> Blog: A Christmas Carol from the ACLU
ACLU Cases Defending Religious Freedom The ACLU and Freedom of Religion and Belief CASES > Case: Moreno v. Ector County School Board > Victory: The Challenge to Intelligent Design > Litigation: The Mt. Soledad Cross AUDIO FROM THE 2006 MEMBERSHIP CONFERENCE > Program Director Jeremy Gunn > ACLU Legal Director Steve Shapiro > ACLU of Pennsylvania Attorney Vic Walczak

ACLU Seeks Documents Outlining Government Policies On Teens' Access To Reproductive Health Services
The American Civil Liberties Union today asked a federal court to order the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to release documents outlining U.S. policy limiting refugee and undocumented teenagers access to important reproductive health services, including contraceptives and abortion.
> >Press release

San Bernardino County Agrees To Allow Religious Head Scarves In County Jails
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Southern California reached an agreement with San Bernardino County to institute policies that accommodate the First Amendment right to wear religious head scarves in jail. More >>

ACLU Sues School District For Punishing Kindergarten Student Because Of Family's Religious Beliefs
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas have sued a south Texas school district for forcing a five-year-old kindergarten student to stuff his long hair - part of his American Indian religious heritage - down the back of his shirt in order to conform with a dress code that prohibits boys from wearing long hair. More >>

Federal Lawsuit Challenges District of Columbia's Funding Of Religious Mission
The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging in federal court the transfer of more than $12 million in public property and cash to a private religious homeless shelter that forces its residents to participate in religious activity. More >>

ACLU Calls For End To Mandatory Prayer At U.S. Naval Academy
The ACLU is urging the U.S. Naval Academy to stop forcing midshipmen to participate in the Academy's compulsory "noon meal prayers." More >>

Yearning For Zion Ranch
> Judge Orders Children Returned To Their Families (6/2/2008)
> ACLU Urges Court to Correct Constitutional Errors (5/30/2008)

ACLU PROGRAM ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF
The American Constitution and Bill of Rights introduced a new relationship between religion and government. Prior to 1789, almost every European country maintained a close relationship between church and state. James Madison, the principal drafter of the First Amendment, proposed that, unlike European states, the government should not tax its citizens to support religious activities, nor should it promote religious beliefs, and that all religious beliefs should be treated equally and fairly. He believed that religion would thrive best when the government did not promote some religious beliefs to the exclusion of others.

Madison's ideals, now embodied in the Constitution, were exactly right. Americans enjoy more religious freedom than do people in any other country in the world.

Unfortunately, some people are now trying to use government power to promote religion in exactly the way the Constitution wisely rejected. The ACLU works to ensure that people remain free to choose which religious beliefs (or none) they wish to express and that governments, school boards, and legislatures do not become involved in deciding which religious beliefs should be promoted or in spending taxpayer dollars to support religious activities and symbols.

FAQs ABOUT THE ACLU AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
> Does the ACLU want to remove crosses from federal cemeteries?
> Does the ACLU object to federal employees bowing their heads?