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:

"Military Chaplains, Yes! Prayers at Meals, NO!"
The Washington Post - July 28, 2008

"Obama seeks bigger role for religious groups"
New York Times - July 2, 2008


"Prominent minister endorses Clinton in Harlem"
Boston Globe - January 21, 2008

"Obama takes on question of faith"
Houston Chronicle - January 21, 2008


"Romney Patronizing Mormon Businesses"
Associated Press - January 11, 2008

"S.C. POLITICS TODAY"
The State (South Carolina) - January 6, 2008

"Primary Roundup: Candidates have landed"
Seacoast Online - January 5, 2008


"On Capitol Hill, Forbes is the point man for prayer"
The Virginian-Pilot - November 29, 2007

"Buddhist prayer opens state Senate to show diversity"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - November 28, 2007

"Romney Won't Give Speech on His Mormon Faith "
Beliefnet - November 12, 2007


"The Role of Religion in Politics"
MSNBC - October 31, 2007

"The New Religious Right"
Dallas Morning News - October 31, 2007

"The FundamentaList"
American Prospect - October 31, 2007

"Giuliani: Huckabee 'makes me laugh'"
Baltimore Sun - October 31, 2007

"Court overturns ban on Ind. House prayer"
Indianapolis Star - October 31, 2007

"The role of religion in politics"
MSNBC First Read - October 30, 2007

"Church Challenges New York Law Banning Religious Charter School Operators"
Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy - October 30, 2007

"'Values Voters' Splinter on Evaluations"
U.S. News & World Report - October 24, 2007

"Take Your Time, Pick Your Candidate"
New York Times Blog, The Caucus - October 23, 2007

"Nobody has a monopoly on morality"
Chicago Tribune - October 23, 2007


"'This Is Not a Bluff'"
Newsweek - October 22, 2007

"America's Armageddonites Push for More War"
AlterNet - October 22, 2007

"Interfaith Alliance rips Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas"
DallasNews Religion - October 22, 2007

"Giuliani woos religious right but loses poll"
Washington Post - October 20, 2007

"Religious Right Divides Its Vote at Summit"
New York Times - October 20, 2007


"Romney's religious riddle"
Politico - October 18, 2007

"Scalia opines on faith and justice"
Philadelphia Inquirer - October 17, 2007

"When Democrats Become Instruments of God"
Forward - October 17, 2007

"Gingerly, Romney Seeks Ties to Christian Right"
New York Times - October 16, 2007

"Obama Reaches Out to Religious Voters"
Associated Press - October 16, 2007

"Canyon County forum touts separation of church and state"
Idaho Press-Tribune - October 16, 2007



"Bob Jones Dean Endorses … Romney!"
Wall Street Journal - October 15, 2007

"World Beat"
Foreign Policy in Focus - October 15, 2007


"Could Huckabee be Mr. Right?"
Politico - October 14, 2007

"Signs of a truce in America's divisive culture war?"
Christian Science Monitor - October 11, 2007

"Giuliani, Gays and Values Voters"
The American Prospect - October 11, 2007

"Interfaith Alliance chief says Romney must confront Mormon issue"
Deseret Morning News (Utah) - October 11, 2007

"Lord Help Them"
The Stranger (Seattle) - October 11, 2007


"Social conservative: GOP cannot win with Giuliani"
Baltimore Sun - October 11, 2007

" Jesus on Their Buddy List"
Yahoo News - October 11, 2007

"Why no noise over school silence bill?"
Chicago Tribune - October 11, 2007

" Obama: GOP doesn't own faith issue"
CNN.com - October 10, 2007


"Clinton Says She Would Shield Science From Politics"
New York Times - October 5, 2007

"Important vs. All-important"
Washington Post - October 5, 2007

"Are U.S. troops being force-fed Christianity?"
The Christian Science Monitor - October 5, 2007



"Giuliani Inspires Threat of a Third-Party Run"
New York Times - October 1, 2007

"Constitution Based in Christian Principles, McCain Says"
New York Times - September 29, 2007

"McCain Casts Muslims as Less Fit to Lead"
New York Times - September 29, 2007


"GOP's crucial '08 base divided"
The Washington Times - September 28, 2007

"Blunt aims to boost role of churches"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - September 28, 2007

"View of God can predict values, politics"
USA Today - September 27, 2007


"Evangelicals turn on Thompson"
The Politico - September 27, 2007

"Panel: Religious rhetoric has no place in politics"
The Telegraph (New Hampshire) - September 27, 2007

"Can She Reach Religious Voters?"
Washington Post - September 26, 2007

"Panel: Religious rhetoric has no place in politics"
Nashua Telegraph (New Hampshire) - September 26, 2007



" Multi-faith prayers thrive in US politics"
Yahoo News - September 23, 2007

"Christian Right Looks to Rebound"
Washington Post - September 22, 2007

"Prison book policy called unconstitutional "
Baptist Press - September 20, 2007

"Military sued over religious freedom"
Faith in Public Life - September 19, 2007

"Faith in secular government"
The Roanoke Times - September 19, 2007

"Judge: Ten Commandments Display Can Stay"
Washington Post - September 19, 2007

"Religious Liberty for Me and Thee"
The Washington Post: On Faith - September 19, 2007

