No Religious Discrimination

The First Amendment requires government to remain neutral on matters of religion. But the so-called “faith-based initiative” violates that constitutional requirement and anti-discrimination laws. Created without congressional approval, the program allots billions of taxpayer dollars to social services run by favored religious organizations, allowing them to exercise religious discrimination in hiring and to proselytize people in need.
 
Americans should never be discriminated against on the basis of our religious beliefs. Government-funded jobs must be open to all qualified applicants regardless of their opinions about religion. Publicly supported programs should never require anyone to take part in religion. Non-discrimination is the American way.
 
If religious organizations use government funds to provide social services, they must not discriminate in hiring on religious grounds or deny services to people based on beliefs about faith. For people to be denied participation in a publicly funded program because of their beliefs about religion is simply un-American.
 
Religious organizations may define the content of their community services and hire only those who share their faith tradition in privately funded programs if they wish. But when using our tax dollars, it is not right for faith groups to discriminate in employment or in the provision of services.
 
 

In The News:

"House GOP Try to Halt Muslim Seminar"
Examiner - March 12, 2007

"State’s Faith-Based Office Under Investigation"
The Christian Post - March 12, 2007


"Fighting faith-based spending in court"
Los Angeles Times - February 23, 2007



"V.A. resists use of pentacle on tombstones"
UU World (Unitarian Universalist) - December 1, 2006

"Arkansas begins faith-based inmate program"
Houston Chronicle - December 1, 2006

"Faith-Based Initiative Spurs Growth of Special Interest Groups"
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy - October 24, 2006

"Americans should have faith in diversity"
The Columbus Dispatch - October 21, 2006








"Social Services Under Bush - Only Christians Need Apply"
The Salt Lake Tribune - August 14, 2006

"Free Expression: A Grave Oversight"
The LA Times - July 15, 2006

"Gaining Faith in Federal Money?"
The Virginian-Pilot - January 16, 2006

 
From The Interfaith Alliance Foundation:
 
TIA Website 
The Interfaith Alliance opposes any and all religious discrimination in either employment or distribution of social services utilizing federal funds
 
TIA Press Release 
Press conference highlights the concerns of American Muslims from across our nation about the Federal Bureau of Investigation's targeting of American Muslims and their attempts to covertly infiltrate Islamic houses of worship around the nation.
 
TIA Press Release, October 2004 
The Interfaith Alliance (TIA), the national political voice of the interfaith movement, today condemned the intrusion into the religious life of American Muslims under a government program of “volunteer interviews.”
 
TIA Press Release 
In response to the controversy surrounding the role of American Muslims in the Clinton-Lazio Senate race, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of The Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
 
TIA Website, 2002 
The Interfaith Alliance strongly believes in the right of people of faith to be able to observe their religion in the workplace without hindrance to their careers
 
TIA Website, 2005 
Workforce Investment Act (H.R. 27) represents dramatic government policy shift towards religion by repealing protections from religious employment discrimination.
 
TIA Website, 2005 
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 Press Release, June 2005
 

From Americans United for Separation of Church and State:
 
AU Press Release -- November 13, 2006 
Combat Veterans' Widows, Other Wiccans Join Legal Action Seeking VA Approval Of Faith's Symbol For Military Memorial Markers
 
AU Press Release -- October 27, 2006 
Church-State Watchdog Group Says Constitution Forbids Use Of Public Funds For Religious Indoctrination Or Coercion
 
AU Press Release -- October 12, 2006 
White House Faith-Based Office Is 'Deplorable Sham' And Should Be Shut Down, Says AU's Lynn
 
AU Press Release -- September 26, 2006 
AU's Lynn Says Department of Veterans Affairs Must Recognize Religious-Liberty Rights Of All Veterans
 
AU Press Release -- September 14, 2006 
Action Comes After Federal Government Fails To Approve Religious Symbol
 
AU Press Release -- August 11, 2006 
Pennsylvania County Fails In Effort To Dismiss Legal Challenge
 
AU Press Release -- August 3, 2006 
National Church-State Watchdog Group Will Represent Wife Of Fallen Soldier And Wisconsin-Based Wiccan Church
 
AU Press Release - October 12, 2006 
White House Faith-Based Office Is 'Deplorable Sham' And Should Be Shut Down, Says AU's Lynn
 
AU brochure 
With increasing frequency, opponents of church-state separation are working to pass laws granting tax dollars to churches and other houses of worship to perform government-sponsored social services.
 
Church & State – July/August 2006 
Americans United Wins Sweeping Federal Court Ruling Against ‘Faith-Based’ funding For InnerChange Prison Ministry
 
Church & State – June 2006 
White House Faith Czar Towey Departs, As Doubts About Bush ‘Faith-Based’ Initiative Continue To Grow
 
Church & State – April 2006 
President George W. Bush returned to one of his favorite themes in March, launching yet another drive on behalf of his “faith-based” initiative.
 
AU blog – March 16, 2006 
Despite fevered lobbying, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has failed again to convince the state’s legislature to amend the state constitution and gut its provision for church-state separation.
 
Church & State – January 2006 
With Elections Looming And The Religious Right Restive, Americans United’s Legislative Department Is Gearing Up For A Rough Ride On Capitol Hill
 
Church & State – April 2005 
A job recently became available for someone willing and able to teach construction skills to inmates at the Bradford County Correc¬tional Facility in northeastern Pennsylvania.
 
Church & State – April 2005 U.S.
House Supports Rollback Of Religious Discrimination Ban In Job-Training Bill After Bush Push
 
AU Press Release – December 2, 2003 
Towey Remarks Show Bush Administration Does Not Intend To Be Even-Handed In 'Faith-Based' Initiative, AU Charges
 
Church & State – May 2003 
U.S. Senator Rick Santorum had reached the end of his rope.
 


In The News:

"House GOP Try to Halt Muslim Seminar"
Examiner - March 12, 2007

"State’s Faith-Based Office Under Investigation"
The Christian Post - March 12, 2007


"Fighting faith-based spending in court"
Los Angeles Times - February 23, 2007



"V.A. resists use of pentacle on tombstones"
UU World (Unitarian Universalist) - December 1, 2006

"Arkansas begins faith-based inmate program"
Houston Chronicle - December 1, 2006

"Faith-Based Initiative Spurs Growth of Special Interest Groups"
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy - October 24, 2006

"Americans should have faith in diversity"
The Columbus Dispatch - October 21, 2006








"Social Services Under Bush - Only Christians Need Apply"
The Salt Lake Tribune - August 14, 2006

"Free Expression: A Grave Oversight"
The LA Times - July 15, 2006

"Gaining Faith in Federal Money?"
The Virginian-Pilot - January 16, 2006


Coalition Organizations

The organizations featured below are encouraging their members and supporters to sign the First Freedom First petition to safeguard separation of church and state and protect religious liberty. Click their logo to learn more.


up

The Jefferson Society

Organizations that support First Freedom First