Democracy NOT Theocracy

Decisions about religion and spirituality are deeply personal. The government’s only role in these matters is to protect individual choice. That’s what separation of church and state and religious liberty are all about. These values protect the rights of believers and non-believers alike to make personal, private choices about faith.

Sometimes we take these inherent rights for granted, but we shouldn’t. Safeguarding separation of church and state and protecting religious liberty are the foundation stones upon which our country was built. If government is allowed to prefer one religious viewpoint over another or favor people of faith over non-believers, then we are sacrificing our heritage of freedom.
 
Some pressure groups want to change federal tax law and allow houses of worship to endorse or oppose political candidates using tax-exempt donations. But this is an unwise proposal that would be deeply divisive in a nation as diverse as America. It would harm our democracy and jeopardize the integrity of our religious organizations. Many houses of worship would be torn apart over partisan politics. We must not politicize our houses of worship. Certainly, we all hold different beliefs, but it is our first freedom -- to privately choose our own beliefs -- that is our most important American value.


In The News:


"Stark's atheist views break political taboo"
The San Francisco Chronicle - March 15, 2007

"Don't drop `don't ask, don't tell,' Pace says"
The Chicago Tribune - March 13, 2007

"Memo: Stop teaching evolution"
The Dallas Morning News - February 16, 2007

"Taxpayers are forced to pay for a religious program"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch - February 13, 2007


"Separation of Powers?"
Wyoming Tribune Eagle - January 14, 2007

"Through a Glass, Darkly"
Harper's Magazine - January 10, 2007

"Government Sponsored Religion - It's a Battle Not Written in Stone"
St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Bay FL - January 4, 2007

"Faith groups urge cuts to AIDS fund"
The Boston Globe - December 1, 2006

"Gerson: A New Faith-Based Agenda"
Newsweek - November 13, 2006


"Church Meets State"
Newsweek - November 13, 2006


"Houses of worship fear wrath of IRS during election season"
Myrtle Beach Online - October 31, 2006


"Schroeder says Bush's religious talk worried him"
The Washington Post - October 22, 2006



"Past foes of church-state ties turn supporters"
The Boston Globe - October 9, 2006


"Dobbs: Keep religion out of politics"
Lou Dobbs, CNN - September 27, 2006

"Conservatives Put Faith in Church Voter Drives"
The LA Times - August 15, 2006


"God on Our Side"
The Hill - June 8, 2006

"God's Senator"
Rolling Stone - January 25, 2006

 
From Americans United for Separation of Church and State:
 
AU's Lynn Notes Defeat Of Several Candidates Aligned With Religious Right
 
AU Press Release -- November 6, 2006 
Houses Of Worship Must Abide By Federal Tax Law, Says Watchdog Group
 
AU Press Release -- October 31, 2006 
Church-State Watchdog Group Reminds Churches That Distributing Partisan Election Materials Can Result In Loss Of Tax Exemption
 
AU Press Release -- October 16, 2006 
AU Director's New Book, Piety & Politics, Details Effort By White House Office To Use Initiative For Partisan Purposes
 
AU Press Release -- September 26, 2006 
AU's Lynn Says Measure Is 'A Repugnant Affront To The Civil Rights of All Americans' 
 
AU Press Release -- September 22, 2006 
Dobson, Religious Right Seek To 'Lead Evangelical Flock Into Republican Fold In November,' Says AU's Lynn
 
AU Press Release -- September 18, 2006 
Watchdog Group's Campaign Will Counter Religious Right Leader James Dobson's Plan For A Church-Based Political Machine
 
AU Press Release -- September 12, 2006 
Legal Action Raises Questions Over Role Of 'Faith-Based' Groups In $500-Million Bush Effort To Fund Marriage Counseling
 
AU Press Release -- September 7, 2006 
Measure Is More Pandering To The Religious Right, Says AU's Lynn
 
AU Press Release -- August 16, 2006 
Americans United Hails Decision For Upholding Government Neutrality Toward Religion
 
AU Press Release -- August 14, 2006 
Drive To Politicize Evangelical Pulpits During Fall Elections Jeopardizes Church Tax Exemptions, Warns AU'S Lynn
 
AU Press Release -- August 2, 2006 
Don't Discourage Americans From Asserting Their Religious Liberty Rights In Court, Americans United's Lynn Urges Senate Panel
 
AU Press Release -- July 25, 2006 
'Mean-Spirited' Measure Seeks To Discourage Americans From Asserting Their Fundamental Religious Liberty Rights In Court, Says AU's Lynn
 
Americans United Criticizes House Meddling In California Religious Display Dispute AU Press Release -- July 19, 2006 AU's Lynn Says Mt. Soledad Cross Bill Is Fueled by Approaching Elections
 
Church-State Watchdog Group Files IRS Complaint Against Calvary Temple Church In Kerrville
 
AU Press Release -- July 19, 2006 
'Court-Stripping' Measure Jeopardizes The Constitutional Rights Of Religious Minorities, Says Americans United's Lynn
 
Don't Slam The Federal Courthouse Door In The Face Of Our Citizens, Says Americans United's Lynn
 
Church & State – June 2006 
College students say religion plays an important role in their lives, but they don’t want to see more religion in the political arena, according to a recent survey.
 
