Home : Religion and Belief

Federal Judge Orders Georgia School District to Remove Evolution Disclaimers (01/13/2005)
ATLANTA-A federal judge today ruled that placing disclaimer stickers warning that evolution is ""a theory, not a fact"" in public school science textbooks is an unconstitutional government intrusion on religious liberty.

Virginia School Board Votes to Allow Students to Sit During Pledge of Allegiance (01/11/2005)
RICHMOND, VA--Under pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia -- and based on recommendations from its own lawyers -- the Spotsylvania County School Board last night voted to remove a policy requiring students to stand during recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance.

ACLU of New Jersey Successfully Defends Right of Religious Expression by Jurors (12/22/2004)
NEWARK, NJ-- The State Supreme Court ruled today that a prosecutor violated the New Jersey Constitution when he removed two jurors from a jury pool, one for wearing Muslim religious clothing and another for having engaged in missionary activity.

Pennsylvania Parents File First-Ever Challenge to "Intelligent Design" Instruction in Public Schools (12/14/2004)
HARRISBURG, PA-The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and attorneys with Pepper Hamilton LLP filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of 11 parents who say that presenting ""intelligent design"" in public school science classrooms violates their religious liberty by promoting particular religious beliefs to their children under the guise of science education.

Massachusetts Transit Agency Violated Free Speech Rights by Rejecting Marijuana Policy Reform Ads, Federal Court Rules (12/09/2004)
BOSTON -- Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts declared a First Amendment victory today in a federal appeals court ruling that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority violated free speech rights by refusing to display subway advertisements encouraging public discussion about marijuana policies and laws. However, the ACLU criticized a separate ruling that upheld the transit agency's decision to reject ads submitted by a Christian church group.

Pentagon Agrees to End Direct Sponsorship of Boy Scout Troops in Response to Religious Discrimination Charge (11/15/2004)
CHICAGO - In response to a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, the Defense Department today agreed to end direct sponsorship of hundreds of Boy Scout units, which require members to swear religious oaths, on military facilities across the United States and overseas.

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.

Parents Challenge Evolution Disclaimer In Georgia Textbooks (11/12/2004)
ATLANTA-Court arguments ended today in a federal lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia on behalf of a group parents challenging that a warning sticker placed in science textbooks claiming that evolution is ""a theory, not a fact"" is government intrusion on religious liberty.

Supreme Court Agrees to Review Two Challenges to Government-Endorsed Ten Commandments Displays (10/12/2004)
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court announced today that it will take up the constitutionality of Ten Commandments displays on government land and buildings in two separate cases, including a successful challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky to a courthouse display.