SCA and our members won't let that stand. Join us and make your voice heard!

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Dear Friend,

As COVID-19 continues to spread, we all need to do our part to flatten the curve by staying at home and practicing social distancing when it is necessary to leave the house.

Unfortunately, not all religious Americans have gotten the message—they’re gathering for services, spreading the coronavirus and dying as a result ([link removed][UNIQID]) .

As a secular nation, one would expect elected officials to stand firmly for the public good and state: This is unacceptable. We cannot privilege religion over public health.

Yet of the more than 40 governors who have implemented statewide stay-at-home orders to protect public health, around a dozen have made exceptions for religious gatherings, furthering both the spread of the virus and strains on limited public resources as a result.
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To combat these dangerous and unnecessary exemptions, many of our member organizations have been working diligently to spotlight these reckless state leaders, working to hold them accountable and build public momentum for a change in policy.

American Atheists is encouraging nonbelievers from across the country to speak out and oppose special exemptions for houses of worship ([link removed][UNIQID]) .

Freedom from Religion Foundation sent letters to every governor, has built a COVID-19 activism hub ([link removed][UNIQID]) , and has launched a campaign to help secular Americans contact their governor and urge them to revisit this dangerous policy ([link removed][UNIQID]) .

Center for Inquiry launched a COVID-19 resource center ([link removed][UNIQID]) , which fact checks the unprecedented deluge of pseudoscience and misinformation flooding our screens during this pandemic.
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In response to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis exempting churches from following social distancing requirements, the Freedom From Religion Foundation put up this large billboard ([link removed][UNIQID]) on Interstate 95.

American Humanist Association Executive Director Roy Speckhardt put it best:
“During this perilous time, the vast majority of churches, mosques, temples, as well as all humanist groups, have already done the right thing and halted face-to-face meetings in order to protect their congregations and memberships… We’re all making sacrifices to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and those we don’t even know from COVID-19. Clergy must especially take proper precautions since their actions could protect or endanger so many.”
The Secular Coalition for American and our 19 member organizations will keep working to ensure the government’s response to this pandemic doesn’t allow religious groups to put lives in jeopardy.

A minority of people, blinded by faith, could have a devastating impact on our society if we don’t ask our governors to end these exemptions now and prevent them in the future.

Please, make your voice heard by using the links above.

Stay safe out there,

Debbie
Debbie Allen
Executive Director
Secular Coalition for America

P.S. Our fight to keep the government secular, is more important than ever as the scientific community works to guide elected officials during this pandemic. It is only possible with your support. If you are able to give in this challenging time, please do. ([link removed][UNIQID])

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