To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

×
      LATEST NEWSOPINIONCLIMATEECONOMY POLITICS RIGHTS & JUSTICEWAR & PEACE
      LATEST NEWS
      OPINION

      americans united for separation of church and state

      Federal Appeals Court Green Lights Discrimination Against Non-Theists

      Federal Appeals Court Green Lights Discrimination Against Non-Theists

      It's yet another in a problematic line of recent decisions that allow government entities to endorse and promote religion (just about always Christianity) as long as it’s being done for "historic" purposes.

      Rob Boston
      Aug 28, 2019

      A federal appeals court on Friday handed down a disturbing ruling that elevates the rights of theistic believers over those of non-theists. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Fields v. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is part of a troubling trend in the courts that not only dilutes separation of church and state but grant special privileges to people because they believe in a god.

      Americans United and American Atheists brought the case on behalf of a group of non-theists in the state who wanted to do something theistic believers do frequently: give guest invocations before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Officials at the House refused, and AU filed suit.

      Keep ReadingShow Less
      Opinion

      Americans United Condemns U.S. Supreme Court's Decision to Allow Bladensburg Cross to Remain on Public Land

      Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, issued the following statement in response to today's U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Bladensburg Cross to remain standing on public land in Maryland:

      Newswire Editor
      Jun 20, 2019

      Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, issued the following statement in response to today's U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Bladensburg Cross to remain standing on public land in Maryland:

      "The Supreme Court's misguided decision to allow government to play favorites and prominently display religious symbols as public war memorials dishonors our country's veterans and the fundamental principle of religious freedom they fought and died for. The towering Bladensburg Cross is an inherently Christian symbol that excludes thousands of non-Christian veterans and ignores the tremendous sacrifices they made.

      Keep ReadingShow Less
      Newswire
      The Unholy Alliance Among Trump, Kavanaugh and the Evangelicals

      The Unholy Alliance Among Trump, Kavanaugh and the Evangelicals

      Donald Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is a gift to evangelical Christians

      Sonali Kolhatkar
      Sep 10, 2018

      Donald Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is a gift to evangelical Christians. It was their ardent hope the president would pick a justice friendly to their cause that drove many evangelicals to vote for Trump in the first place. As Ed Stetzer, writing in Christianity Today, put it: "It's the Supreme Court, stupid." Stetzer's piece was published in early 2017 after Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the position Republicans had blocked President Barack Obama from filling with his own nominee. Stetzer wrote, "Simply put, the Supreme Court is the reason that many Evangelicals voted for Trump." By swallowing their moral standards and voting for a president who violates so many evangelical sensibilities, religious conservatives may achieve--if Kavanaugh is confirmed--a 5-4 hard-right majority on the court for decades.

      Evangelical leader Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son) posted to his Facebook page a month before the 2016 election: "The most important issue of this election is the Supreme Court. That impacts everything." Appearing critical of both major party presidential nominees, he added, "There's no question, Trump and [Hillary] Clinton scandals might be news for the moment, but who they appoint to the Supreme Court will remake the fabric of our society for our children and our grandchildren, for generations to come."

      Keep ReadingShow Less
      Opinion
      SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
      Quality journalism. Progressive values. Direct to your inbox.
      Follow Us
      Most Popular

      Trump-Era Deregulation Deemed a Key Culprit in the Failure of Silicon Valley Bank

      Rupert Murdoch Lies at the Heart of Democracy's Destruction Worldwide

      'I Will Burn the Session to the Ground' Over Anti-Trans Bill, Says Nebraska Democrat

      South Carolina Bill to Execute People Who Have Abortions Gets Support From 21 Republicans

      'They're Such Cowards': GOP Pushes Bill Targeting Food Aid for the Poor

      Warren Calls for Clawing Back Pay, Bonuses for Silicon Valley Bank Executives

      GOP Author of Bank Deregulation Law Says 'No Need' for Tougher Safeguards

      This Big Bank Bailout Brought to You by Donald J. Trump

      Dominion, Tucker Carlson, and the Very Big and More Dangerous Lie

      After Brutal Assault, Yanis Varoufakis Urges Progressives to Focus on 'What Really Matters'

      SUPPORT OUR WORK.
      We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100%
      reader supported.