Legal

Supreme Court Allows Religious Organizations to Set Their Own Rules, Causing 100,000 Americans to Immediately Lose Access to Contraceptive Services

Washington, D.C.—The religious equality organization American Atheists condemned today’s 7-2 decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania....

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Supreme Court Permits Religious Schools to Discriminate After Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Them

Washington, D.C.—Today, the religious equality organization American Atheists denounced the Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, which expands a religious school’s ability to discriminate legally against teachers by considering them “ministers.”...

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Supreme Court Forces Montana to Fund Religious Schools, Destroying Foundation of Church-State Separation

Washington D.C.—Today, the church-state separation watchdog American Atheists condemned the Supreme Court’s Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue ruling as an attack on the constitutional principle of religious freedom. The 5-4 decision severely limits the no-aid-for-religion clause in Montana’s and 30 other states’ constitutions....

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American Atheists Launches Investigation into Trump Administration’s Secretive Church Bailouts

Washington D.C.—Today, the church/state watchdog organization American Atheists announced it is investigating the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s church bailouts, as part of the nearly $700 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)....

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Nonreligious Parents Settle Lawsuit Against Volunteer Mentor and Evangelical Church over Forced Baptism of Special Needs Son

Painesville, OH—Today, the civil rights organization American Atheists announced that clients April and Gregg DeFibaugh have successfully settled their lawsuit against a local church, pastor, youth mentoring organization, and former volunteer mentor. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed....

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Little Sisters’ Supreme Court Case Could Grant Religious Groups Carte Blanche to Ignore the Law

Washington, D.C.—Today, American Atheists joined other secular organizations in filing an amicus brief in the Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania case, one of the most important religious exemption cases before the U.S. Supreme Court this term....

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Atheists Urge Supreme Court to Protect Employees from Discriminatory Religious Organizations

Washington, D.C.—In an amicus brief filed today, American Atheists, the Center for Inquiry, and the American Humanist Association urged the Supreme Court to deny attempts by religious employers to ignore non-discrimination laws on the basis of their religion. ...

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The Supreme Court Could Blow a Hole in Church/State Separation Next Term

Washington, D.C.—Today, American Atheists warned about Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, an upcoming Supreme Court case that could allow religious organizations broad exemptions and unfettered freedom to ignore nondiscrimination laws....

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