April 27, 2020 The Honorable Michael Pompeo Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20250 Cc: Commission on Unalienable Rights Dear Mr. Secretary: We write as leaders of religions, faiths and traditions, representing millions of people of faith around the world, who are committed to the protection of human rights and gender equality. Although we come from different traditions, we are united in our belief that human rights are inherent to all human beings regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or language. We submit to you our objections to the creation and convening of the Commission on Unalienable Rights because of its intention to use “religious freedom” as a tool to dismantle human rights protections for some of the most vulnerable people across the globe. We are concerned about the Commission’s prioritization of religion or belief over the enjoyment of other human rights. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and subsequent human rights treaties make clear, human rights are interdependent, interrelated, and equal in importance. The creed of social justice shared by many of our faith traditions calls us to protect, defend and answer the needs of the most vulnerable of our society. This fundamental value fits hand in glove with the human rights we strive to advance. Respect for each person’s dignity and autonomy is also an essential value our faiths share and cannot be extricated from the human rights each person inherently possesses and that which we must seek to safeguard. The principle that all rights are equal is a product of the indivisibility of human rights and a principle that should be elevated in our U.S. foreign policy, not diminished or discarded. We are also deeply troubled that you and a number of commissioners have justified the Commission’s work by arguing that a so-called “proliferation” of human rights claims has undermined “fundamental” individual rights, namely freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. This argument is deeply misguided, and supports widespread concerns among people of faith and tradition that the Commission’s work will be used to support policies that would limit human rights, including those of women, girls, and LGBTQI individuals, and others who are already discriminated against. As religious and faith leaders, we faithfully reject the use of “religious freedom” as a cause to discriminate against women, LGBTQI persons and other minorities and to deny sexual and reproductive health and rights. As organizations and communities committed to the protection of religious freedom for every individual, we both expect respect for our own sincerely held beliefs and believe it is wrong to impose those beliefs on others. We are deeply troubled by the Trump administration’s misinterpretation of the foundational principle of religious liberty to mean only that which protects one narrow set of religious beliefs. We strongly believe, as people of faith, that it is wrong to allow the imposition of one set of beliefs on society as a whole. Genuine religious freedom must encompass both freedom of religious expression and the freedom from any one set of religious beliefs being encoded into public law or practice, particularly when those beliefs violate the human rights of others. During this time of a global pandemic that is exposing vast inequalities, human rights are more important than ever. As faith leaders, we ask that you immediately disband the Commission on Unalienable Rights and cease to release any report from its members. In Faith, A Critical Mass:Women Celebrating ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Eucharist New York, NY Oakland, CA African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas American Friends Service Committee Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, PA American Jewish World Service Birmingham Unitarian Church New York, NY Troy, MI Catholics for Choice Chapel Street Congregational Church Washington, DC Lincoln, RI Congregation Kol Ami Detroit Metropolitan Association United West Hollywood, California Church of Christ Social Justice Team Detroit, MI DignityUSA Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance Medford, MA Indianapolis, IN Estuary Space Faith in Public Life La Mirada, CA Washington, DC First Presbyterian Church Florida Interfaith Coalition for Santa Fe, NM Reproductive Health and Justice Osprey, FL Friends Committee on National Friends Meeting Of Washington Peace Legislation and Social Concerns Committee Washington, DC Washington, DC Global Justice Institute Metropolitan Community Churches New York, NY Albuquerque, NM HaMakom Interfaith Leaders of Greater Lafayette Santa Fe, NM West Lafayette, IN Reproductive Justice Task Force Interfaith Worker Justice - New Mexico Detroit, MI Santa Fe, NM Jewish Women International Washington, DC Keshet Boston, MA Metropolitan Community