Americans United for Separation of Church and State

False Freedom: Ky. Governor Should Veto Reckless ‘Religious Liberty’ Law

boston — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:37:20 +0000

Kentucky legislators have passed a law they say protects “religious freedom” and have forwarded it to Gov. Steve Beshear.

This morning, Americans United joined other groups in the state asking Beshear to veto the bill.

It’s not that AU doesn’t support religious freedom. Indeed, we consider the separation of church and state a necessary precondition for true religious liberty to flourish. The problem is, this bill isn’t really about religious freedom; it’s designed to do other things entirely. Read more

kentucky, Steve Beshear, Fairness Coalition, American Civil Liberties Union, Family Foundation, Focus On The Family

No Bible For Brennan: CIA Director Takes Oath Of Office On Constitution

brown — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:27:13 +0000

Simon Brown

Wall of Separation

When CIA Director John Brennan placed his hand on a copy of the U.S. Constitution last week to take his oath of office, did he defy the very document on which he swore? Absolutely not. Read more

John Brennan, David Petraeus, Mat Staver

Petition Interdiction: Tenn. Legislator Seeks To Make It A Crime To Protest Church-State Violations

boston — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:06:05 +0000

Rob Boston

Wall of Separation

Whenever I hear someone talking about the alleged shift in American politics that is supposedly turning the country away from far-right politics, I have to pause, collect myself and say politely, “We’re not quite there yet.”

If you don’t believe me, take a look at what’s going in some of the states.

It’s estimated that 24 state legislatures have been strongly influenced by an unholy partnership of Religious Right groups and Tea Party activists. Some awfully strange legislation is surfacing in those states. Read more

Tennessee, Randy McNally, First Amendment, right to petition

Awesome Anniversary: Celebrating 65 Years Of The McCollum Ruling

boston — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:50:10 +0000

Rob Boston

Wall of Separation

Sixty-five years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down one of its most important church-state decisions.

The 8-1 ruling in McCollum v. Board of Education ended a practice in the Champaign, Ill., public schools of allowing ministers to come onto the campus during the day to offer sectarian instruction. Read more

Vashti McCollum, Jim McCollum, Dan McCollum, Jay Rosenstein, Hugo Black, McCollum v. Board of Education, U.S. Supreme Court

Winston-Salem AU Joins Protest of Good News Club

corbin — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:27:30 +0000

Beth Corbin

In The Field

This Saturday, March 9, from 9 AM to 3 PM, Winston-Salem AU chapter members and supporters are encouraged to join with Forsyth Area Critical Thinkers (FACT), to demonstrate against the Good News Club event to be held at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. FACT President Steve Hewitt informs us they will be setting up in the fairgrounds, off Deacon Blvd, at 9 AM at the Archway to the Coliseum just outside the Education Building. Read more

chapter event

Access Supplied: Court Says Public Library Can’t Block Pagan Websites

brown — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:12:19 +0000

Simon Brown

Wall of Separation

In Ray Bradbury’s sci-fi classic Fahrenheit 451, books are burned as part of an extreme act of government censorship. Recently, it seems a Missouri public library was engaging in the 21st century equivalent of book burning by blocking access to Pagan websites. Read more

Salem Public Library, ACLU of Eastern Missouri, Fahrenheit 451

Fundamentalist Forces?: New Report Highlights Ongoing Church-State Problems In America’s Military

boston — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:02:37 +0000

Rob Boston

Wall of Separation

When U.S. military leaders announced that openly gay men and women would be permitted to service in the armed forces, Religious Right leaders went ballistic.

They asserted that the move would destroy military cohesion and leave our fighting force less able to do the job. Of course, that didn’t actually happen. One year after the change, military leaders reported that the new policy was working out fine. Read more

James Parco, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, Center for Inquiry, mikey weinstein, U.S. military, Air Force Academy

Texas Two-Step: Religious Right Anti-Family Planning Agenda Backfires In The Lone Star State

brown — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:09:15 +0000

Simon Brown

Wall of Separation

A funny thing happens when state lawmakers advance the Religious Right’s agenda: It can end up costing that state a ton of money. Big bills are a problem for even the staunchest allies of the Religious Right, and that has led to a change of heart in Texas when it comes to funding family planning services. Read more

Planned Parenthood, Gov. Rick Perry

Weekly State Legislation Highlights

wolbrink — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:06:57 +0000

Vanessa Wolbrink

Legislative

Several church-state separation issues are coming up in the states. Here are a few highlighted bills that AU is working on: Read more

Capital Creationism Critic: Zack Kopplin And The Next Wave Of Church-State Activism

boston — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:00:06 +0000

Rob Boston

Wall of Separation

Activists who have defended the separation of church and state for a long time sometimes ask me if there’s a new generation of young people who will carry on this work in the years to come.

The answer is yes. This past weekend, you might have had the opportunity to see one of them on “Moyers & Company” on PBS.

Long-time PBS journalist Bill Moyers interviewed Zack Kopplin, a 19-year-old college student and Louisiana native who causes headaches for creationists everywhere. Read more

Zack Kopplin, Bill Moyers, creationism, louisiana, Rice University, Texas, PBS, Downton Abbey, Susan Jacoby