When the government involves itself in religion, it threatens the independence, integrity, and prophetic voice of faith communities. We know that it’s better for both religion and government when we each choose freely to support religious institutionsーor not. In fact, the separation of church and state has allowed religious communities to thrive.
That’s why people of faith helped found Americans United and continue to play a leading role in the movement for church-state separation. Our Faith Advisory Council (FAC) and Faith Leaders United Network (FLU) believe that religion should lift up, protect, and serve. And they take action to ensure religion is never used as a license to harm others.
Christian nationalists often portray secularism as the enemy of religion. But a major study of 166 nations spanning 10 years shows that Christianity prospers more in environments of pluralism or even persecution than when it is privileged and politicized.
AU worked with people of faith to protect the Johnson Amendment一a law that ensures that nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, refrain from endorsing or opposing political candidates—when the Trump administration threatened to repeal it. In response, 4,500 faith leaders and 106 religious organizations took action, writing to Congress in strong opposition to weakening or repealing the law.
Americans United helped organize national faith groups to oppose legislation that would exempt houses of worship from COVID-19 emergency orders prohibiting large public gatherings. Twenty-seven religious organizations signed a letter opposing these bills.
The Do No Harm Act will help ensure that our laws are a shield to protect religious freedom and not used as a sword to harm others by undermining civil rights laws and denying access to health care.
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