Church Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Albuquerque, NM Justice Network (MUUSJN) Royal Oak, MI Muslims for Progressive Values National Council of Churches Los Angeles, CA Washington, DC National Council of Jewish Women, National LGBTQ Task Force Michigan Washington, DC Southfield, Michigan NM Religious Coalition for Reproductive New Ways Ministry Rights Mount Rainier, MD Albuquerque, NM Ohio Religious Coalition for PA Religious Coalition for Reproductive Reproductive Choice Justice Columbus, OH Harrisburg, PA Planned Parenthood Religious Coalition Presbyterian Church USA Providence, RI Washington, DC Religious Institute Reconstructing Judaism Washington, DC Philadelphia, PA Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rhode Island Religious Coalition for Choice Reproductive Freedom Washington, DC Providence, RI Room for All Des Moines, IA The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society Rising Sun Christian Community Washington, DC Albuquerque, NM St. Peter's Episcopal Church Milford, CT The United Methodist Church – General The Global Justice Institute Board of Church and Society New York, NY Washington, DC (un)common good collective Unitarian Church of Hinsdale Chicago, IL Hinsdale, IL UURISE - Unitarian Universalist Refugee Women's Ordination Conference & Immigrant Services & Education Washington, DC Vista, CA Individuals Rabbi Barry Block Rabbi Diane Elliot Congregation B'nai Israel Wholly Present Little Rock, AR El Sobrante, CA Rabbi Dean Shapiro Rabbi Eleanor Steinman Temple Emanuel of Tempe Los Angeles, CA Tempe, AZ Rabbi Elliot Dorff Cantor Shulamit Wise Fairman American Jewish University Kehilla Synagogue Los Angeles, CA Oakland, CA Rabbi Lisa Bock Congregational Leader Julie Batz Chochmat Westlake Village, CA HaLevBerkeley, CA Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb Pastor Kent Tuohino Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Trinity Lutheran Church Berkeley, CA Riverside, CA Rabbi Malka Mittelman Rabbi Anne Brener La Crescenta, CA AJRCA Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Max Chaiken Congregation Kol Ami Rabbi Borukh Goldberg West Hollywood, CA Santa Cruz, CA Rabbi Steven Jacobs Rabbi Burt Jacobson Central Conference of American Rabbis Kehilla Community Synagogue Alameda, CA Piedmont, CA Rabbi Denise Eger Rabbi David J. Cooper Congregation Kol Ami Kehilla Community Synagogue West Hollywood, CA Piedmont, CA Reverend Jeffrey Ryan Rabbi Dev Noily Riverside Center for Spiritual Living Kehilla Community Synagogue Riverside, CA Oakland, CA The Reverend Julie Kelly Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik E.L.C.A. Los Angeles, CA Riverside, CA Rabbi Meredith Cahn Ani Zonneveld Petaluma, CA Muslims for Progressive Values Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Emeritus Steven Chester Temple Sinai Rabbi Ruthie Adar Oakland, CA San Leandro, CA Rabbi Aryeh Cohen Rabbi Rachel Adler American Jewish University Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Los Angeles, CA Religion Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Hillel Cohn San Bernardino, CA Rabbi Mona Alfi Congregation B’nai Israel Rabbi David J. Cooper Sacramento, CA Kehilla Community Synagogue Berkeley, CA Rabbi Camille Shira Angel University of San Francisco Rabbi Mychal Copeland San Francisco, CA Sha'ar Zahav San Francisco, CA Rabbi Melanie Aron Rabbi Barry Diamond Los Gatos, CA Temple Adat Elohim Thousand Oaks, CA Rabbi RBO Bat-Or Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Amy Eilberg Los Altos, CA Rabbi Allen Bennett San Francisco, CA Rabbi Emeritus Stephen J. Einstein Congregation B’nai Tzedek Rabbi Allan Berkowitz Fountain Valley, CA San Jose, CA Rabbi Diane Elliot Rabbi Joel Berman Wholly Present Temple Beth Emet El Sobrante, CA Anaheim, CA Rabbi Richard Ettelson Rabbi Lisa Bock Murrieta, CA Westlake Village, CA Rabbi Andrew Feig Rabbi Alan Henkin Los Angeles, CA Beth Knesset Bamidbar Lancaster, CA Rabbi Karen Fox Wilshire Boulevard Temple Rabbi Cynthia Hoffman Los Angeles, CA Davis, CA Rabbi Pam Frydman Rabbi Jocee Hudson Congregation B'nai Emunah Temple Israel of Hollywood San Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Laura Geller Rabbi Paul Kipnes Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills Congregation Or Ami Los Angeles , CA Tarzana, CA Rabbi Miriyam Glazer Rabbi Jessica Kirschner Ikar San Carlos, CA Los Angeles, CA Rabbi David Klatzker Rabbi Marvin Goodman Long Beach , CA Foster City, CA Rabbi Alex Kress Rabbi Sara Goodman Los Angeles, CA Santa Monica, CA Rabbi David Lazar Rabbi Mel Gottlieb Or Hamidbar Los Angeles, CA Palm Springs, CA Rabbi Debra Hachen Rabbi Moshe Levin Walnut Creek, CA Congregation Ner Tamid San Francisco, CA Rabbi Laura Harari Laguna Woods, CA Cantor Nancy Linder Temple Beth David Cantor Sara Hass Westminster, CA Temple Israel Long Beach , CA Rabbi Janet Marder Congregation Beth Am Rabbi Corey Helfand Los Altos Hills, CA Peninsula