Advocates for Church-State Separation Find Humor, Joy Amid Challenging Work
This week’s Summit for Religious Freedom, organized by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, struck a tone of joyful resistance.
Hey, Fifth Circuit: Keep John Leland’s Name Out of Your Mouth!
A court of appeals ruling just overturned Supreme Court precedent on posting the Ten Commandments in public schools — and the majority opinion conscripted a legendary colonial Baptist figure who fought for church-state separation to justify their actions.
Texas Can Require Public Schools to Display ‘Ten Commandments’ in Classrooms, US Appeals Court Rules
The ruling sets up a potential clash at the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue in the future. Arkansas and Louisiana have passed similar laws, which have also been challenged in courts.
Supreme Court Will Hear From Religious Preschools Challenging Exclusion From Taxpayer-Funded Program
The state of Colorado said that faith-based schools are welcome to participate, but they must comply with nondiscrimination laws.
Hegseth Borrows Violent Prayer From ‘Pulp Fiction’ to Bless Iran War at April Pentagon Worship Service
Pete Hegseth, who likes to call himself ‘secretary of war,’ read a prayer during the latest government worship service that echoes a scene written by Quentin Tarantino calling for ‘great vengeance and furious anger.’
Turning Point USA’s High School Push in GOP States Meets Free Speech and Religion Concerns
The Republican administrations of Nebraska, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, Florida, Tennessee, and Indiana have each announced partnerships with Turning Point USA to promote school chapters in every high school.
Church-State Separation Is a ‘Lie,’ Says Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Chair
‘Church-state separation ensures we are all free to live as ourselves and believe as we choose, as long as we don’t harm others,’ Rachel Laser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State countered.
Baptist Pastor Urges Department of Labor to Seek a ‘Living Jesus’ Not a ‘Dead Jesus’ During Monthly Worship Service
Rev. Caleb Morell, a Southern Baptist, offered an evangelistic message about the resurrection of Jesus that stopped just short of a formal altar call as he urged government workers to follow Jesus.
Bible Stories Would Be Part of a New Texas Public Schools Reading List Drawing Attention
Biblical stories like Jonah and the whale would be required reading for Texas public school students under proposals that are putting the state at the center of another contentious wrangling over the role of religion in classrooms.
Judge Rejects Johnson Amendment Settlement, Keeping Ban on Pastors Endorsing Candidates
The ruling caps a decades-long battle to overturn a ban on houses of worship endorsing candidates.