News From The Week Of November 16 – November 20, 2020

Friend:

I want to start with a sincere thank you. This week we set an ambitious goal of raising $50,000 to bolster church-state separation on Giving Tuesday, with every dollar matched by a generous group of AU donors. I’m so happy to say that the outpouring of support from members like you enabled us to hit our goal in the nick of time!

On its way out the door, the Trump administration is moving at a breakneck pace to finalize a series of rules that license discrimination in employment and social services in the name of “religious freedom.” There is so much to undo--and so much to get done proactively to promote true religious freedom.

This week, I spoke extensively with The Atlantic journalist Ronald Brownstein for his excellent piece “The Supreme Court is Colliding With a Less-Religious America,” which explores the changing religious (and nonreligious) makeup in America and the reactionary forces at play both in President Trump’s evangelical base and, increasingly, at the Supreme Court.

The Court’s recent order blocking in the name of “religious freedom” New York’s restrictions on religious gatherings – even though nonreligious gatherings were governed by stricter restrictions – is the latest example of this troubling trend. This action risks lives in the midst of the pandemic’s most deadly weeks, and sadly, what we expect to follow could be even worse.

Please click here to read this excellent article on the state of religious freedom under the current U.S. Supreme Court: [link removed]

An important part of AU’s mission on top of our legal, policy and organizing work is to educate the country about the importance of and threats to church-state separation, and that is even more critical during a pandemic when the immediate consequences can be life or death. We could not do the urgent work of protecting religious freedom for all without your steadfast commitment to the cause.

With hope and gratitude,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

By Backing Election Conspiracy Theories, Christian Nationalists Have Sided With Trump Over America:
The conspiracy theory being peddled by Trump and his allies is far from harmless. It undermines our democracy, and it puts lives at risk.
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Politicians And Piety: Be Sure To Include Us All:
When a politician incorporates his or her faith into a public speech, I expect them to acknowledge in some way that not everyone shares their faith – or to universalize what they are saying.
READ MORE » [link removed]

The Supreme Court’s Disregard For Science Could Have Dire Consequences:
As fall settles in around the country and temperatures start to dip, the country is seeing exactly what medical experts warned us about: a new wave of infections as people head indoors.
READ MORE » [link removed]

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Americans United for Separation of Church and State
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