
Member of the Governance Task Force which drafted the Constitution and Canons of the new Anglican Church in North America

Reverend Charles A."Drew" Collins, Jr., S.B.R.
Vicar of St. Thomas Church
Moncks Corner, South Carolina

Reverend David Jones
Rector, Saint Paul's Church
Haymarket, Virginia

The Very Reverend Dr. Keith Roderick, D.D.
Secretary General of the Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights
Representative, Christian Solidarity International
Executive Director of the Sudan Campaign
Rector, St. Andrew's Episcopal (Anglican) Church
Carbondale, IL

Father Richard Kim, Retired
Retired Episcopal priest
Former Green Beret
Grosse Point, MI

Rabbi Spero stated:

"The Constitution has been the greatest guarantor of our religious rights here in America since our founding. Any assertion that assigns 'racism or bigotry' to those who wish the Constitution to be the sole arbiter of our laws is egregious and fundamentally skewed. We are here to reinforce the Constitution above any other system of law. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Father Keith Roderick agreed:
 

"When it is possible to strengthen the protections of our Constitution and First Amendment protections, it seems expeditious to do so. The temptation to defer to foreign laws to resolve matters that have both civil and religious implications within the culture of the litigants risks the erosion of basic civil rights and religious rights."

 
This endorsement by Jewish and Christian leaders follows a similar endorsement by the American Islamic Leadership Coalition: (publicpolicyalliance.org/?p=632)

The letter from the interfaith leaders, outlines the necessity and strengths of ALAC.

The Act's sole objective is to protect all U.S. citizens and residents from the application of foreign laws when the application of a foreign law will result in the violation, in the specific matter at issue, of a liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States or the public policies of the state in question.

Often the parties litigating in those state courts are left to their own devices to understand that granting comity to a foreign judgment may be at odds with our state and federal constitutional principles in the specific matters at issue.

The American Laws for American Courts Act is constitutional and "facially neutral" ... and in the two years since its introduction into state legislatures, it has never been challenged in court.

The Act is carefully defined so as not to interfere with the right of any individual or entity to the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and by the constitutions of the states.

Nothing in the Act prevents any person from freely exercising his or her right to freedom of religion and worship. American Laws for American Courts only applies to legal doctrines in our court systems. It does not discriminate in any way based on faith of any kind.

The goal of the American Laws for American Courts Act is a clear and unequivocal application of what should be the goal of all state courts: No U.S. citizen or resident should be denied the liberties, rights, and privileges guaranteed in our constitutional republic.

View the Full Text of the Letter from Religious Leaders to Legislators here: (publicpolicyalliance.org/?p=650)

View the full text of this press release here: (publicpolicyalliance.org/?p=653)

The American Public Policy Alliance (APPA), a non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to government transparency, government accountability and the constitutionality of U.S. and state laws and policies, is working with legislators nationwide on policies and initiatives. Along with allied organizations, APPA is working to defend free speech, preserve and promote human rights, maintain the strength of our U.S. and state constitutions, and aid and promote public safety.

One of the greatest threats to American values and liberties today comes from foreign laws and foreign legal doctrines which have been influencing our legal system at the municipal, state and federal levels. This phenomenon is known as “transnationalism” and includes the increasingly frequent appearance of Islamic Shariah law. APPA focuses largely on combating this process across a broad variety of issues.

For more information visit www.publicpolicyalliance.org.