We at the Freedom From Religion Foundation have been utilizing our legal system to preserve our secular rights.
“A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments Sept. 22 in a lawsuit filed to block Arkansas from implementing its law mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms,” says a piece from a few days ago written for a Baptist news agency. “The families are represented by American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Arkansas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Freedom from Religion Foundation and Simpson Thacher and Bartlett.”
And temporary setbacks won’t deter us. A federal district court issued a ruling that disappointingly paves the way for the opening of the nation’s first religious public charter school in Oklahoma. We are a part of a secular coalition representing a predominantly Jewish group of seven Oklahoma taxpayers opposing the effort. “We will continue to fight for all Oklahomans who deserve public schools that are secular and open to all students – as required by state and federal law,” our joint statement says.
Trump’s spurious 250 list
We’ve been paying attention elsewhere, too. The White House’s newly released list of President Trump’s “Top 250 victories for People of Faith” is a revealing catalog of the administration’s efforts to redefine religious liberty. The sprawling list, released to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary, claims to provide “250 reasons why Trump is the most pro-faith, pro-life, and pro-religious liberty president in American history.” FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says, “This inappropriate list is pure pandering to Trump’s white Christian nationalist base.”
Even Christian news outfits are taking note of our critique of the White House’s similar policies in the recent past.
“Some religious freedom advocates and civil liberties organisations argue that aspects of Trump’s religious liberty agenda could weaken the separation between church and state and give Christianity a privileged position in public life,” says a Premier Christian News article. “In July, Freedom From Religion Foundation warned that the proposals in the Religious Liberty Commission’s draft report ‘would undermine one of the Constitution’s most fundamental protections against uniting religion and government.’”
We’ve received impressive podcast coverage
We’ve been getting great podcast coverage. Prominent state-church separation podcasters Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang recently featured FFRF staffer Mickey Dollens to examine the spreading threat of religious coercion and Christian nationalism and to spotlight an upcoming “Pray to Play” report of ours on the damaging role of religion in college sports.
Michael Smerconish, another podcast host who believes in our state/church separation mission, offered us repeated praise on his show during a recent interview he did with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Hegseth promotes Christian nationalism again
We’re denouncing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest effort to transform the U.S. military into a vehicle for his brand of Christian nationalism — and are again calling for his impeachment. When Hegseth repeatedly declares that America is a Christian nation, holds government-branded Christian worship services and now launches a military tour named for a biblical call from his god, service members outside his preferred faith receive an unmistakable message of religious favoritism.
A welcome blank wall due to us
A Florida public middle school in Panama City, Fla., has removed a prominent “God is Love” banner from its gym after the Freedom From Religion Foundation intervened on behalf of a concerned parent. FFRF has recently received welcome news directly from the parent: The banner is gone.
A cross gets taken down after we object
A California school district has removed a cross displayed by a teacher in her fourth-grade classroom following our objections.
“This is one of the more shocking violations of the separation between religion and government that we have encountered in a public school classroom,” says Annie Laurie Gaylor. “A fourth-grade classroom is not a Sunday school, or a venue for an overzealous teacher to espouse their personal religious views. We are glad that Lodi Unified took this egregious violation seriously.”
No religious promotion whatsoever
We pointed out that a new lawsuit challenging the city of Dearborn’s taxpayer-funded Ramadan displays shows why the government should stay out of the business of promoting religious holidays altogether. The answer to government-sponsored religion is not more government-sponsored religion, concludes the state/church watchdog; it is a government that stays out of religion altogether.
Congratulations to our essay winners
We have proudly awarded $18,450 to the 12 winners and eight honorable mentions in the 2026 Kenneth L. Proulx Memorial Essay Contest for Ongoing College Students. Currently enrolled college students (up to age 24) wrote on the topic of “Why President Trump is wrong that ‘you just can’t have a great country if you don’t have religion.’” Congratulations to the winners!
A dangerous Wisconsin ballot measure
The latest episode of our YouTube show “Secular Spotlight” showcases the potential dangers of a proposed constitutional amendment on Wisconsin’s Nov. 3 ballot. FFRF’s Ryan Jayne and Mickey Dollens discuss the implications of Question 2 that will be voted on as part of the upcoming elections. It seeks to amend the state Constitution to prohibit government officials from closing places of worship during declared emergencies, including public health emergencies. Faith leaders Rev. Dr. Chris Ross and Buddhist monk Matt Kendziera explain on the show why they’re joining us in opposing the amendment.
Remembering an activist
We remembered the life and legacy of well-known feminist and atheist activist Robin Morgan, who died earlier this month, on this week’s episode of Freethought Radio.
Register for our upcoming convention!
The photo accompanying the radio episode shows Robin Morgan speaking at a past FFRF convention — FFRF’s 2026 convention is coming up in just a few weeks! U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman and author/blogger Kate Cohen have joined our amazing line-up of speakers for our gathering at Milwaukee’s Baird Convention Center in mid-October. Register online now. Other speakers include novelist Percival Everett (“James”) and Jennifer Welch, an atheist who co-hosts the “I’ve Had It” podcast.
A global warming tragedy
I interviewed from Kathmandu for my world affairs radio show Himal SouthAsian magazine founder Kanak Mani Dixit on the climate change-caused glacial melt flooding that has devastated Nepal — and what all needs to be done, including at the global level, to prevent a recurrence.
A well-deserved honor
Our legislative affiliate, the FFRF Action Fund, recently chose “Friendly Atheist” Hemant Mehta as its “Secularist of the Week” — and Hemant is delighted about that. It’s a well-deserved honor for Hemant!
Ag Secretary ‘Theocrat of the Week’
The Action Fund names Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins as its “Theocrat of the Week” for her Christian nationalist remarks at the recent Republican National Convention. Rollins embraces some of the most overt Christian nationalist rhetoric in Trump’s circles, framing the administration as fighting a spiritual battle for the “soul” of our nation. She is clearly misusing her position in the presidential cabinet to promote her personal religious beliefs and further a Christian nationalist agenda that erodes our secular democracy.
Questionable judicial nominees
The Action Fund is opposing the Trump administration’s choice of two highly questionable U.S. District Court nominees: Daniel Ballou and Trevor Pemberton. The Action Fund has sent letters to the Senate Judiciary Committee highlighting serious concerns about both of these individuals. Ballou’s ethics violations and history of espousing Christian nationalist views and Pemberton’s arguments against the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment cast significant doubt on their ability to serve as fair and impartial members of the judiciary.
Whether it’s filing lawsuits or opposing theocratic-minded judicial nominees — we are able to engage on these multiple legal fronts only due to your constant support.
One Response
Why not publicize the alternative Ten Commandments in Exodus 34 to counter the push to establish the well-known version in Exodus 20 in schools and other public institutions?