FFRF’s Bill of Rights nativity display on the Washington Capitol grounds in Olympia, placed there by volunteers.We at the Freedom From Religion Foundation are working hard this holiday season — and so are many of our members.
We’re creating media waves
Our activities are generating buzz. The premier national paper covering legislative issues extensively quoted us on a pending judicial battle over a charter school proposal in Tennessee.
“I think it’s speculative to say that this case would make it to the Supreme Court. We don’t really know whether the Supreme Court would be interested in a case like this. There are a number of reasons why this case wouldn’t be appropriate for Supreme Court review,” FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott told The Hill. “For one, at this point, there does not appear to be a split among lower courts. Secondly, this issue really relates a lot to state law. And so, there may be state law reasons why this type of charter school couldn’t form, regardless of if it’s affiliated with a particular religion or religious institution.”
North Carolina’s capital newspaper noticed when we objected to a Tar Heel county’s desired imposition of the Decalogue on its residents.
“The Freedom From Religion Foundation is urging the McDowell County Board of Commissioners to abandon an ‘unconstitutional proposal’ to install Ten Commandments displays on the courthouse lawn and inside county-owned buildings,” the Raleigh News and Observer reported. “The organization is a national nonprofit with more than 41,000 members across the country, including nearly 1,000 members and a chapter in North Carolina, a news release from the Freedom From Religion Foundation said.”
The local paper actually republished our letter to the county in its entirety. Thank you!
We’ve saved Va. students from religious imposition
We successfully ensured that elementary school students in a Virginia school district are no longer exposed to an outsized religious reference. We had learned that a bible verse, Philippians 4:13, was displayed on the wall inside Honaker Elementary School in full view of the students. But not now — thanks to our intervention.
Remove a Christian nationalist flag!
We are calling for the immediate removal of an “Appeal to Heaven” flag reportedly displayed outside the office of a U.S. Department of Education official. We’ve sent a letter objecting to the display in front of the office of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Murray Bessette. The “Appeal to Heaven” flag symbolizes a radical theocratic agenda that seeks to replace constitutional governance with biblical rule.
Arkansas governor’s theological proclamation
We are castigating the Arkansas governor for promoting Christianity through a state proclamation announcing the closure of government offices on Friday, Dec. 26. We’ve sent a letter objecting to Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ proclamation, which does far more than announce an administrative holiday closure: It delivers an explicitly theological account of the Christian story of Jesus’ birth, divinity, crucifixion, resurrection and anticipated return “in glory” while instructing state employees to spend the holiday “giving thanks for Christ’s birth.”
A Winter Solstice celebration
We had a full house of members and staff for our lovely Winter Solstice event this week at our offices in Madison, Wis., which included a regaling musical performance by FFRF Co-President Dan Barker and special guest Kristin Lems. On our Freethought Radio episode this week, we explain through music and readings why the Winter Solstice is the true “Reason for the Season.” Happy Solstice!
Solstice exhibits nationwide
With the hard work and collaboration of many of you, we’ve put up Winter Solstice displays all over the country.
Our Greater Sacramento Chapter has returned to the California Capitol with an exhibit representing nonbelievers. Thanks to FFRF Member Patrick Trischitta, we’ve premiered a Bill of Rights/Winter Solstice display in Holmdel, N.J., the spot where the Big Bang was confirmed. Our Bill of Rights nativity display has returned to the Washington Capitol grounds in Olympia. And our Metropolitan Chicago Chapter is providing secular cheer to the Daley Center Plaza via its secular exhibit there. Thank you to all our member volunteers who helped put up these displays — often in difficult conditions!
An unconstitutional Ohio bill
Our legislative arm isn’t taking a holiday either! The FFRF Action Fund is strongly condemning a deceptive and unconstitutional proposal pending in the Ohio House that would open the door to Ten Commandments displays in Ohio public school classrooms and on school grounds. Ohio lawmakers should reject SB 34 and focus on policies that genuinely support students, teachers and constitutional freedoms.
Chuck Schumer is ‘Secularist of the Week’
The Action Fund’s “Secularist of the Week” is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for his state-church nomination of Americans United CEO Rachel Laser to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. As commissioner, Laser will protect freedom of religion, including freedom from religion. Congratulations!
Finding meaning in life
How do nonbelievers find meaning in life? That’s the question we explore in the latest episode of “Secular Spotlight.” Ex-Mormon-turned-atheist spiritual director Britt Hartley discusses secular spirituality and the “meaning crisis” with FFRF staffers Scott Knickelbine and Daniel Dossey.
A Supreme Court case on religion in prison
On the latest episode of The hosts of the “We Dissent” podcast discuss on the latest episode another difficult U.S. Supreme Court case — and the potential consequences of the decision. FFRF Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell and Americans United Legal Director Rebecca Markert take a look at Landor v. Louisiana, which will decide whether a Rastafarian inmate who had grown his dreadlocks for 20 years can sue the Louisiana prison officials who handcuffed him to a chair, held him down, and forcibly shaved him in violation of the law. Listen up here!
Engrossing discussions on health and science
The recent shows I’ve co-hosted for Madison’s community radio station have focused on health and science. I had an engrossing discussion with Carole Wakefield, the head of a Wisconsin-based group that helps fund a much-needed medical facility in Haiti — jeopardized by recent developments in both the United States and Haiti. And University of New Mexico Research Professor Cathy Day provided a highly informative analysis on the state of the planet after the recently concluded climate-change talks in Brazil, including all we can do to fight global warming.
Lockstep or white noise?
Lockstep or white noise: how should state supreme courts handle the U.S. Supreme Court when it comes to religion, asks FFRF Legal Fellow Charlotte Gude. Read on to find out Charlotte’s well-argued answer.
Whether it’s legal analysis or holiday cheer, all that we do is only possible due to you.
