News From The Week Of September 9 - 13, 2019

Friend:

This week I joined Nathaniel Pearlman on his podcast “The Great Battlefield” to discuss my journey to Americans United and why the separation of religion and government is so crucial to protect religious freedom for all.

As grassroots activists everywhere mobilize to save our democracy, it’s so important that we impart just how central church-state separation is to our country’s DNA and also to the broader movement for social justice. Click here to listen now – and don’t hesitate to share it with your friends and family: [link removed]

That’s not all, though. I also had the pleasure of joining a panel of inspiring people committed to elevating progressive religious voices as a powerful antidote to the influence Christian nationalists are exerting on our politics. Our conversation followed a screening of the documentary “American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel,” which told the story of a group of defiant ministers who are challenging fundamentalist Christian doctrine in Oklahoma. We were fortunate to have two of those faith leaders – the Rev. Marlin Lavanhar and Bishop Carlton Pearson – join us for the discussion and share their experiences of building a diverse congregation of social justice warriors.

Read more about the film here – and if you watch it, keep an eye out for AU’s Rob Boston, who makes a few appearances himself: [link removed]

Every day, we’re making progress educating America about true religious freedom. Thank you for supporting our work and making it all possible.

In solidarity,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

Court Says Religious Freedom Is Not An Excuse To Treat Someone Badly:
An Ohio university professor who doesn’t want to refer to a transgender student by her preferred pronouns because of his religious beliefs has lost in court. The university isn’t preventing the professor from practicing his faith; it’s just ensuring he treats all of his students with dignity, decency and respect.
READ MORE » [link removed]

A Minn. School Board President Demanded To Know Why Evolution Was Being Taught. This Teacher Had A Perfect Answer:
Charles Darwin’s theory is not frozen in time; far from it – it is constantly being updated and reevaluated in light of new findings and information. That’s what real science does.
READ MORE » [link removed]

'Politico' Paints A Damning Portrait Of Liberty University:
Liberty University's phenomenal growth came largely on the backs of taxpayers. Many of its students, both those at the physical campus and online, get federal grants to go there.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Roy Moore Says Muslims Can’t Hold Public Office. As Usual, He’s Wrong:
Nothing in the Constitution requires any public official to swear an oath on the Bible, nor is the Constitution based on “the God of the Holy Scriptures.” It is a charter for secular government.
READ MORE » [link removed]

The Deadline to Submit Public Comments Opposing Employment Discrimination is This Monday:
Under a newly proposed rule, government contractors could use any religious litmus test they want to discriminate against employees. The period for public comments closes on September 16th. Join us by submitting your comment today.
READ MORE » [link removed]

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Americans United for Separation of Church and State
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