“House leadership is trying to ram through language in any bill they can before they give up the gavel in January and it will become much harder for them to repeal the Johnson Amendment,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.

Prominent faith leaders today joined advocacy organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State to shed needed light on Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker’s outrageous views that would require federal judges to have a “biblical” worldview.

After weeks of organizations and elected officials from both sides of the political spectrum urging the removal of Whitaker for myriad reasons, the faith community is highlighting another reason the Trump administration’s chief lawyer is unfit to hold that office.

“The Religious Liberty Task Force is yet another example of how the Religious Right wields unprecedented authority within the Trump-Pence administration,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. “To make matters worse, the DOJ is operating this task force behind closed doors without any oversight by the American people. That is unacceptable.”

“This administration is weaponizing ‘religious freedom’ to justify hurting the millions of women who depend on contraception for their health and equality,” said AU President and CEO Rachel Laser. “Bosses shouldn’t get to impose their religious beliefs on their employees, nor should universities on their students."

“Religious freedom scored some major wins last night," said Rachel Laser, AU's president and CEO. "The House flip provides an important check on the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on separation of religion and government. The people of Arizona, led by teachers and moms, stood up to protect public education over vouchers for private, religious schools. Rural Kentucky rejected the extremism of Kim Davis."