Bishops’ Lawsuits Seek To Impose Birth Control Ban Through Health-Care Policy, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Blasts Phony ‘Religious Freedom’ Claims Of Catholic Hierarchy

May 22, 2012

The Roman Catholic hierarchy’s claim that its religious freedom is being violated by new health-care regulations is bogus, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The bishops yesterday orchestrated a slew of lawsuits to attack an Obama administration regulation requiring health insurance companies to provide no-copay birth control to employees who want it.
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Americans United Urges Federal Appeals Court To Rule Against Florida City Commission's Sectarian Invocations

Church-State Watchdog Group Says Lakeland Council Acted Unconstitutionally When It Opened Meetings With Christian Prayers For 25 Years

May 21, 2012

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked a federal appeals court to find that the City of Lakeland, Fla., violated the U.S. Constitution when it opened meetings of its city commission with exclusively Christian prayers for 25 years. Read more

IRS Should Investigate Kentucky Church For Opposing Obama Re-Election, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Says Baptist Pastor Violated Federal Tax Law By Calling For President’s Ouster During Services

May 21, 2012

A Kentucky church violated federal law when its pastor demanded the ouster of President Barack Obama during church services, Americans United for Separation of Church and State told the Internal Revenue Service today.

During a May 13 service, Pastor Ronnie Spriggs of Hager Hill Freewill Baptist Church in Hager Hill, Ky., demanded that Obama be voted out of office for supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples. Read more

Americans United Hails Court Ruling Against New York Town's Sectarian Prayer Policy

Greece’s Invocation Practice Unconstitutionally Affiliated Town With Christianity, Unanimous Federal Appeals Court Panel Holds

May 17, 2012

When the Greece, N.Y., Town Board regularly opened its monthly meetings with Christian invocations, it favored one faith over others and violated the U.S. Constitution, a federal appeals court said today.

In a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Guido Calabresi said “a given legislative prayer practice, viewed in its entirety, may not advance a single religious sect.” Read more

Americans United Wins Preliminary Ruling In Delaware Prayer Lawsuit

Federal Court Says Government-Sponsored Recitation of Lord’s Prayer In Sussex County Likely Violates U.S. Constitution

May 15, 2012

A federal district court granted a preliminary injunction today blocking a Delaware county council from opening its meetings with a distinctively Christian prayer.

Ruling in Mullin v. Sussex County, U.S. District Judge Leonard P. Stark wrote that the Sussex County Council’s longstanding practice of opening each of its meetings with the recitation of a Protestant version of the Lord’s Prayer probably “violates the Establishment Clause because it constitutes government endorsement of the Christian faith.” Read more

National Day Of Prayer Improperly Merges Government With Religion, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Says Annual Event Promotes Religious Right Agenda

May 02, 2012

The National Day of Prayer is just another attempt by the Religious Right to mix government with religion, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The congressionally mandated National Day of Prayer, scheduled for May 3, has been largely hijacked by the Religious Right and is being used as an opportunity to promote a far-right religious-political agenda. Read more

Obama 'Faith-Based' Guidance Is Mixed Bag, Says Americans United

Directive Adds Some Church-State Safeguards, But Falls Short In Other Areas, Says AU's Lynn

April 30, 2012

An Obama administration guidance dealing with "faith-based" funding adds some welcome constitutional safeguards but falls short in other areas, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Read more

IRS Should Investigate Catholic Diocese For Illegal Election Intervention, Says Americans United

Peoria Bishop Compared Obama To Hitler And Stalin And Urged Catholics To Bloc Vote In November

April 19, 2012

The Internal Revenue Service should investigate the Catholic Diocese of Peoria for illegal electioneering after Bishop Daniel R. Jenky compared Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin as part of an election-year appeal, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Read more

Catholic Hierarchy’s ‘Fortnight For Freedom’ Campaign Is ‘Thoroughly Misguided,’ Says Americans United

Bishops Want To Keep Massive Taxpayer Funding While Refusing To Comply With Basic Civil Rights And Civil Liberties, Says AU’s Lynn

April 12, 2012

The Catholic bishops’ new “religious liberty” campaign jeopardizes the rights of all Americans, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

In a statement issued today, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called on every diocese in the country to engage in a “Fortnight for Freedom” during the two weeks leading up to the Fourth of July. Parishioners will be asked to study, pray and take action about alleged infringements on religious liberty. Read more

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