Advancing church-state separation is the perfect way to build unity in our country. That’s because most Americans understand that keeping religion and govern­ment separate is the only way to secure freedom of con­science for all of us.

Americans United has argued that it’s unconstitutional for government officials to order that secular venues – such as concerts, sporting matches and lectures – be closed while allowing houses of worship to conduct in-person services.

After Lodi police officers visited the congregation to educate members about the dangers of holding services, the church enlisted an extreme Religious Right legal group called the National Center for Law & Policy to send a letter to city officials asserting that its rights are being violated.