Privileging Religion

The Constitution prohibits our government from advancing any particular religious belief or religion in general, and from inhibiting individual religious beliefs. The Secular Coalition for America opposes government actions that privilege religion in over non-religion in public policy or society.

Corporal Punishment Ban Praised by Secular Coalition for America

Tue, 06/29/2010 - 12:04

Today, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) introduced the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act, a bill that would prohibit corporal punishment in all public and private schools that receive tax dollars. Currently, only two states ban corporal punishment in both private and public schools, though 30 states ban the practice in public schools. The Secular Coalition for America heralded the bill’s introduction as a positive step toward ending religious privilege in policy affecting and harming children. Read more »

Secular Coalition for America Opposes Elena Kagan for Supreme Court

Thu, 06/24/2010 - 12:39

Justice John Paul Stevens has been a historic champion of our constitutional separation of church and state. He has consistently sought to strike down special privileges for religion and its impositions on the rights of others. President Obama's choice to replace him, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, does not appear to embrace the fundamental American principle of church-state separation with the vigor and force of Justice John Paul Stevens. Read more »

Questions for Solicitor General Elena Kagan in Her Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings

Thu, 06/24/2010 - 10:46

This letter, containing questions that the Secular Coalition for America developed regarding Solicitor General Elena Kagan's record on church-state separation issues, was sent to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy as well as all the other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

June 24, 2010

The Honorable Patrick Leahy
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman: Read more »

Protect Foreign Women from U.S. Religious Extremist Policies in Foreign Aid

Tue, 06/01/2010 - 09:33

Yemmi Samta didn't know that her 14-year-old-daughter, Saron, was pregnant until she found her unconscious and bleeding profusely on the dirt floor of her ramshackle house. Samta begged a neighbor to load Saron onto a donkey cart and take her to the nearest clinic, 12 miles away. The girl died on the way from septicemia, a form of blood poisoning, and loss of blood. Read more »

Reject Michele Bachmann's Sectarian Prayer Amendment, Says Secular Coalition for America

Wed, 05/26/2010 - 14:33

Last night the Secular Coalition for America and its allies discovered that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) had introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization bill that would allow chaplains in the military to use specifically-Christian prayers at official military events. The Secular Coalition for America unequivocally opposes this measure, and released the following statement: Read more »

Tax money used to mislead children for religious reasons

Thu, 05/06/2010 - 14:05

Secular Coalition for America calls for Equity in Educational Standards

Science and History just as important as English and Math

Four Ways Children are Misled by Taxpayer-funded religious propaganda:

1. In March 2010 the Texas Board of Education voted to remove Thomas Jefferson’s name from a list of leaders who have inspired changes in governments worldwide. President Jefferson, who authored the Declaration of Independence, also penned the phrase “separation of church and state.” Read more »

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