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Dear John,
As you send out Christmas cards to your friends and family this holiday season, does the customized nativity stamp pictured above look like something you might consider using to add that one special, final touch?
Wonderful idea...unfortunately, the U.S. Postal service forbids it!
That’s why First Liberty Institute, along with its network attorneys from the international law firm of Winston & Strawn, just filed a federal lawsuit against the United States Postal Service (USPS), alleging that a 2017 USPS regulation barring “any depiction” of religious content on personalized stamps is unconstitutional. That is clear religious discrimination.
According to First Liberty network attorney and Winston & Strawn partner, Chad Walker, “Personalized postage stamps do not violate the First Amendment just because they reference religion. Government regulations prohibiting religious speech by Americans offend the First Amendment.”
Yes, “offensive” is putting it mildly. As we’ve seen throughout this holiday season, including our recent “Christmas Lights” case involving a neighborhood display that helps support children with cancer...the all out war against your freedom to live out your faith is reaching new “lows” this year.
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Susan Fletcher, a graphic designer from Plano, TX, created the stamp out of a heartfelt desire to express her faith in everything she does—just like so many of our other clients.
But not only does the USPS regulation prevent Susan from creating a stamp involving the most personal thing to her (her faith), it lumps her religion into a category the regulation describes as “unsuitable for all ages and audiences.”
Let that sink in for a moment.
“USPS offers its own version of a religious stamp, but ironically, it will not allow religious Americans to personalize stamps containing an expression of their own religious beliefs for their own use,” said Jeremy Dys, Special Counsel for Litigation and Communications at First Liberty. “This regulation by the USPS not only chills speech, it silences it.”
Like you, and the rest of our First Liberty family of supporters, Susan simply wants to freely live out her faith—not just at Christmas, but all throughout the year.
Truly, this recent “Stamps” case is a sad reminder of where we are and what’s at stake for the future of religious freedom in our country.
It’s also a timely reminder that because of supporters like you, we’re able to continue leading the fight to reclaim religious liberty in our country unlike we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes.
Let’s make it count this Christmas!
Yes, I will make a gift today.
Gratefully,
Kelly
Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq.
President, CEO & Chief Counsel
First Liberty Institute
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