Appeals Court Gives Its Blessing to Post

Ten Commandments in Texas Classrooms

A Texas law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments is constitutional, a federal appeals court ruled this week.

The opinion cites four First Liberty victories that reestablished freedom for displays, education and monuments reflecting America’s religious history. One case in particular, our U.S. Supreme Court victory in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, overruled an old case called Lemon v. Kurtzman that wreaked havoc on religious displays throughout the country.

“We conclude the Texas law does not violate either the Establishment Clause or the Free Exercise Clause,” read the opinion of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“This is an important victory for religious freedom,” said First Liberty President, CEO & Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford, ”and we applaud the 5th Circuit for upholding the Constitution.”

The victory for Coach Kennedy is having a broad ripple effect impacting religious expression in public places far beyond the specifics of that case. The nation is returning to what America’s Founders intended.

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A City in Alabama Doesn’t Want Men

to Recover from Addiction

The City of Rainsville, Alabama told a local ministry it must stop helping men struggling with addiction.

Total Recovery Ministries operates a program that helps men overcome substance abuse, gambling, pornography, and many other life-controlling problems. Grounded in Christian values, the ministry guides men to lead productive lives centered on faith.

The ministry purchased a facility and applied for a permit to use it as a residential space where it would house program participants and other ministry visitors. The city rejected the proposal and sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding that all ministry efforts be stopped within 30 days.

First Liberty sent a demand letter to the city explaining how it is violating state and federal law, as well as Total Recovery’s constitutionally protected freedoms. We’re asking the city to grant a permit so the ministry can continue its compassionate and vital work.

Ministries and churches are being attacked and harassed for living out their faith and caring for the most vulnerable. Your support can ensure Total Recovery—and ministries across the country—are free to fulfill their divinely-inspired calling to serve their community. Please give to First Liberty today.

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In Case You Missed It:

Religious Liberty Commission Holds Final Hearing

The Religious Liberty Commission held its final hearing on April 13. The Commission heard powerful testimonies from people of all faiths impacted by religious discrimination, and discussed the past, present and future of religious freedom in America.

First Liberty President and CEO Kelly Shackelford shares about the generational impact of the Commission’s forthcoming recommendations. He talks about the historic opportunity to protect America’s founding principles and ensure religious freedom thrives in our country.

What happens next? The Commission will deliver its final report to the President in a planned Rose Garden Ceremony on the National Day of Prayer in May.

Leading The Conversation | First Liberty in the News

• Federal Appeals Court Upholds Texas Ten Commandments Law — President, CEO & Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford quoted in The New York Times
  
  
• Podcast | Religious Liberty: The First Freedom — President, CEO & Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford in Radio Free Hillsdale Hour
  
  
• Does the First Amendment Protect Progressive Bakers from Serving Republicans? — Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence in The Daily Signal
  
  
• Video | Biden DOJ Monitored Pro-life Families, Gathered Private Data — Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys in NewsMax
  
  
• Civics is Not Enough: A Proposal for the Study of American Civilization — Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy Research Fellow Jacob Wolf in Reading Wheel Review
  
  

Justice Clarence Thomas: The Supreme Act of Courage

Jorge Gomez, Director of Content Strategy

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently gave a stirring speech at the University of Texas at Austin in which he urged young Americans to stand up for our nation’s founding principles.

At an event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas underscored the need for courage at a time when our most sacred rights, freedoms and values are under attack.

“By all means, celebrate the Declaration of Independence,” Thomas said. “It is the most important act in American history, the foundation of our Constitution.”

“But, I implore you to celebrate it by standing up for it, by defending it, and by recommitting yourselves to living up to its ideals. Channel the courage of the men who faced down a king and signed it. Or a President who led the nation in a civil war...Take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion.”

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Editors’ Picks | Stories Around the Nation

• Supreme Court to Hear Catholic Parish's Challenge after Colorado Barred Schools from Universal Pre-K Program — Fox News
  
  
• Hegseth Announces End to Military Flu Vaccine Requirement: ‘We Will Not Force You’ — New York Post
  
  
• Opinion | Church-State Separation Rightly Understood — WORLD
  
  
• Trump Joins America Reads the Bible, Shares 2 Chronicles from Oval Office — The Christian Post
  
  
• Opinion | Two Visions of Religious Liberty — First Things
  
  
• Coast Guard Agrees to ‘Structural Protections’ for Religious Personnel — EWTN News
  
  
• Rise in Young Men’s Religiosity Realigns Gender Gaps — Gallup News