In 1964 Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart wrote an opinion concerning a film the Ohio courts had deemed to be obscene. On the question of what exactly counts as pornography he said it was difficult to define but “I know it when I see it.” I apply the same standard in deciding when a judge is incorporating …
Four amateur lobbyists, five meetings on Capitol Hill, and one goal: build support for the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (SCERT). That was my team at the Secular Coalition’s first in-person lobby day in four years. The event began with a reception last Thursday evening which featured remarks from Congressman Jared Huffman, who …
I was pleased to see this article in The New Republic this week because the title is “Sorry Clarence Thomas but Supreme Court Ethics Reform Is on the Table.” I’m pleased because that is exactly the issue we will be advocating for on Capitol Hill at SCA’s Lobby Day on Friday. We have SCA supporters flying in to ask their representatives …
Heretic on the Hill: The Supreme Court Needs Some Sunshine Read More »
In July of 2017, then-President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson, and bragged about one of his recent accomplishments: “I’ve gotten rid of the Johnson Amendment. […] I signed an executive order so that now, […] ministers and preachers and rabbis and whoever it may be, they …
From the Intern Desk: Let’s Future-Proof the Johnson Amendment Read More »
Recently, as an economics student interning with a secular advocacy group, I found myself typing “economics of religion” into the search bar of Google Scholar. I expected that it would return articles on the Johnson Amendment, which concerns the political activities of churches and other tax exempt organizations, or perhaps a study or two on …
From the Intern Desk: An Economics Lesson for Christian Nationalists Read More »
“The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country.” — Jerry Falwell If Roe v. Wade were decided today, it’s safe to assume that religious conservatives would be apoplectic. There would undoubtedly be protests at the Supreme Court, at abortion clinics, at the …
From the Intern Desk: Where is the “Secular Left”? Read More »
The coming months are full of iconic celebrations of both life and death. We’ll see signs of harvest, hear talk of superstitions surrounding black cats and the number 13 (even though the next Friday the 13th isn’t until January 2023), and get swept up in the fantastical as pop culture embraces witches, vampires, ghosts, werewolves, …
If it’s August in Washington two things are true: Congress is on a one month recess, and it’s hot. How hot is it? The other day it was so hot, when I went by the Lincoln Memorial the chair was empty. That’s hot! When members of Congress are on a recess you, often find them …
In my Massachusetts hometown, both the city council and school board open their meetings with what could broadly be described as “invocations.” The city council, for their part, opens their meetings with a rather secular invocation, calling on the councilors to do good while they have the opportunity. The invocation includes no references to any …
Same-sex marriage shouldn’t be a church-state issue, but the church side is definitely making it one. It should simply be an administrative process where same-sex and opposite-sex marriages are treated the same in every state and devoid of religious influence. However, the reasoning behind the majority’s decision when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade …
Heretic on the Hill: “I Do” Support Marriage Equality Read More »
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