News From The Week Of July 6 – July 10, 2020

Friend:

This week the U.S. Supreme Court wrapped up its 2020 term with two more disappointing rulings that continued to twist religious freedom into a sword to harm others instead of as a shield to protect all of us, as the Constitution intended.

In Trump v. Pennsylvania, the court undermined both religious freedom and reproductive freedom by declaring the Trump administration had authority to issue regulations allowing employers and universities to refuse to provide birth control coverage to employees and students, because of their religious beliefs. To read our team’s in-depth analysis of this case’s vast implications, click here: [link removed]

In Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, the court gave us another big reason to stop private school voucher schemes at all costs. This 7-2 decision grants a free pass to private religious schools to discriminate against their own teachers by classifying them as clergy, including because of their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability… the list goes on and on. In the wake of the horrible Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue decision earlier this month, any voucher program that funds private secular schools now must fund religious schools, and those schools now have more leeway to discriminate against their own teachers.

Vouchers continue to be a very real threat, as President Trump and Education Secretary DeVos are currently making a move to include private school voucher programs in the next coronavirus relief package, and even suggested redirecting federal funds away from public schools that refuse to open amid the pandemic: [link removed]

Friend, I know reading about these harmful decisions is difficult, and grappling with their consequences is emotionally draining, but remember this: Americans United was founded to fight these fights -- and the tides will turn.

In America, we don’t share the same origin or ancestry. All we have in common, and what the American experiment relies on, is our common values and aspirations. With you by our side, AU will always stand firm in defense of freedom and equality.

Onward and upward,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

Trump And DeVos Exploit Pandemic To Push Reckless Private School Voucher Scheme:
During this challenging time, the federal government should focus on providing more resources to our public schools, which are best equipped to serve all students, including our most vulnerable children like students with disabilities.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Federal Court Rejects Request To Open Jewish Sleepaway Camps In N.Y.:
Despite what President Donald Trump may believe, the coronavirus is showing no signs of miraculously disappearing. In fact, several states that rushed to reopen are now pulling back as cases skyrocket.
READ MORE » [link removed]

The Supreme Court Is Embracing A Reckless And Dangerous Definition Of Religious Freedom:
These rulings, taken in conjunction with a decision last week in which the Supreme Court greatly hindered the ability of states to restrict taxpayer funding of private religious schools, show a court that has embraced a dangerous interpretation of religious freedom.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Creationist Ken Ham Wants To ‘Cancel’ Instruction About Evolution In Public Schools:
Charles Darwin put forth the first word in evolution, not the last. Since his time, many other scientists have looked at the same data and advanced and refined Darwin’s ideas.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Trump’s Proposal For Statues Is Yet More Pandering To His Christian Nationalist Base:
President Trump’s proposal for a garden of 'American heroes' is merely another sop to his far-right, Christian nationalist base. It adds nothing of value to the discussion we so desperately need to have.
READ MORE » [link removed]

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Americans United for Separation of Church and State
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