"What part of ‘secular nation’ don’t we understand?"
Decatur Daily (Tennessee) - September 18, 2007

"God and the Constitution"
USA Today (blog) - September 18, 2007

"Putting God in the curriculum"
Freep.com (Detroit Free Press) - September 18, 2007

" 'Values Voters' Hold Debate"
Associated Press - September 18, 2007

"Nonprofit's use of state funds questioned"
The Western Star (Ohio) - September 13, 2007

"Most think founders wanted Christian USA"
USA Today - September 12, 2007

"Some clerics vow fight on hate law expansion"
Faith in Public Life - September 12, 2007

"Takes on religious freedoms change"
Detroit Free Press - September 12, 2007

"ENDA - Wasting No Time "
The Bulletin - Philadelphia - September 12, 2007

"The Right Is Wrong About Sex Education "
Philadelphia Jewish Voice - September 7, 2007

"Lesbian Among Episcopal Bishop Nominees"
Washington Post - August 29, 2007

"Miami U. same-sex benefits are upheld"
The Enquirer (Cincinnati) - August 29, 2007

"Church cites minister over gay marriages"
Associated Press - August 28, 2007


"A captive audience"
Houston Chronicle - August 27, 2007

"Thompson: Roe 'bad law and bad medicine'"
CNN.com - August 23, 2007

"Round Rock district is sued over student prayer"
Austin-American Statesman - August 23, 2007

"Universal Faith"
New York Times - August 23, 2007


"The Gospel and hate crimes"
Los Angeles Times - August 23, 2007


"Why the Dems Should Not Shut Up About Gays and Marriage"
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070820&s=wolfson082007 - August 22, 2007

"Not So Fast, Christian Soldiers"
Los Angeles Times - August 22, 2007


"Groups Take Fight Against Lessons to Court"
The Washington Post - August 3, 2007

"Faith-based initiative backfires"
The Miami Herald - August 1, 2007

"Stem cell dissent roils states "
The LA Times - August 1, 2007

"No-sex lesson rules in Florida "
St. Petersburg Times - August 1, 2007




"Religion Looms Large Over 2008 Race"
Washington Post - July 31, 2007

"Power of prayer takes on power of money"
The Politico - July 31, 2007

"Jesus vs. the ACLU"
ABC News - July 31, 2007

"Democrats court voters with religion"
News and Observer (Raleigh) - July 31, 2007


"Religion looms large over 2008 race "
The Associated Press - July 30, 2007



"Bible Course in School Debate Continues "
Craig Daily Press - July 28, 2007




"Dems Attack Bush on Women's Health Issues"
The New York Times - July 18, 2007


"The Origins of the God Gap"
TIme Magazine - July 12, 2007

"U.S. Surgeon General sees 4-year term as compromised"
International Herald Tribune - July 11, 2007

"Court's faith-based initiative decision largely ignored"
The Olympian Online - July 10, 2007


"'Save America' campaign launched"
World Net Daily - July 10, 2007

"Jesus in La. court prompts lawsuit "
United Press International - July 4, 2007

"School district says nothing wrong with Bible classes "
The Associated Press - July 2, 2007

"Romney Questioned By Conservatives "
The Washington Post - June 30, 2007


"Court bars suit against faith-based plan "
The Baltimore Sun - June 25, 2007

"Faith Has Role in Politics, Obama Tells Church"
The New York Times - June 25, 2007


"Bush Vetoes Measure on Stem Cell Research "
The New York Times - June 21, 2007

"North Dakota Is Sued in Church-State Case"
The New York Times - June 21, 2007


"Evolution issue separates candidates"
USA Today - June 11, 2007

"From the Local News To a Higher Calling"
Washington Post - June 11, 2007


"Pagans resist keeping the faith to themselves "
Stars and Stripes - June 10, 2007


"Post-Falwell, U.S. Religious Right remains a force"
WorldWide Religious News - June 1, 2007

"Senate OKs bill for school Bible classes"
WorldWide Religious News - May 24, 2007

"Religion today"
WorldWide Religious News - May 24, 2007


"Romney Defends Traditional Marriage with Scripture"
The Christian Post - May 14, 2007

"Study: Sex abstinence classes failed"
Associated Press - April 16, 2007

"Legislators' Prayers Are Common but Controversial"
Religion News Service - April 16, 2007


"Jinkins: Have faith in America's secular common ground"
Austin American-Statesman - April 6, 2007


"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 14, 2007



"Separation of Powers?"
Wyoming Tribune Eagle - January 15, 2007

"Through a Glass, Darkly"
Harper's Magazine - January 11, 2007

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

"Atheists challenge the religious right"
Christian Science Monitor - 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

 
Partner Organizations
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Madison Partners

Organizations working with First Freedom First on Democracy NOT Theocracy

The Jefferson Society