Dear Friend,

This has been a terrifying year for those of us who believe in the separation of church and state. We have seen blatant and vocal attacks against the non-religious from numerous high-ranking government officials, and we have even seen peaceful protesters gassed so that the President could have a photo-op holding a Bible on the steps of a church.

Even more concerning, we have seen a conservative Supreme Court hand down decisions that are contrary to the secular founding of our nation. Decisions that allow taxpayer dollars to go to private, religious schools, and allow employers to deny their employees rightful benefits due to religious belief. Future rulings from the court hold little promise of relief from this onslaught against religious freedom.

Additionally, for the first time in our nation’s history, explicitly religious activities are being funded with taxpayer dollars via the Paycheck Protection Program, with little to no accounting of the billions of dollars disbursed to date.

Your support allows us to continue our work with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to encourage more balanced appointments to federal courts, and advances our efforts to pass much needed oversight legislation so Americans know exactly where their hard-earned dollars are being spent, and what religious activities are being funded with their sweat.

We have also seen the Commission on Unalienable Rights, led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, release its report, which frames human rights under Christian principles and denies all of the rights gained by marginalized groups since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1949.

The Secular Coalition for America has and will continue to fight for equal rights under the law for all Americans, and for an end to the ever increasing practice of discrimination under the guise of “religious liberty”.

In what has been a year of change and adaptation for us all, the Secular Coalition for America has maintained a laser-like focus on our mission. Working in partnership with our 19 member organizations, we put on notice those elected officials who push against the secular nature of our government. With the aid of our allies in the Congressional Freethought Caucus, we were able to make significant strides in our pursuit. The House passed numerous bills that further our cause, such as the Equality Act, the No BAN Act, and the Scientific Integrity Act. We also gained significant traction on other bills like the Do No Harm Act, and are feeling optimistic about their potential for passage in the 117th Congress.

Through the coordination of lobbying, grassroots activism and communication efforts among our coalition member organizations, the Secular Coalition enables our partners in the fight for a secular government to join together as one cohesive unit.

SCA’s comprehensive Secular Agenda for the 117th Congress and Biden Administration is ready to go. Our top priorities include supporting legislation, some of which I have already mentioned, but also include the STOP FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Act, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, the Blasphemy Resolution, and a host of others.

The Secular Coalition will also be working to expand the membership of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and its role as the voice for the secular community in Congress. Just recently, we welcomed Rep. Don Beyer (D, VA-8) as the newest member of the Caucus. 

To reverse the extensive damage the Trump administration has caused to the separation of religion and government, during the 117th Congress SCA and our partners will be doing everything we can to roll back many of the executive orders (EO) issued over the past four years including EO 13798, which eased restrictions on religious institutions regarding political speech and birth control, and EO 13831, which established a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative that has made it easier for faith-based organizations to access government funds.

Mindful of the urgent challenges ahead of us, and full of optimism regarding our ability to bring about change, I hope you will send your critically needed gift today.

You might have already been inspired to give this year following a similar letter you received in the mail or this week's #GivingTuesday appeal. For that, we are continuously grateful for your generosity. If you are able to give again, please click the "I want to help!" button below, and know that your hard-earned money ensures the Secular Coalition for America remains at the front lines in the fight for the secular government enshrined in the Constitution.