Church & State – May 2006 
Texas Preacher Scares Up A ‘War On Christians’ In Bid To Turn Out ‘Values Voters’ For The GOP In The 2006 Election.
 
Church & State – May 2006
 From the outside, the non-descript bookstore at 15th and K Streets in the heart of Washington, D.C., looks like any other shop selling religious literature and goods.
 
AU Blog – April 3, 2006 
Does the Religious Right have too much influence in American politics?
 
AU Press Release – January 3, 2006 
Pat Robertson Says God Told Him Justice Nominee Alito Will Be Confirmed And New Supreme Court Vacancy Will Occur In 2006
 
Church & State - January 2006 
How Christian Fundamentalists Are Controlling The Bush White House — And Interfering With Americans’ Lives A Conversation With Author Esther Kaplan
 
Church & State – May 2006 
In an event that seamlessly merged religion with politics, President George W. Bush used the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast to promote his views on abortion, immigration and other topics.
 
AU Blog – September 1, 2005 
Americans United today joined a coalition of 20 organizations that announced a grassroots campaign of opposition to Supreme Court nominee John Roberts Jr.
 
Church & State – May 2005 
Some long-time Republican leaders are beginning to believe that the Religious Right holds too much sway over their party.
 
Church & State – May 2005 
Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) invited Senate colleagues on a U.S. Capitol tour led by “Christian nation” advocate David Barton.
 
 
From The Interfaith Alliance Foundation: 
 
TIA Website, August 2006
 Public displays of religious doctrines by the government favor one religious tradition over others and favor religion over the freedom of those who choose no religion.
 
TIA Press Release, March 2005 
The Interfaith Alliance Urges Missourians: Tell Christian Right, “You’re not going to steal our government.”
 
State of Belief Radio, August 2006 
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s President, Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, focuses in on religious and ethnic intolerance within the political arena, sitting down with Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, author of “Foxes in the Henhouse: How the Republicans Stole the South and the Heartland, and What the Democrats Must Do to Run ‘em Out.”
 
State of Belief Radio, April 2006 
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s show on Air America Radio: Rev. Welton Gaddy talks with the author of American Theocracy, Kevin Phillips, and the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives is closely scrutinized.
 
TIA Press Release, April 2006 
Clergy Call for End to Government Subsidized Religion
 
TIA Website, August 2006 
Proposals to funnel government dollars directly into houses of worship and religious organizations, namely President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, endanger both the sanctity of religion and the integrity of government.
 
TIA Website, November 2004 
Houses of worship have a unique role to play at election time, and if they do it well, they can help reduce the enormous cynicism about politics that has taken root in the land.
 
 


In The News:


"Stark's atheist views break political taboo"
The San Francisco Chronicle - March 15, 2007

"Don't drop `don't ask, don't tell,' Pace says"
The Chicago Tribune - March 13, 2007

"Memo: Stop teaching evolution"
The Dallas Morning News - February 16, 2007

"Taxpayers are forced to pay for a religious program"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch - February 13, 2007


"Separation of Powers?"
Wyoming Tribune Eagle - January 14, 2007

"Through a Glass, Darkly"
Harper's Magazine - January 10, 2007

"Government Sponsored Religion - It's a Battle Not Written in Stone"
St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Bay FL - January 4, 2007

"Faith groups urge cuts to AIDS fund"
The Boston Globe - December 1, 2006

"Gerson: A New Faith-Based Agenda"
Newsweek - November 13, 2006


"Church Meets State"
Newsweek - November 13, 2006


"Houses of worship fear wrath of IRS during election season"
Myrtle Beach Online - October 31, 2006


"Schroeder says Bush's religious talk worried him"
The Washington Post - October 22, 2006



"Past foes of church-state ties turn supporters"
The Boston Globe - October 9, 2006


"Dobbs: Keep religion out of politics"
Lou Dobbs, CNN - September 27, 2006

"Conservatives Put Faith in Church Voter Drives"
The LA Times - August 15, 2006


"God on Our Side"
The Hill - June 8, 2006

"God's Senator"
Rolling Stone - January 25, 2006


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