Tell Pickens County School Board to stop praying and get to work - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Members of the Pickens County School Board of Trustees in Easley, S.C., usually open their meetings by praying. They’re considering a change in policy—to bring in local clergy to pray instead. Please contact them now and let them know the only policy change they need is to remove prayer altogether as an official school board function.

The current policy provides for board members to give nonsectarian prayers to start the meeting. Under the new policy, the board would send invitations to give an invocation to clergy members listed in a database of local religious communities. This would allow for sectarian, presumably mostly Christian, prayers.

FFRF has sent the board several letters. An attorney for the board responded only to say the board believed it was in compliance with the law, referencing cases pertaining to prayer at meetings of legislative bodies (not school boards).

Prayer at public school board meetings is different from other government meetings because it takes place in the school context. Two federal appellate courts have ruled that school board prayer is unconstitutional. School board members should be modeling respect for more than 65 years of Supreme Court precedent removing proselytizing and religious ritual from public school functions. Religion in our public schools and on our public school boards is divisive. School board members can pray privately, on their own time and dime.

Tell Pickens County School Board to stop praying and get to work - Freedom From Religion Foundation

2014 protect state/church separation in Hawaii: Vote “No” on Amendment 4 - Freedom From Religion Foundation

On Nov. 4 voters in Hawaii will decide whether the state should use public money to fund private preschool programs, including religious preschools. The proposed amendment—CON AMEND: Relating to Early Childhood Education—would amend Section 1 of Article X of the Constitution of Hawaii to allow the appropriation of public funds “for the support or benefit of private early childhood education programs,” including religious programs. The state constitution currently prohibits the use of public tax dollars to benefit private schools.

Many Hawaiian preschools are faith-based, housed in places of worship, and include sectarian curricula, teaching, and instruction. In funding these preschool programs, the state, in essence, would be paying private religious institutions to indoctrinate children far too young to decide religious issues for themselves.


2014 protect state/church separation in Hawaii: Vote “No” on Amendment 4 - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Ask Baldwin County Commission to approve proposed ‘Atheists in Foxholes’ monument - Freedom From Religion Foundation

The Baldwin County Commission in Bay Minette, Ala., will hold a work session on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 8:30 a.m. to consider a proposed monument to atheists in foxholes at the Baldwin County Courthouse.

FFRF sent a letter to the commission on Aug. 20, 2014, to protest an eternal flame monument displayed in front of the courthouse that ostensibly honors veterans, but is foremost dedicated to "the glory of God." The four-sided statue repeatedly says, "Dedicated to the glory of God and in honor of the veterans of all wars." FFRF asked the commission to modify or remove the monument, or alternately, place FFRF's "Atheists in Foxholes" monument alongside the religious one.

FFRF member and local student activist Amanda Scott has been invited to the Oct. 14 meeting to speak to the commission about the proposed display, and needs backup!

FFRF erected a monument to atheists in foxholes in Lake Hypatia, Ala., in 1999. The proposed Baldwin County monument would be similar to the Lake Hypatia statue (pictured above). This statue is tended by our chapter, Alabama Freethought Association.

Ask Baldwin County Commission to approve proposed ‘Atheists in Foxholes’ monument - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Pulpit Freedom Sunday Action Alert - Freedom From Religion Foundation

This Sunday, Oct. 5, is the annual so-called "Pulpit Freedom Sunday." This event, organized and promoted by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian Right legal group based in Arizona, encourages pastors to abuse their tax-exempt status and openly endorse or oppose candidates for office from the pulpit.

FFRF wants to take the opportunity to remind the public about the IRS regulations with respect to political activities by 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations and encourage its members to report any illegal activity.

As you may know, FFRF sued the Internal Revenue Service in late 2012 to compel it to enforce its own regulations barring tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofits from engaging in partisan political activity. Earlier this year, this case was resolved because the IRS agreed to resume doing its job by investigating tax-exempt churches that engage in illegal electioneering.

So long as Pulpit Freedom Sunday, and any other electioneering by churches during this election season occurs, FFRF remains committed to seeking IRS investigations into this illegal activity. Members who become aware of this activity should send FFRF a violation report with information, including the church's name, the pastor's name and any other information that documents illegal campaign activity. This would include transcripts of sermons, pictures of political signs on church property and copies of church publications announcing endorsements of particular candidates for public office.

IRS regulations specify that 501(c)(3) organizations, which include churches and other religious organizations, are prohibited from "[participating in or intervening in] . . . any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." Revenue Rul. 2007-41, 2007-25 I.R.B. (June 28, 2007). While leaders of churches or religious organizations may express their opinions on political matters as individuals, they are precluded from making "partisan comments in official organization publications or at official functions of the organization."

Pulpit Freedom Sunday Action Alert - Freedom From Religion Foundation