News from the Week March 14 – March 18, 2022

Friend:

Last week, I traveled to Bremerton, Wash., because I wanted to meet with local folks and set foot on the football field that is central to AU’s pivotal Supreme Court school-prayer case, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District.

One of the highlights of my trip was witnessing the passion of so many Bremerton clergy for church-state separation. Local Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, and Jewish clergy joined me at Bremerton’s football field to demonstrate that our coalition includes both religious and nonreligious advocates who are fighting back to protect students’, and everyone’s, religious freedom.

Bremerton parent Paul Peterson, who sent four kids to Bremerton High School (one of whom was even coached by Kennedy), also joined us. As a parent myself, I couldn’t have agreed more with what Paul told The Washington Times: “As a parent, you should have the opportunity to raise your children in the way they want to be raised. That’s the job of the parents, not the job of the school district.” The coach’s post-game prayers with students became “a spectacle,” Paul added. “It became something that it isn’t. It’s a football game—we are there to celebrate the kids and to support them.” (Read the story here: [link removed])

My visit to Bremerton was well-timed: Kennedy turned out to be in town from his current home in Florida to talk to the press alongside his attorneys, who continued to push the deceitful narrative that the coach only wants to pray privately by himself. His lawyers' disingenuous posturing that he’s a “victim” of censorship and anti-religious activism was hard to take. The photos and videos of the coach praying with groups of students, aired by local Seattle TV stations and CNBC in the last week, told the real story. Watch for yourself here: [link removed] and here: [link removed]

"Church-state separation, which is guaranteed to all of us by our Constitution, means that no child should have to choose between being part of a team and their religious freedom. And that’s what happened in this case," I told one station: [link removed]

It was incredibly fortunate timing that our side was able to be represented in the press coverage that Kennedy’s large team of handlers had arranged. And how awesome it was that local clergy spoke out on our side only, in support of true religious freedom.

What’s clear to me after my Bremerton sojourn is that most students, teachers, parents, neighbors and faith leaders get it right: Public school coaches shouldn’t proselytize, students shouldn’t be coerced, and school districts have a duty to uphold the Constitution.

This case will produce one of the most significant religious freedom rulings in years. We have our work cut out for us, especially given the makeup of the court’s 6-seat conservative majority.

But we have the facts of the case, the laws of our country, and religious and nonreligious Americans alike on our side—something I’m even more certain of after meeting so many great allies in the streets, houses of worship, pubs and even the football fields of Bremerton, Washington.

With hope and gratitude,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO


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When The Irish Fought School Prayer: A Tale For St. Patrick’s Day:
In the 1800s, Irish immigrants in Philadelphia, who were predominantly Roman Catholic, objected to public schools requiring students to say Protestant prayers and read the King James Version of the Bible. Their opposition to school-sponsored prayer sparked a national movement.
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Blasphemy Laws: An Embarrassing Anachronism That Must Go:
Blasphemy laws ought to be viewed as relics of bad days gone by. In America, they were recognized as a problem by the founders.
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An Anti-Abortion Bill In Mo. May Provide A Disturbing Look At Things To Come:
If you lend money to pay for an abortion, drive someone across the state line, counsel them to travel for it or even answer the phone in Illinois and schedule an abortion for a Missourian, you could be dragged into court and forced to defend your actions – at considerable cost to you.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Could Write LGBTQ+ Youth Out Of Public School Curriculum:
Florida's 'don't say gay' bill poses a serious risk to queer youth who confide in teachers and other school personnel.
READ MORE » [link removed]


Get Involved – Check Out AU’s Latest Events:
Find additional details and a full list of events at [link removed]

March 19, 7 pm ET (Virtual): “How Atheist Communities are Reframing Separation of Church and State.” Presented by AU Orange County Chapter. RSVP here: [link removed]

March 21, 8 pm ET (Virtual): “Reproductive Freedom & Church State Separation,” with guest speakers Alicia Johnson and Adrianne Spoto. Presented by AU Delaware Valley Chapter. RSVP here: [link removed]

March 22, 7:30 pm ET (Virtual): “AU @ SCOTUS: Kennedy v. Bremerton Case Briefing.” Americans United is preparing to argue Kennedy v. Bremerton School District before the U.S. Supreme Court. Join us for a discussion about the case, learn what's at stake, and what you can do to help. RSVP here: [link removed]


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