News From The Week Of June 21 – June 25, 2021

Friend:

Last week, the Supreme Court issued a narrow opinion in Fulton v. Philadelphia that allowed a taxpayer-funded foster care agency to continue discriminating against LGBTQ families ([link removed]). But this issue is far from settled.

We are committed to ensuring that religious freedom cannot be misused to license discrimination in foster care, or anywhere else. That’s why, this week, we highlighted two ongoing Americans United court cases that have taken on renewed significance in the wake of Fulton.

Fatma Marouf and Bryn Esplin are a married, same-sex couple from Texas, who were told by a taxpayer-funded foster care agency that they could not be foster parents because they do not “mirror the holy family.”

In a friend-of-the-court brief AU filed in the Fulton case, some of our plaintiffs along with a few other individuals told their personal stories of being turned away from taxpayer-funded foster care agencies because they didn’t pass a religious litmus test.

Fatma described her experience as “disappointing and hurtful,” and said it “came as a surprise, because we felt like we were approaching a government program.” AU is defending Fatma and Bryn in partnership with our co-counsel, Lambda Legal.

You can hear from Fatma directly by watching the short video we shared online right here: [link removed]

In South Carolina, AU client Aimee Maddonna, a Catholic mother of three, was rejected because she wasn’t evangelical Protestant.

Watch Aimee tell her story right here: [link removed]

As I told attendees at last week’s #DecisionDay ([link removed]) virtual rally, “Religious freedom is meant to be a shield that protects the rights of everyone. It’s not supposed to be used in ways that harm freedom and equality – and certainly not kids in foster care and prospective parents with big hearts."

Friend, the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Fulton has made cases like Fatma and Bryn and Aimee's more important than ever. Our work on their behalf – in defense of everyone’s right to live free from discrimination – starts with your support for our mission. Thanks for being by our side.

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

A Televangelist Learns That Religious Freedom Provides No Safe Harbor For His Scam:
Televangelist Jim Bakker's attempt to use religious freedom to justify selling a fake cure for the coronavirus fell flat in court.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Christian Nationalists See Illiberal Hungary As A Model For America:
Hungary's crusade against liberalism under the banner of Christian nationalism has found fans in the United States.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Enter The Young: Why I’m Excited To Be Interning For Americans United This Summer:
Intern Ethan Magistro writes that what drew him to Americans United is our eloquent vision of a politics unbounded by religion, but respectful of people of all religions and none.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Biden And The Bishops: The President’s Job Is Not To Enforce Theology:
President Joe Biden was elected to oversee a nation of 328 million people. They represent every religion conceivable and include a growing number of non-religious people.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Study Shows Government Support Harms Christianity:
An official policy of government secularism is religion’s greatest friend. A state that is neutral on faith allows all religions and non-religious philosophies to flourish.
READ MORE » [link removed]

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