Friend:

Howdy at the end of yet another week of this long coronavirus winter. While I’m sure reliving the white Christian nationalist insurrection at our Capitol through President Trump’s (second) impeachment trial wasn’t exactly the cheerful escapism you were hoping for, what could be more important than an effort to fortify our democracy? As I wrote in my column for the February issue of Church & State magazine, I believe that our work at Americans United is critical to overcoming the dangerous forces that Trump unleashed.

We’re seeing these forces at work in the country’s response to COVID-19, too. After the pandemic began last year, many states followed the advice of infectious disease experts and issued orders limiting large gatherings, both secular and religious. Some religious groups challenged these orders, and the Supreme Court, with its shifted balance of power, has issued two decisions in recent months that are deeply concerning.

The Court’s most recent ruling last week preferred religion over science by partially overturning restrictions that California officials had placed on indoor religious services. The Washington Post included my concern that the decision reflects the ongoing attempts of the Court’s ultra-conservative wing to radically redefine religious freedom.

Some state legislatures are similarly attempting to put religious privilege above public safety. AU is working with allies on the ground in as many states as we can to fight over 40 state bills that would exempt houses of worship from temporary public health limitations on in-person activity. On Wednesday, AU’s State Policy Counsel Nik Nartowicz shared info on this dangerous new trend; you can read Nik’s informative Twitter thread here.

Thank you so much for your loyalty and support. You fuel our work and help us hold our country accountable to our highest ideals. Since it’s Presidents Day weekend, I’ll leave you with this gem from President Biden:

“This is a nation founded on the idea of the separation of church and state. After 200 years, why the hell would you want to go messing with that?”

With hope and determination,