First Freedom First blogs

Misplaced Priorities: Justice Thomas Does The Dishes, But Forgets The Bill Of Rights

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:01:31 -0600

by guest blogger Sandhya Bathija

We don’t hear much from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He hasn’t asked a question during oral arguments at the high court in more than two years.

So when the George H.W. Bush appointee does agree to speak at a public event, we look forward to hearing his thoughts — especially when he is asked to speak on the Bill of Rights. That’s something we’d like to hope he knows quite a bit about as a Supreme Court justice.

But recently, when Thomas took the podium to address high school essay-contest winners, he seemed to forget he was there to talk about the Constitution.

Backlash To Bias: Obama Inaction On Hiring Discrimination Gaining Attention

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:17:23 -0700

by guest blogger Rob Boston

President Barack Obama’s reluctance to overturn a Bush-era executive order permitting religious bias in federally funded “faith-based” programs is not going unnoticed.

The Los Angeles Times was quick to blast the president’s inaction in a Feb. 9 editorial cleverly headlined “Thou may not discriminate.” The newspaper labeled Obama’s decision not to revoke the order an “unpleasant” surprise and called for quick corrective action.

“[I]n exchange for government funds, faith-based programs must not impose a religious test on either those they serve or those they hire,” asserted the paper. “Catholic Charities, for example, informs prospective employees that they will be considered without regard to religion. Obama needs to make it clear that other beneficiaries of federal funds will make the same commitment.”

Who's Missing at the Faith-Based Table?

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:46:55 -0700

Rev. Debra Haffner asks "Who's missing at the table?" regarding President Obama's new White House Office on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Fallacious Flier: Religious Right Distorts Real Meaning Of ‘Religious Freedom Day’

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:52:48 -0700

by guest blogger Rob Boston

January 16th is “Religious Freedom Day,” an annual event that commemorates one of the greatest documents promoting religious liberty ever written – Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

Many scholars believe the Virginia Statute was an inspiration for the First Amendment. In eloquent language, the measure ended Virginia’s state church and guaranteed religious liberty for all. If you haven’t read it, you should.

Persecution Complex: Why Religious Right Claims Of Hostility Toward Christians Ring Hollow

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:52:27 -0700

by guest blogger Rob Boston

Yesterday I received an e-mail from the Rev. Donald Wildmon’s American Family Association advertising a new DVD titled “Speechless: Silencing the Christians.”

“Facing rising persecution and discrimination, many Christians feel hopeless, uncertain what to do,” reads the promotional copy. The e-mail promises that I will learn “how you can be prepared if you feel the pressure to be silenced for your faith.”

Just to be clear, this video is not about Christians in some place like Saudi Arabia, where it is actually illegal to worship as a Christian. It’s about people here in the United States.

Focus On Unemployment: Cash-Strapped Dobson Empire Cuts Staff After Lavishly Funding Anti-Gay Campaign In California

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:26:47 -0700

by guest blogger Sandhya Bathija

Next week, Americans will kick off the holiday season, but sadly, several employees at James Dobson’s Focus on the Family (FOF) probably have lost that festive spirit.

On Dobson’s radio broadcast yesterday, he shared that Colorado-based FOF is “experiencing the same financial shortfall and some of the pressures that have resulted from the economic downturn in this country.” With that said, he announced that 149 filled staff positions and 53 open staff positions are to be cut, 20 percent of the total staff.

“It’s not something that anyone is relishing; it’s been a very difficult week,” Dobson said. “I ask our listeners to be in prayer for us. And be in prayer for those who will no longer be employed here. I have been a little teary-eyed about it for the last week.”

Dear Religious Leader: AU’s Letter On Church Politicking Hits Congregational Mail Boxes Around America

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:21:23 -0600

by guest blogger Sandhya Bathija

Americans United has mailed friendly letters to 100,000 clergy and lay leaders reminding them of the provisions of federal tax law and urging them not to endorse candidates from the pulpit.

We got word from a Baptist pastor in rural Georgia who received our missive, and apparently, wasn’t too happy to hear from us. He called yesterday to complain.

This pastor insisted that Americans United has “lost all credibility” in recent years, and that our organization is “hypocritical” and only targets “conservative” churches. He also said he is aware of the law and was not going to be “threatened and coerced.”

‘Christian Nation’ Nonsense: Americans Need Lessons In History And Civics

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:28:25 -0600

by guest blogger Joseph L. Conn

Bishop John England of Charleston has always been one of my favorite characters from American religious history.

