News From The Week Of February 3 – 7, 2020

Friend:

At President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, we once again found ourselves in opposites land. “My administration is also defending religious liberty,” Trump boasted.

This couldn’t be further from the truth: The president is attacking religious freedom on all fronts, as I detail in my video response to the State of the Union, which you can watch here: [link removed]

Trump also took full advantage of his platform to brag about his administration’s “defense” of prayer in public schools. But let’s be clear: The administration’s recent actions are intended to encourage coercive prayer, including at school events; invite aggressive peer-to-peer proselytization; and permit teachers to participate with students in religious activity.

This isn’t defending students’ religious freedom; it’s granting religious privilege to those students who are part of the majority religion in their schools -- and opening the door to bullying, harassment and ostracism of religious minorities and LGBTQ students.

Speaking of students, this month AU officially kicked off the 2020 Student Essay Contest! Open to all students and with a first-place prize of $1,500 (and publication in Church & State magazine), this contest gives students a chance to connect to church-state separation.

Please click here to learn more about this year’s essay contest, and share it with the students in your life (or participate, if you’re eligible!): [link removed]

Friend, I am so grateful you are part of our movement. Your support enables AU to continue our critical work every day to protect a core tenet of our democracy during quite a moment in history.

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

Trump’s Call For Inclusion At The National Prayer Breakfast Rings Hollow:
Although much of Trump’s speech was his usual braggadocio, one line stood out for its disingenuousness. 'Together we are building the world’s most prosperous and inclusive society,' Trump said. 'We are lifting up citizens of every race, color, religion and creed.'
READ MORE » [link removed]

The National Prayer Breakfast: Get Ready For Another Serving Of ‘God And Country’ Rhetoric:
One would think President Donald Trump would need a break after spewing the fusillade of nonsense that was his State of the Union address, but no such luck – he’ll be back with more at the National Prayer Breakfast (NPB).
READ MORE » [link removed]

Trump Is Preparing To Push A Nationwide Voucher Plan. Here’s What You Need To Know.:
Since this plan is likely to get a lot of attention in the days and weeks to come, it’s important to brush up on the dangers of private school vouchers.
READ MORE » [link removed]

We Are All ‘Militant Secularists’ Now:
For the past three years, the Trump administration has been laboring to turn religious freedom into an instrument of discrimination, a device to treat some people (LGBTQ folks, women, Muslims and other religious minorities, nonbelievers, etc.) as if they have second-class status.
READ MORE » [link removed]

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Americans United for Separation of Church and State
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