Home : Religion and Belief

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 Nebraska Defends Church Facing Eviction by the City of Lincoln (08/11/2004)
LINCOLN --The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska today announced that it would defend a Presbyterian church from a forced eviction by the city.

Michigan Court Punishes Catholic Man for Refusing Conversion to Pentecostal Faith in Drug Rehab Program (07/20/2004)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today asked the state Supreme Court to hear the case of a Catholic man who was criminally punished for not completing a Pentecostal drug rehabilitation program, which prevented him from practicing his own religious faith. His request to be transferred to another program that would allow him to practice his own faith was denied and he was sentenced to six months in jail and boot camp.

ACLU of Ohio Victorious in Another Ten Commandments Case (07/14/2004)
CLEVELAND -- In a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, an appeals court today affirmed a lower court ruling that a public courtroom display of the Ten Commandments is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

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.

ACLU Washington Director Asks Democratic Committee To Include Strong Stand for Civil Liberties in Party Platform (06/19/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked the Democratic Party Platform Committee to include strong language in its 2004 platform to protect and promote civil liberties.

ACLU Rebukes Backdoor Congressional Attempts to Allow Tax-Exempt Religious Groups To Engage in Partisan Political Activities (06/14/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked a backdoor attempt by some Members of Congress to permit tax-exempt religious organizations to engage in partisan political activities, saying that the unconstitutional measure would discriminate against secular non-profit organizations.

ACLU Nebraska Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Muslim Woman Barred from Public Pool Because She Refused to Wear a Swim Suit (06/09/2004)
OMAHA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska today filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Omaha on behalf of Lubna Hussein, a Muslim woman who was told she must remove her religious garb in order to accompany her children at a municipal swimming pool.

Federal Appeals Court Upholds ACLU Charge That Cross in Mojave Federal Preserve Violates Constitution (06/07/2004)
LOS ANGELES - A federal appeals court today upheld a lower court's ruling that the presence of a large Christian cross on the federal Mojave Desert Preserve is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.