Liz Hayes
Associate Vice President of Communications
[email protected]
“Maine residents should never be forced to support religious education or discrimination,” said Alex J. Luchenitser, associate legal director of Americans United. “Diverting public funds to those uses would violate the religious freedom of taxpayers, parents, and students.”
“As faith leaders, we celebrate the important work of so many faith-based child welfare agencies that support youth in foster care and families,” the faith leaders stated. “We are also deeply committed to religious freedom, but that freedom doesn’t give anyone the right to impose their beliefs on others or to put children in harm’s way."
The “Fairness for All” Act is anything but fair, and it certainly does not serve all of us. It is an affront to existing civil rights protections that protect people on the basis of race, sex and religion; creates new, substandard protections for LGBTQ people with massive loopholes and carve-outs; and upends critical federal programs that serve children in need.
"One after another, three judges across the country have now made it crystal clear that it was unlawful for the Trump administration to misuse religious freedom to justify harming patients," said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. "These decisions, coupled with Congress’ introduction of the Put Patients First Act, should send an emphatic message to President Trump that no patient should ever be discriminated against or denied health care based on who they are, who they love or what they believe.”
“The Montana Supreme Court protected America’s guarantee of religious freedom when it struck down private school vouchers last year. Considering 94 percent of taxpayer-funded vouchers in the state financed religious schools, the court’s decision ensures residents can’t be forced to fund religious education,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.
“Even as courts block President Trump’s dangerous Denial of Care Rule, it’s clear the administration will continue to push this rule and other policies that misuse religious freedom to license discrimination and harm to others. It's more important than ever that Congress enact extra safeguards to protect people’s health and fundamental rights," said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.
“The Trump administration is now 0 for 2 in trying to defend its harmful Denial of Care Rule that puts patients’ lives at risk in the name of ‘religious freedom.’ We hope the federal judges in our cases in California and Maryland will echo the judges in New York and now Washington – that this rule is unlawful, unconstitutional and cannot take effect. Patients should never be denied care based on who they are, who they love or what they believe.”
"We’re thankful Judge Engelmayer blocked President Trump’s dangerous Denial of Care Rule from going into effect. We urge the federal judges reviewing our cases in California and Maryland, as well as the judge in the Washington case, to reach a conclusion as swiftly as possible and send a clear message to the Trump administration that this rule poses an imminent threat to public health,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.
“Maine residents should never be forced to support religious education or discrimination,” said Alex J. Luchenitser, associate legal director of Americans United. “Diverting public funds to those uses would violate the religious freedom of taxpayers, parents, and students.”
“This proposed rule marks a new low in the Trump administration’s efforts to license discrimination against religious minorities and LGBTQ people. The rule would directly and gravely harm some of our nation’s most vulnerable people – children in foster care, senior citizens, and youth experiencing homelessness,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. “When it comes to discrimination based on religion, the Trump administration is saying it’s OK to ignore the Constitution. It’s never OK and we will continue to fight to uphold our core American value of religious freedom.”
New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson worked at ADF, a Christian Nationalist outfit and leader in the Shadow Network, for more than a decade. Now, he's in one of the most powerful offices in the world. Please donate now to help AU protect religious freedom and church-state separation.
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