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Prominent Chicago Religious Leaders Ask Federal Appellate Court to Protect Government Neutrality in Religion and End Pentagon's Extraordinary Funding for Boy Scout Jamboree (04/05/2006)
CHICAGO - Two well-known Chicago religious leaders have asked a federal appellate court in Chicago to uphold the basic constitutional principle of government neutrality between religious groups and secular groups and bar the Pentagon from the extraordinary spending of millions of dollars to support future Boy Scout Jamborees (the only youth organization event so funded by the Pentagon). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is hearing arguments on Thursday April 6 in Winkler v. Rumsfeld, a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.

ACLU Announces Settlement in Challenge to Government-Funded Religion in the Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Program the “Silver Ring Thing” (02/23/2006)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today announced a settlement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a case challenging federal funding of religious activities in a nationwide abstinence-only-until-marriage program, the Silver Ring Thing.

ACLU of Michigan Defends Catholic Man Coerced to Convert to Pentecostal Faith in Drug Rehab Program (12/06/2005)
DETROIT - After exhausting all avenues in the Michigan courts, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Catholic man who was criminally punished for not completing a Pentecostal drug rehabilitation program.

Indiana Court Upholds Challenge to House’s Exclusionary Sectarian Prayers (11/30/2005)
INDIANAPOLIS -- U.S. District Court Judge David F. Hamilton today ordered the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Indiana General Assembly to stop permitting sectarian prayers from being offered as part of the official House proceedings.

Fredericksburg City Council Agrees to ACLU Request, Adopts Non-Sectarian Prayer Policy (11/14/2005)
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Following a request by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, the Fredericksburg City Council voted last night to make the prayers that open its meetings non-sectarian.

ACLU of New Jersey Defends Property Owner Against Government Seizure of Land to Give to Religious School (10/18/2005)
NEWARK, NJ -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced today that it is representing tavern owner Cheng "Terry" Tan, who is fighting the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency's attempt to take his restaurant by eminent domain. Jersey City officials want to take Tan's land to give it to a parochial school, St. Peter's Prep, for its football field.

ACLU Urges Congress to Maintain Civil Rights Protections in Head Start; Warns That Removing Provisions Would Make Law Unconstitutional (09/21/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly urged the House of Representatives to oppose any amendments to the Head Start program that would repeal critical civil rights protections. That legislation, to be considered tomorrow, currently contains longstanding protections for teachers, staff and volunteers against employment discrimination. However, some lawmakers are expected to offer amendments that would repeal these key protections.

ACLU Calls on President Bush to Keep Politics Out of Katrina Relief Legislation (09/15/2005)
WASHINGTON - In anticipation of President Bush's address to the nation tonight to unveil a new federal aid package for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, the American Civil Liberties Union cautioned that any government relief action must be mindful of the privacy and civil liberties of those affected. The president is expected to call for legislation that would provide job training and housing, but also controversial measures like school vouchers, faith-based initiatives and attacks on medical privacy.

Prominent Chicago Religious Leaders Applaud Court Order Ending Pentagon's Special Funding for Boy Scout Jamboree (07/07/2005)
CHICAGO -- Two well-known Chicago religious leaders today hailed an injunction by U.S. District Court Judge Blanche Manning that bars the Pentagon from spending millions of dollars to support future Boy Scout Jamborees (the only youth organization event so funded by the Pentagon).

ACLU Calls on Congress to Reject Funding of Religious Activities, Says Faith Based Initiative Goes Too Far and Threatens Civil Rights (06/21/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged lawmakers not to give the green light to the President's plan to funnel taxpayer dollars to faith-based organizations to provide social services. Without the proper safeguards, the President's "Faith-Based Initiative" will amount to little more than "government funded religion."

Parents, Educators Denounce Florida Voucher Scheme, Say Program Hurts Public Schools (06/06/2005)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow on the constitutionality of Florida's school voucher program in a case that will determine whether the state can continue diverting much-needed tax dollars from neighborhood public schools to private, mostly church-run schools.

ACLU Says Vouchers Are Not Education Reform (06/06/2005)
MIAMI, FL -- Ever since Jeb Bush became governor of Florida, he has championed programs that undermine the state's public school system by transferring tax dollars from public to private and church-run schools.

ACLU Calls on Congress To Oppose Government-Funded Discrimination, House Defeats Key Civil Rights Protections (03/02/2005)
WASHINGTON - Following the House of Representatives' failure to adopt a key civil rights amendment to a jobs training bill, the American Civil Liberties Union today called on Congress to reject the underlying measure. The amendment would have prevented federally funded religious organizations from using religious litmus tests in employment decisions.

Pennsylvania Jail Requires Religion With Rehabilitation, ACLU Charges (02/17/2005)
TOWANDA, PA-- The only vocational training program available at a Pennsylvania county jail forces prisoners to participate in religious discussions, religious lectures and prayer, the American Civil Liberties Union charged today in a complaint filed in federal court.

ACLU Says Congress Must Oppose Legislation Allowing Government-Funded Discrimination (02/16/2005)
WASHINGTON -A key House Committee approved a jobs training bill today that would allow, if it passes, federally funded religious organizations to discriminate against employees based on their religious beliefs. The same committee also rejected a modest amendment that would have corrected the constitutional concerns.

ACLU Applauds Appeals Court Decision Striking Down Florida School Voucher Program (11/12/2004)
MIAMI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today hailed a federal court ruling that the state's school voucher program is unconstitutional because it allows tax dollars to be spent on religious schools.

ACLU Applauds Appeals Court Decision Striking Down Florida School Voucher Program (08/16/2004)
MIAMI, FL -- Saying Governor Jeb Bush can no longer ignore the Florida Constitution and divert much-needed tax dollars to private, sectarian schools, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today hailed a court of appeal decision striking down as unconstitutional the state's school voucher program.

ACLU of Ohio Demands Cancellation of Government-Sponsored "Faith-Based" Concert (08/16/2004)
CLEVELAND - In a letter submitted today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio called on Franklin County Children Services to cancel a government-sponsored "faith-based" gospel concert scheduled for August 21, 2004.

In Historic Court Victory for ACLU, Honolulu Agrees to Create New Rules Affirming Religious Neutrality and Free Speech (06/23/2004)
HONOLULU--The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i claimed victory today in three First Amendment cases resulting in a historic settlement agreement with the city and county of Honolulu, which ensured that gay rights organizations and other political groups cannot be blocked from participating in city-sponsored events and that taxpayer funds will no longer be used to promote one religion over others.