Sen. Cory Booker’s historic 25-hour speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate last week was “the precise embodiment of the historic Black Christian political witness,” Jemar Tisby told a gathering of church-state separationists April 6. Tisby, professor of history…
‘Do No Harm Act’ gets introduced yet again
A coalition of Democratic legislators has reintroduced the “Do No Harm Act” in the U.S. Congress with hopes of clarifying that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act cannot be used to harm others. The bill has been reintroduced every year since…
Oklahoma parents sue Walters to stop Bible curriculum in schools
The families, teachers and religious leaders already suing to block Oklahoma from buying classroom Bibles are now attempting to prevent the state from purchasing a Scripture-based curriculum for elementary school children. The plaintiffs filed a brief with the Oklahoma Supreme…
Show up and speak up to save democracy, panelists urge
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he is struggling to fully comprehend the Trump administration’s overwhelming assault on basic freedoms as well as its ongoing attempt to dismantle federal programs and agencies. Calling the situation a “crisis” would be an…
Battle continues over Louisiana Ten Commandments law
All Louisiana school districts must comply with a recent federal court ruling barring classroom Ten Commandments displays despite contradictory guidance from a state official, civil rights groups said in a Jan. 6 letter to district superintendents. Three days earlier, Louisiana…
Religious liberty groups say they’re ready to oppose Trump
Donald Trump’s next presidency promises to be more frightening and damaging than the first given his threats against immigrants, democracy and religious liberty, said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. “As outlined in Project 2025,…
Americans United investigating Ohio construction grants to religious schools
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has launched an investigation into the state of Ohio reportedly funding at least $3 million of construction and renovation at private religious schools. This year, the state made history by offering grants…
Christian Zionism: the blind spot in faith-based activism against Christian nationalism
Christian nationalism in the United States seems more alive than ever. Project 2025 threatens to erode the separation of church and state, Donald Trump is hailed as a messiah following his assassination attempt, and at the state level, Ten Commandments…
Americans United launches toolkit to help anyone talk about dangers of Project 2025
One of the more infuriating and frightening aspects of Project 2025 is the audacity of its designers to openly promote the subversion of the U.S. government and Constitution, said Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and…
Ryan Walters descends from the Capitol with new commandments for Oklahoma teachers
The handwriting is on the wall for Oklahoma teachers. Anyone who knows the Jewish and Christian Scriptures would understand that statement is a riff on a well-known passage from Daniel 5:5 where mysterious handwriting appeared on the wall with a…
Plaintiffs ask Louisiana judge to bar implementation of Ten Commandments law immediately
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against mandatory Ten Commandments displays in Louisiana public classrooms have asked a federal court to bar implementation of the new law as their litigation proceeds. Signed into law June 19, House Bill 71 requires the posting…
Oklahoma Supreme Court says Catholic charter school unconstitutional
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a decision by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to grant a charter school license to a sectarian Catholic school. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would have been the nation’s first sectarian…