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Federal court rules favorably for non-profit that brings Bible teaching to public schools through off-campus, voluntary released-time program | Radical group to spend $15 million to block Trump nominee |
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School District Gets a Lesson on What
the Constitution Says
Big win this week for our client, LifeWise Academy.
A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction that stops the Everett Public School District from enforcing discriminatory regulations against LifeWise. The ruling affirms that it’s unconstitutional to target a program simply because it is religious.
LifeWise is a nonprofit with a mission to bring Bible teaching to children in public schools through an off-campus, voluntary released-time program. Despite having strong parental support, the school district has created obstacles for families who want their children to participate.
One of the school board members openly admitted he does “in fact hold animus toward LifeWise Academy.” Members of the community echoed those comments, likening LifeWise to the Nazi party.
The preliminary injunction is a first win that will allow LifeWise to continue its work as the case proceeds in court. But it’s far from over. Our federal lawsuit against the district is still pending, and there’s a lot of work ahead before a final victory.
LifeWise is counting on your continued support. Your gift is essential in making sure this ministry can keep bringing the Bible to children and families. Please give to First Liberty today.
GIVE TODAY »
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DOJ Report: Biden Administration
Really Didn’t Like Christians
This week, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias published a 500-page report detailing hundreds of examples of government hostility toward Christians under the Biden administration.
The report makes one thing clear: the fight for religious liberty in America is real.
“The Biden Administration’s policies regularly clashed with a Christian worldview and burdened traditional religious practices,” the report states. “These conflicts frequently arose over abortion, gender ideology, and sexual orientation. Ultimately, the Biden administration penalized Christians who lived in accordance with their beliefs.”
The report references multiple First Liberty cases and Supreme Court victories, including the impact of our precedent-setting wins for Coach Joe Kennedy, Faithful Carrier Gerald Groff and the U.S. Navy SEALs.
“This report is shocking,” said Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO at First Liberty. “The Biden administration’s record of hostility toward Christian Americans is despicable and should serve as a warning.”
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The Harmful Side Effects of Government Overreach
We’re about six years past the COVID epidemic. But many Americans are still feeling the lasting effects of religious discrimination that spread during the pandemic. What happened during that time was a constitutional crisis that opened an entirely new line of attacks on religious liberty.
Eight firefighters in Snohomish, Washington asked for a religious exemption from their employer’s vaccine mandate. For that, they were punished and ordered to go home without pay for months. They’re still fighting in court, waiting to be made whole for the discrimination and harassment they faced.
First Liberty recently asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the Snohomish Firefighters’ case, and to right the wrongs done to our clients.
This case could have broad, national impact. So many people of faith have been harmed by government overreach since the pandemic. Countless Americans were singled out and unlawfully punished because of their religious beliefs on vaccine mandates.
Here’s Senior Counsel Cliff Martin with a quick update on the case—and why winning it would be huge for religious employees across America, ensuring they are given equal opportunity and fair treatment in the workplace.
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Leading The Conversation | First Liberty in the News
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You Helped an Evangelist Win His Supreme Court Case. What’s Next?
About a month ago, we celebrated a big U.S. Supreme Court victory for Mississippi evangelist Gabriel Oliver. In a unanimous decision, the Court ruled that Gabe, and all Americans, have a right to their day in court.
So, what happens now? First Liberty is headed back to the lower courts to challenge the city ordinance that bans Gabe from sharing his Christian faith in a public park. Gabe wants to be able to return to sharing his faith without the threat of being arrested again. The next phase of this legal battle is just getting started.
Plus, since winning Gabe’s case, we’ve filed two more cases at the nation’s highest court. The justices also agreed to hear an important case involving Catholic families and preschools that were excluded from Colorado’s public funding programs because of their faith.
As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of independence, 2026 could be yet another historic year on the legal front that restores our Founders’ vision. These cases could set precedents that impact religious freedom for generations.
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Editors’ Picks | Stories Around the Nation
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