England, head of the Catholic Diocese of South Carolina from 1820 until 1842, was a staunch advocate of church-state separation. He insisted that the U.S. Constitution gave government no authority whatsoever “to legislate upon religion or morals, directly or indirectly.”

Sermons For Separation: Ohio Pastor Counters Religious Right Church-Electioneering Scheme

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:22:04 -0600

by guest blogger Joseph L. Conn

A Columbus, Ohio, minister has come up with a great idea to counter Religious Right propaganda about churches and partisan politics.

On Sept. 21, the Rev. Eric Williams, senior pastor of North Congregational United Church of Christ, is calling on pastors throughout the country to preach sermons on the importance of church-state separation. The action comes exactly one week ahead of “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” an Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) scheme to draw churches into illegal electioneering.

Federal tax law forbids churches and other tax-exempt organizations from endorsing candidates, but the ADF is recklessly asking ministers to use their pulpits on Sept. 28 to intervene in the upcoming election.

Fast Food Freak-out: The AFA Is Not Lovin’ It At McDonald’s

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:19:50 -0600

by guest blogger Rob Boston

I admit to having a weakness for McDonald’s french fries. There’s just something about those thin slivers of golden-fried potatoes, seasoned with just the right amount of salt. I know too much of them isn’t good for me but figure it’s OK to indulge every now and then.

McDonald’s fries might not help my cholesterol count, but eating them does have one benefit: It annoys the Religious Right.

McDonald’s is officially under boycott from Donald Wildmon’s American Family Association (AFA). The AFA, a Mississippi-based Religious Right outfit best known for obsessing over sexual content on cable and network television and its vociferous opposition to the “homosexual agenda,” has been going crazy lately because McDonald’s has made it clear that its family-friendly policy includes gay families.

Pervasively Wrong: Appeals Court Approves Public Funding Of Discriminatory Colleges In Colorado

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:40:06 -0600

by guest blogger Sandhya Bathija

Thanks to a federal appeals court decision, taxpayers funds in Colorado may soon subsidize colleges that preach during class time, expect attendance at religious services and require students to sign agreements promising to emulate “the example of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible.”

Prior to this decision, students who attended these “pervasively sectarian” religious colleges were rightfully ineligible for state-funded scholarships under Colorado law. The state program included both public and private colleges, but religiously affiliated colleges were eligible only under certain circumstances. They could not require attendance at religious services, could not proselytize during school activities and could not require board and staff members to belong to a particular religion.

No Faith-Based Bias: Washington Post Supports Ban On Publicly Funded Hiring Discrimination

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:49:41 -0600

by guest blogger Sandhya Bathija

A Washington Post editorial, “Faith-Based Obama,” focuses on Barack Obama’s faith-based initiative speech from weeks ago and comes to much the same conclusion that Americans United has supported from the start.

The Post claims Obama’s faith-based program, which doesn’t allow discrimination in hiring, is a “sensible balance” between “strict separation of church and state types” and religious groups.

Louisiana’s Disgrace: Anti-Evolution Law Draws Critical Attention At Home And Abroad

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:30:24 -0600

by guest blogger Ilana Stern

In 1514, Copernicus hypothesized that the universe does not orbit around Earth. Over a century later, in 1633, Galileo Galilei was convicted by the Catholic Church of heresy for “following the position of Copernicus, which is contrary to the true sense and authority of the Holy Scripture.”

In 1992, the Church officially admitted that Galileo was right.

Doesn’t it seem ridiculous that it took over four centuries for science and religion to reach agreement?

This winter will mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s Origin of the Species, and yet the scientific theory of evolution is still being challenged by the Religious Right. Misguided sectarian lobbies are still trying to push creationism and its latest variant, “intelligent design,” into our public school system in an unconstitutional attempt to save our children from becoming “heretics.”

Taking Liberties With American History: Mr. Bush, You’re No Thomas Jefferson

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:37:47 -0600

by guest blogger Rob Boston

On Independence Day, President George Bush traveled to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia estate, to deliver a patriotic speech before a group of newly naturalized citizens. While there, he promptly managed to mutilate Jefferson’s views.

During his remarks, Bush stated, “On the 50th anniversary of America’s independence, Thomas Jefferson passed away. But before leaving this world, he explained that the principles of the Declaration of Independence were universal. In one of the final letters of his life, he wrote, “May [the Declaration] be to the world, what I believe it will be – to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all – the signal of arousing men to burst the chains, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.”

Rev. Barry Lynn on Countdown

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:06:59 -0600