More than 50 leading conservative Catholics on Friday threw their support behind Republican primary hopeful Ted Cruz.

The group, which is co-chaired by Princeton professor Robert George and former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, cited Mr. Cruz’s commitment to protecting religious liberty.

“No one has been stronger than Ted in standing up for religious liberty and other fundamental constitutional freedoms,” Mr. George said in a statement put out by the campaign. “He will foster a culture, form the top down, that honors the Constitution – the one thing that, despite our differences, binds us all together as Americans.”

Mr. Cruz said he is “proud” to stand with the Catholic Church on issues ranging from abortion to gay marriage and the free exercise of religion.

“These three issues have been central to my campaign since the very beginning, and I have been proud to stand with Catholics in the fight to protect the dignity of every life, the sacrament of marriage, and the First Amendment right to religious liberty,” he said in a statement.

The Texas senator also denounced President Obama for his “audacity to sue the Little Sisters of the Poor,” a Catholic order challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate.

He said it “has never been more critical to stand with those who have dedicated their lives to the service of the Church and its mission of loving the whole world.”

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