URGE LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ABROAD

Friends,

Today is Religious Freedom Day, which marks the Virginia General Assembly's adoption of Thomas Jefferson's landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786, and celebrates our the Constitutional right to worship any god(s) you like, or to not worship at all.

For our community especially, it is an important opportunity to reflect on and appreciate our right to lead secular lives and live under a secular government, even as that freedom is undermined and attacked by the Trump Administration.

While we continue to enjoy that right—every day people around the world are forced to hide their personal beliefs or lack of faith. So as we celebrate Religious Freedom in the United States, we also need to you to support religious freedom for people abroad.

Thanks to the tremendous advocacy work of our member organization, the American Humanist Association, Members of the House and the Senate have introduced resolutions to do that.

Senate Resolution 458 and House Resolution 512 call for the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws, as well as urge foreign countries to repeal such laws, release individuals who have been prosecuted or imprisoned on charges of blasphemy, and ensure the safety of those individuals and their families.

Please urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor these resolutions, and thank them if they have already.

URGE LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ABROAD

Unfortunately, we don't just need to put pressure on nations that restrict religious freedom. Across the internet, especially on social media, the rights and safety of nonbelievers are being threatened.

In December, Congressional Freethought Caucus (CFC) Co-Chair Congressman Huffman took the lead on a bipartisan letter to Facebook asking them how they will address this issue, which has a disproportionate impact on Ex-Muslims.

The Secular Coalition for America continues to work on this with our member organizations, Center for Inquiry and Ex-Muslims of North America, as well as the CFC, communicating with Facebook about how they can ensure the free speech rights of atheists on the platform are protected.

Religious Freedom is foundation of our country—without it, our community couldn't live our lives openly or continue to advocate for the separation of church and state.

While we celebrate that fact, I'm proud that we couple our efforts at home with work to establish the freedoms we enjoy for those abroad.

Thank you for taking action today and supporting this incredibly important work,

Debbie Allen
Executive Director

Facebook
Twitter
Link
Website
Copyright © 2020 Secular Coalition for America, All rights reserved.
1012 14th St, NW, Suite 205, Washington, DC xxxxxx 

Contributions to the Secular Coalition for America are not tax-deductible; they support our effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts. Tax-deductible donations, including from Donor Advised Funds and IRA Rollovers, can be made to the Secular Coalition for America Education Fund. You are receiving this email because you requested to receive updates from the Secular Coalition for America.
Manage subscription | Unsubscribe