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Religion and Belief
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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? |
ACLU Sues School District For Punishing Kindergarten Student Because Of Family's Religious Beliefs (10/2/2008)
HOUSTON – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas today filed a lawsuit against the Needville Independent School District (NISD) for punishing a five-year-old American Indian kindergarten student for practicing and expressing his family's religious beliefs and heritage by wearing his hair long in violation of school rules.
Federal Lawsuit Challenges District Of Columbia's Funding Of Religious Mission (9/18/2008)
WASHINGTON – The ACLU of the National Capital Area, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the District of Columbia's plan to grant more than $12 million in public property and cash to the Central Union Mission, a religious homeless shelter.
Amendments 7 And 9 Struck Off November Ballot (9/3/2008)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today applauded the Florida Supreme Court's decision to remove proposed Constitutional Amendments 7 and 9 from the November ballot.
ACLU Files Lawsuit To Protect Religious Freedom Of Florida High School Students (8/27/2008)
PENSACOLA, FL – Santa Rosa County school officials are using their governmental positions to promote their personal religious beliefs in public schools, according to a lawsuit filed today on behalf of two Pace High School students by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the national ACLU.
City of Portland Upholds Freedom of Religion (8/22/2008)
PORTLAND — After more than five hours of testimony from neighbors, clergy, and supporters of religious liberty, the Portland Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted to allow a Portland Rabbi to continue prayer in his home. Rabbi Moshe Wilansky had received a cease-and-desist letter from Portland in May, ordering him to stop using his home as a "place of worship". The Zoning Board of Appeals, however, rejected the city's interpretation of the zoning ordinance, finding instead that the Rabbi was using his home in a perfectly acceptable way.
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