Home : Religion and Belief

STATEMENT OF JAMES "JIM" GREEN (10/06/2005)

NYCLU Letter to Hevesi (01/14/2004)

NYCLU Letter to Thompson (01/14/2004)

Provisions in Head Start Re-authorization (06/19/2003)

The Establishment Clause and the Schools: A Legal Bulletin (03/11/2002)
These opening words of the First Amendment to the Constitution set forth a dual guarantee of religious liberty. Both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause operate to protect the religious liberty and freedom of conscience of all Americans. Quoting Thomas Jefferson, the Supreme Court has stated that the Establishment Clause was intended to accomplish this end by erecting a "wall of separation between Church and State." Everson v. Board of Educ. of Ewing, 330 U.S. 1, 15-16 (1947).

ACLU Position Statement on "Creation-science" (03/11/2002)
For seventy-five years, the American Civil Liberties Union has been dedicated to upholding First Amendment protections of civil liberties. Consistent with the requirements of the Establishment Clause, the ACLU policy on religion in public schools states that "...any program of religious indoctrination -- direct or indirect -- in the public schools or by use of public resources is a violation of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state and must be opposed...." In 1980, the Board of Directors further clarified this policy by stating, "ACLU also opposes the inculcation of religious doctrines even if they are presented as alternatives to scientific theories." "Creation science" in all its guises, for example "abrupt appearance theory" or "intelligent design theory", is just such religious doctrine.

America's Constitutional Heritage: Religion and Our Public Schools (03/11/2002)
Following is the transcript of "America's Constitutional Heritage: Religion and Our Public Schools."

Constitutional Amendment on School Prayer (03/11/2002)
Surprising even his staunchest supporters with the swiftness of his action, the House Speaker-elect, Newt Gingrich, this week announced his intention to push immediately for adoption of his proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution "relating to voluntary school prayer." The Gingrich proposal states:

Florida Citizens Challenge Unconstitutional "Bible History" Classes (02/21/2002)
FORT MYERS, FL -- Lee County parents and other concerned citizens today filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop the Lee County school district from teaching an unconstitutional "Bible History" course that uses the Bible as though it is a history textbook. Serving as co-counsel in the lawsuit are the Florida law firm of Steel Hector & Davis, People For the American Way and the ACLU Foundation of Florida.