The Freedom From Religion Foundation is again making a positive difference in many communities by holding public officials accountable, calling out questionable policies and ending unconstitutional activities.
Here’s a look at what your state/church watchdog has been busy working on this week.
FFRF gets message a-cross
FFRF was able to convince a sheriff to remove a Latin cross decal on the back window of a Hancock County sheriff’s vehicle in Greenfield, Ind. FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Hirsh M. Joshi contacted the sheriff’s office about the egregious constitutional violation and misuse of policing authority.
FFRF was pleased that Hancock County Sheriff Burkhart emailed FFRF back, noting that the cross had been removed, as well as providing photographic evidence (see above) of the updated sheriff’s vehicle.
FFRF friend-of-court brief takes on teacher for second time
FFRF on Thursday filed a second friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) contending that an Indiana public school district acted correctly in denying a teacher’s requested religious accommodation that served as cover for bigotry. (FFRF earlier filed a brief on behalf of SSA in November 2021 as part of the first appeal.)
The case involves Brownsburg (Ind.) High School orchestra teacher John Kluge, who maintained that calling transgender students by their chosen names violated his religion. Kluge eventually resigned over the policy disagreement, then sued the school district for religious discrimination. Kluge lost this case. However, the appeals court sent Kluge’s case back to the trial court. In April, the district court once again ruled that Brownsburg High School did not violate the law by denying Kluge’s unreasonable and harmful accommodation. Kluge has now appealed this case to the 7th Circuit for the second time.
FFRF underwrites campus voter organizing fellows
FFRF is underwriting four campus organizing fellows at key universities in Wisconsin to focus on voter registration and securing pledges to vote from students. The organizing fellows will begin their work at the end of August and continue until early November.
The initiative aims to engage and register young voters, particularly Generation Z, who are the least religious generation in modern American history, but have lower voting turnout than other “Nones.” By placing fellows on campuses, FFRF seeks to increase voter awareness and turnout among these students, who represent a significant but often underrepresented demographic in the electoral process.
FFRF dunks on Florida football baptisms
FFRF has taken action after a Brevard Public Schools (Fla.) high school football coach recently hosted a Christian full-body immersion baptism for players after practice.
The head football coach of the Astronaut High School football team in Titusville invited a local pastor to baptize players after practice on July 18 under the guise of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It was reported that 25 players were baptized.
FFRF has told the district that it must take action to end baptisms or other school-hosted or encouraged religious or proselytizing events. Any coaches involved in them must be directed to cease including coercive religious activities and practices in the program. FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor noted that the practice is not only flagrantly unconstitutional, but “very unhygienic.”
Missouri school board tables religion-based anti-trans policy
The Francis Howell School District (Missouri) school board voted at Thursday’s meeting to table a proposal to require transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificate and bar discussion with students on human sexuality.
That action came after a swift letter from FFRF’s Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant and Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Hirsh M. Joshi pointing out the anti-trans policies violate Title IX, the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, the First Amendment and Missouri state laws.
It was the second time the issue had been tabled and no further dates have been set regarding the policy change.
FFRF warns of infusion of Christianity into Texas schools
FFRF is condemning the latest efforts by Texas Christian nationalists to force the bible and Christianity upon public school students.
Proposed teaching materials by the Texas Education Agency for elementary school English and language arts curriculum include biblical concepts such as the “Sermon on the Mount,” the life of “Jesus Christ” from birth to resurrection and biblical prophesies.
Mike Morath, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, absurdly told a Texas House Public Education Committee hearing on Monday that “The purpose [of including religion and religious stories] is to build vocabulary and not background knowledge.”
Speak, Forrest, speak!
On the week’s Facebook Live program “Ask an Atheist,” FFRF Attorney Chris Line and FFRF Multimedia Producer Leo Costello speak with biologist and science communicator Forrest Valkai about his journey from working in the classroom to using his passion for science to educate and entertain people online. We hear his take on recent state-church violations in American classrooms and brainstorm solutions to the problems we see in schools.
How to talk to Christians
On this week’s Freethought Radio, we get acquainted with FFRF’s new multimedia producer Leo Costello. Then, South Carolina humanist and atheist debater Herb Silverman, founder and president emeritus of the Secular Coalition for America, tells us “How to talk to Christians.”
Try out our virtual billboards
Have you tried creating one of FFRF’s new virtual billboards? It’s fun and only takes a couple minutes! Please post it on your social media apps to influence public opinion, or even make it your banner for Facebook or X (formerly Twitter)! (We have three choices: one on being a secular voter, one on being an “unabashed” nontheist and one in which you create your own slogan.)
Well, that’s a wrap for this week from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. We hope you have a great weekend and thanks, as always, for being a member!
PJ Slinger
Freethought Today editor
