Religious Liberty
The Right Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism
Under the guise of defending freedom and American values, right-wing anti-Muslim activists are campaigning to prevent Muslim-Americans from freely worshiping and practicing their religion, curtail their political rights, and even compel their deportation
Repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Protecting America and Its Principles
We need swift certification and effectuation of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
2011 Budget Deal Includes Costly, Ineffective and Constitutionally Troubling Voucher Program in DC
In the budget deal reached last week, the GOP used the threat of a devastating government shutdown to push a right-wing priority that has nothing to do with saving money or even with the 2011 budget: re-imposition of a five-year private school voucher program for the District of Columbia, beginning next year.
People For the American Way Opposes DC Vouchers, H.R. 471
On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of members of People For the American Way, we urge you to oppose H.R. 471, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, which is scheduled for a floor vote this Wednesday. This bill would reauthorize the DC private school voucher program, the “temporary five-year pilot” program that has existed since 2003.
Letter Opposing House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on March 10
We write to strongly object to the House Homeland Security Committee’s plans to hold hearings on the “radicalization” of American Muslims. Our concern is that these hearings will serve to further promote the demonization and scapegoating of millions of American Muslims, while providing little valuable insight into the prevention of domestic terrorism.
PFAW Condemns Abortion Provider Murder Bill
South Dakota’s House of Representatives is expected to vote soon on a bill that would legalize the killing of abortion providers. The bill would expand the state’s definition of “justifiable homicide” to include killings meant to protect the life of a fetus.
People For the American Way Opposes DC Vouchers, S. 206
On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of members of People For the American Way, we urge you to oppose S. 206, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, which Senator Lieberman introduced last week. This bill would reauthorize the DC private school voucher program, the “temporary five-year pilot” program that has existed since 2003.
People For the American Way Opposes DC Vouchers, H.R. 471
On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of members of People For the American Way, we urge you to oppose H.R. 471, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, which Speaker Boehner introduced last week. This bill would reauthorize the DC private school voucher program, the “temporary five-year pilot” program that has existed since 2003.
Will GOP leaders share a stage with one of the most anti-Muslim, anti-gay men in America?
GOP leaders like MN Rep. Michele Bachman, VA Gov. Bob McDonnell, and 2012 presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and Mike Pence are joining the hatemonger Bryan Fischer at this weekend's so-called "Values Voter Summit."
Glenn Beck and Dr. King
Glenn Beck is trying to appropriate Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy in order to push his agenda of intolerance, fear, and division. Beck says he’s ‘reclaiming civil rights.’ In fact, he’s insulting exactly what Dr. King and his movement stood for.
PFAW Statement on Muslim Community Center Near Ground Zero
In response to controversy about whether to allow a Muslim community center to be built near Ground Zero in Manhattan, People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan said, "of course a Muslim community center should be allowed in lower Manhattan. This is not a close question."
Supreme Court Weakens First Amendment
The Supreme Court ruled today in favor of a loophole designed to allow a 6 1/2 foot Christian cross located on federal land in California to sidestep Constitutional protections of religious liberty
PFAW: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
PFAW Statement on Rumsfeld and the Misuse of Religion
In response to recent media reportsthat Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld regularly delivered to President Bush top-secret intelligence briefings that featured Bible verses and photos of military personnel and equipment, People For the American Way President Michael Keegan said, "Public officials who portray U.S. policy as a conflict between faiths undermine an essential American principle of government of, by, and for all the people."
Obama Chooses Anti-Gay Activist for White House Role
According to media reports today, the White House has invited anti-gay activist and retired NFL Coach Tony Dungy to join its Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Dungy actively campaigned for an anti-gay ballot initiative in Indiana that banned same-sex couples from being civilly married. "President Obama was given a mandate to bring people together," said Tanya Clay House, PFAW Director of Public Policy. "But his selection of Tony Dungy is extremely divisive. Dungy campaigned specifically to discriminate against a particular group of people, and he's been closely aligned with the far-right Indiana Family Institute."
Arizona Supreme Court Rejects Voucher Schemes
The Arizona Supreme Court today rejected publicly funded voucher schemes that send public money to religious and other private schools. PFAW and a group of allies filed suit against the state in 2006, pointing to clear language in the Arizona Constitution that forbids appropriating taxpayer money in aid of "private or sectarian schools." "The Arizona Constitution is very clear on this issue, and I'm pleased that the court recognized that," said Tanya Clay House, PFAW Director of Public Policy. "This is a victory for students, parents, taxpayers, and all those who value religious liberty, as guaranteed through the separation between church and state. Taxpayer money shouldn’t be going to pay for private or parochial schools."
Senate Rejects Extension of DC Voucher Plan
The Senate today rejected an amendment that would have continued sending taxpayer money to the District of Columbia school voucher program. The legislation, which was not reviewed by any Senate committee, was defeated by a vote of 58 to 39.
"Congress deserves an A-plus for this decision," said People For the American Way president Kathryn Kolbert. "School vouchers have always been about ideology, not education," said Kolbert.
Supreme Court Rules Religious Monuments to be Government Speech
The Supreme Court today ruled that religious monuments on government property constitute government speech in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum. PFAW Foundation President Kathryn Kolbert issued the following statement: "I'm pleased that the Court today made clear that religious monuments like the one the Summum sought to erect are government speech. I'm especially glad the decision acknowledged that the establishment clause provides a limit on what government can use that speech to say. Government shouldn't favor one religion over another or favor any religion over no religion at all." PFAW Foundation filed an amicus brief in the case.
Obama Should Stick to Constitutional Principles on Faith Based Programs
President Obama today announced that he will create a White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, but did not use the same opportunity to rescind the Bush-administration policy making it legal for recipients of faith-based funding to discriminate in providing services. People For the American Way is disappointed by news reports indicated that he would ask the Justice Department to review the policy which allows those same organizations to discriminate in hiring.
Share this page:
Support This Work
Support pluralism, equal opportunity, and freedom of thought, expression and religion — the American Way!
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Copyright & Disclaimer | RSS
Other PFAW.org sites: Young People For | Young Elected Officials | Right Wing Watch
Visit us on: 
Facebook | 
Change.org | 
Twitter | 
YouTube | 
Flickr
