THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION STATES: “CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS, OR OF THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.”
The First Amendment refers to “freedom of religion”—not “freedom from religion.” For decades, leftist groups, particularly the ACLU, have used lawsuits to distort America’s history, twisting the Constitution into an enemy of any religion, rather than a protector of all. Correcting that error is a primary goal of the ACRU.
The latest liberal argument reduces the scope of “freedom of religion” by substituting the phrase “freedom to worship.” Because tearing down churches would be too overt, the Left is attempting to make churches irrelevant to public life, by forcing them to acquiesce to an ever-evolving secular “morality.” As a result, churches are finding it increasingly difficult to conduct charitable activities, harming the most vulnerable among us.
Meanwhile, the ACLU and other atheist groups are eviscerating America’s Christian heritage by forcing the removal of Christian—and sometimes Jewish—symbols from the public square. This includes Ten Commandment monuments or crosses, large or small, at veterans’ memorials such as Mt. Soledad in San Diego.
Increasingly, traditional morality is being redefined as a form of “hate speech.” This effectively criminalizes dissent as Leftists twist the meaning of “tolerance” into intolerance for dissenting viewpoints of any kind.
The good news is that the Constitution is very clear and can’t be ignored. The ACRU is determined to do everything it can to protect and advance the “unalienable right” of freedom of religion guaranteed to all by America’s Founders.
Support the ACRU’s work on the First Amendment by donating today.
ACTIVITY
Media Availability: ACRU Action President Lori Roman testifies in Michigan House Committee as Michigan Legislature Tackles COVID Passports
American Constitutional Rights Union Action Fund President Lori Roman testified before the Michigan House Oversight Committee today on a bill that would ban COVID Passports implemented by the State. (Testimony below)
ACRU Action’s Roman Testifies on COVID Passports Before MI House of Representatives
The founders risked everything to fight for liberty. Imagine what they would think about COVID Passports. The passports are so antithetical to liberty, freedom of association, medical choice and privacy, and full participation in society, that once they are implemented there is likely no return to a free republic.
Maryland Government Officials Threaten Churches While Releasing Prisoners
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has ordered the early release of inmates while unleashing health departments to threaten the closure of churches, citing COVID health concerns.
ACRU’s Lori Roman interviewed on religious liberty during Covid
It seems that Maryland churches are being targeted by Maryland healthcare department crisis tyrants. ACRU President Lori Roman, and a Maryland pastor targeted by the local health department, explain why this is an abrogation of everyone's rights.
Won’t open church? Then we’ll worship amongst the slot machines
The liberal governor of Nevada unilaterally decided casinos could hold thousands of people and churches (regardless of capacity) could only have 50. Liberal Supreme Court justices and Chief Justice Roberts threw religious freedom under the bus by agreeing. But a group of worshipers found a workaround to exercise their Constitutional rights. Perfect. Brilliant.
The Supreme Court Declines to Consider Price v. Chicago
On July 2, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in the case of Price v. City of Chicago, although Justice Thomas would have granted the petition. The American Constitutional Rights Union, joined by Students for Life in America, filed an amicus brief in support of the Petitioners, who were challenging the constitutionality of a Chicago ordinance limiting the speech rights of anti-abortion protesters.