Government Promotion of Religion
The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.
The Latest
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West Virginia Lawmakers are Pushing Public Schools to Teach Creationism
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The Supreme Court Benches the Separation of Church and State
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Taxpayers Shouldn’t Have to Fund Religious Education: How Today’s Supreme Court Decision Further Erodes the Separation of Church and State
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Civil Rights and Religious Groups Urge Federal Appeals Court to Affirm That Maine Need Not Fund Religious Education
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What We're Focused On
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Celebrating Christmas in America
The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the...
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Government Funding of Religion
The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the...
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Legislative and Government Prayer
The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the...
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Religious Displays by the Government
The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the...
What's at Stake
Religious freedom is not only one of our most treasured liberties, but it is also a fundamental human right and a defining feature of our national character. Given this nation’s robust, longstanding commitment to freedom of religion and belief, it is no surprise that the United States is among the most religious and religiously diverse nations in the world. Indeed, religious liberty is alive and well in this country precisely because our government cannot tell us whether, when, where, or how to worship, and because our government cannot take sides on matters of faith.
Recognizing the importance of religious freedom, our founders set forth the Establishment Clause as the very first freedom enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is a guarantee that the government will neither prefer religion over non-religion nor favor particular faiths over others.
Unfortunately, the government sometimes strays from this ideal by, for example, using taxpayer dollars to support religious activities, erecting religious symbols on government land, or discriminating on the basis of religion in government programs. These actions violate the Establishment Clause, which recognizes that religious freedom thrives best when the government stays out of it. Matters of religious belief should be left to individuals and faith communities, not to governments or political majorities.
Religious freedom is not only one of our most treasured liberties, but it is also a fundamental human right and a defining feature of our national character. Given this nation’s robust, longstanding commitment to freedom of religion and belief, it is no surprise that the United States is among the most religious and religiously diverse nations in the world. Indeed, religious liberty is alive and well in this country precisely because our government cannot tell us whether, when, where, or how to worship, and because our government cannot take sides on matters of faith.
Recognizing the importance of religious freedom, our founders set forth the Establishment Clause as the very first freedom enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is a guarantee that the government will neither prefer religion over non-religion nor favor particular faiths over others.
Unfortunately, the government sometimes strays from this ideal by, for example, using taxpayer dollars to support religious activities, erecting religious symbols on government land, or discriminating on the basis of religion in government programs. These actions violate the Establishment Clause, which recognizes that religious freedom thrives best when the government stays out of it. Matters of religious belief should be left to individuals and faith communities, not to governments or political majorities.
