Liz Hayes
Associate Vice President of Communications
[email protected]
Americans United and allies filed a lawsuit on behalf of 9 Oklahoma residents and a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting public education in Oklahoma to stop the state from sponsoring and funding the nation’s first religious public charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on July 13 ruled against AU client Shelly Fitzgerald, a beloved guidance counselor at Roncalli High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Shelly sued after the school fired her because she was married to a woman. The 7th Circuit ruled that the “ministerial exception” prevented Shelly from vindicating her rights to be free from discrimination.
Fourteen clergy from seven faith traditions largely won an important ruling in their lawsuit Friday challenging Missouri’s abortion ban and restrictions on medication abortion, all of which unconstitutionally impose one narrow religious doctrine on all Missouri residents and violate the separation of church and state. The faith leaders are represented by Americans United, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) and the law firm Arnold & Porter.
Americans United denounced the Supreme Court's decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis, which advanced the Christian Nationalist agenda of undermining our civil rights laws and allowing religiously motivated discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Americans United had warned that Christian Nationalists were using the Groff v. DeJoy Supreme Court case as a wolf in sheep's clothing, another attempt to weaponize religious freedom and civil rights laws by forcing coworkers to bear burdens resulting from someone else’s religious practices. Importantly, the court did not grant Groff a win in this case. We live to fight another day.
In an letter sent to Texas school districts and charter schools, Americans United, the ACLU, the ACLU of Texas and the Freedom From Religion Foundation warned that allowing chaplains in public schools would violate the state and U.S. constitutions.
Americans United celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a case that AU is litigating: Synod of Bishops v. Belya. This case is far from over, but our client Father Alexander Belya now has a chance to vindicate his rights.
Americans United President and CEO Rachel Laser announced the organization is preparing legal action to protect religious freedom and public education in Oklahoma in response to the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approving the revised charter application of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School.
Americans United celebrates Supreme Court order restoring nationwide access to mifepristone, a safe and effective drug used in medication abortions and miscarriage management. Judge Kacsmaryk’s unprecedented order ignored long-established science and medical guidance to advance the agenda of religious extremists seeking to ban all abortions and force all of us to live according to their narrow beliefs.
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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