News From The Week Of June 14 – June 18, 2021
Friend:
I’m excited to be writing to you on the first Juneteenth officially recognized as a federal holiday. AU honors Juneteenth and the emancipation of formerly enslaved African-Americans, and we are committed to advancing our work at the critical nexus between true freedom of religion and racial justice. One way you can learn more about this topic is to join The Colors of Pride Juneteenth “Celebration & Education,” which will premiere on YouTube at 12 PM ET today ([link removed]). AU is proud to be a sponsor of this unique event.
On Thursday, while President Biden and Congress were finalizing legislation to recognize Juneteenth, the Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in the most important religious freedom case of the year, Fulton v. Philadelphia: [link removed]
As we feared, the court decided that Philadelphia had to allow Catholic Social Services to exclude LGBTQ families from its publicly funded foster care program.
A unanimous decision from this court, when its members have wildly different definitions of religious freedom, is a rarity. It was only possible because the decision was a narrow one, decided mostly on technical grounds. The court concluded that since Philadelphia allowed individualized exemptions from its non-discrimination requirements in its foster care program, it had to exempt Catholic Social Services.
On Thursday evening I joined the #DecisionDay Virtual Rally ([link removed]) and spoke to activists from across the country about what Fulton means for religious freedom. I told them that our opposition – religious extremists – won’t stop at today’s decision. They and their allies in government have big plans to force all of us to live by their beliefs. That’s why this decision has made AU’s work even more essential than ever.
The vast majority of Americans believe our laws should not allow anyone to use their religious beliefs to harm others, and we’re determined to make that a reality. I know you are too, friend, and that’s why I’m so grateful to have your support.
With hope and gratitude,
Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO
What The Supreme Court Said – And Didn’t Say – In The Philadelphia Foster Care Ruling:
The Supreme Court's ruling in Fulton v. Philadelphia is not a unanimous, unvarnished victory for the religious extremists who wanted an expansive free pass to misuse religion to discriminate. It is not a revolution in religious freedom law.
READ MORE » [link removed]
What America’s Middle School Students Are (And Aren’t) Learning About Evolution:
It’s not easy to teach evolution in some parts of the country. While creationists haven’t been very successful in court, they have managed in some communities to create a culture of intimidation that results in evolution being taught half-heartedly, if at all.
READ MORE » [link removed]
Florida Public School Moment Of Silence Law Doesn’t Advance Religious Freedom:
Public school students have the right to pray at the beginning of the day, over lunch, before they take a test – whenever they feel the need, as long as they don’t disrupt others. They don’t need to confine themselves to a ritualized 60 seconds of silence at the start of the day.
READ MORE » [link removed]
Conservative Evangelicals’ Embrace Of Conspiracy Theories Threatens Democracy:
In a recent PRRI study, 15% of respondents overall backed the idea that violence may be necessary to save the country. That’s millions of people
READ MORE » [link removed]
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Americans United for Separation of Church and State
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