Friend:

Americans United has long been critical of the federal government’s faith-based initiatives and the White House office that oversees them. That was especially true under the Trump administration, which reduced this office to a tool for pandering to the white Christian nationalist elements of Trump’s base.

But so long as the program exists, it’s vitally important that it is led by someone who supports the separation of religion and government, and the bedrock principle of religious freedom that it protects. That’s why AU welcomed Biden’s appointment on Sunday of Melissa Rogers to head the office.

As I said in my statement, Rogers’ mastery of – and commitment to – church-state law and policy and her track record of finding shared values make her exceedingly qualified. She has a lot of work ahead of her, and I’m hopeful that under her leadership, government partnerships with faith-based organizations will be evidence-based, inclusive and equally welcoming for people of all faiths and the nonreligious.

Speaking of equality: On Thursday, the Equality Act was formally re-introduced to the House and Senate by lead sponsors Rep. David Cicilline and Sen. Jeff Merkley, and is expected to receive a vote in the House as soon as next week!

This landmark civil rights legislation would add protections for LGBTQ people and also women, people of color, immigrants, religious minorities and the nonreligious, among others. The bill also has specific language to prevent religious freedom from being misused to create loopholes to undermine these protections. That’s why we are urging lawmakers to support the Equality Act and use this opportunity of widespread support in both chambers and the White House to pass this important legislation.

These are important steps forward toward reaching our country’s ideals of freedom and equality for all, friend, and your engagement and support of church-state separation is giving them momentum. Together, let’s work toward a day where all laws, like the Equality Act, do not allow people to use religion to cause others harm.

With hope and determination,