News From The Week Of January 20 – 24, 2020

Friend:

I’ve got more good news to share today!I know I told you last week about how AU won an important victory in our case concerning access to birth control for Notre Dame students ([link removed]). I’m happy to report that AU secured a second important victory this month – one that was years in the making.

Together with the New Jersey and national ACLUs, AU had brought a lawsuit in 2013 to stop then-Gov. Chris Christie from directing over $11 million in taxpayer aid to two religious higher-ed institutions that exist primarily for theological training. This was a blatant violation of New Jersey’s Constitution, which protects taxpayers from being forced to fund religious ministries.

Under pressure from our lawsuit, one religious institution withdrew its application last year, and the other abandoned its application earlier this month, ensuring that New Jersey taxpayers’ money will not fund religious education.

I know you know this already, but I just wanted to say it out loud: AU’s legal team is par none! Please pause with me this Saturday to feel gratitude for their expertise and savvy.

Unfortunately the question of taxpayer-funded private religious education is still very alive. On Wednesday, AU was at the Supreme Court to watch oral arguments in Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue, a case that could decide if taxpayers can be forced to fund private religious education nationwide. AU filed friend-of-the-court briefs in both the Montana and U.S. Supreme Courts in this case.

I’m thankful for your support as we work – and win – at both the state and federal levels to protect religious freedom for all of our taxpayers – and public school and college students too.

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO

Americans United Scores Win In Contraceptive Access Case:
Access to safe, affordable birth control is a vital part of Americans’ health care. It must not be blocked due to religious objections.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Tennessee Should Put Kids First And Reject Discrimination:
The very first thing the Tennessee Senate did when it reconvened last week was pass a bill to allow discrimination that would harm children in foster care. HB 836, passed by the House last year, would authorize taxpayer-funded foster care agencies to turn away couples seeking to foster or adopt children because they are LGBTQ or the “wrong” religion.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Supreme Court Deliberates Forced Taxpayer Support For Religion:
Voucher advocates, including the Trump administration, are arguing that if a state chooses to adopt a voucher plan, it must include religious schools – no matter what that state’s constitution may say. If this standard is adopted, it will greatly weaken, if not obliterate, provisions in 37 state constitutions that protect people from being taxed to support religion.
READ MORE » [link removed]

Is Your Local Librarian Going To Jail? Maybe – If This Mo. Legislator Has His Way:
Proposals to instill censorship in public libraries pop up from time to time, usually couched in the language of 'protect the children.' In the 1990s, Religious Right groups attempted to remove material about LGBTQ issues and “the occult” from public libraries by forming a pressure group called Family Friendly Libraries.
READ MORE » [link removed]

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