Get Involved – Take Action
Freedom depends on freethinkers. The Freedom From Religion Foundation runs an online Action Alert, so that members may flex collective muscle over state/church problems, or react quickly when public officials take potshots at unbelievers. The Foundation also offers ideas for individual action, so you may take action, right now! And we sponsor an ongoing billboard and bus sign campaign to make freethought visible in your area. Get involved!As Thomas Paine wrote: "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must undergo the fatigue . . . of supporting it."
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Action Alerts
Catholic bishops go after women’s right to contraception
During church services on the last Sunday in January, Catholic hierarchy read what CBS News called a "blistering letter," assailing the Obama administration for an "assault on religious liberty." (Read a version of the bishops' letter proclaimed in every Catholic Church, urging Catholic congregants to… More »
FFRF protests misuse of federal, presidential Seals by National Prayer Breakfast backers
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has contacted four federal agencies over what appears to be egregious violations of federal law by publicizers of the National Prayer Breakfast, who are appropriating the Presidential, Congressional and Great Seals of the United States to promote the breakfast. The… More »
FFRF hails long overdue Alaska Airlines announcement
Statement by Annie Laurie Gaylor FFRF Co-President Today, at long last, Alaska Airlines will cease a much-protested-by-us practice of distributing “prayer cards” to its airline customers. Late last week Alaska Airlines announced it has been providing those cards for “more than 30 years,” but has finally reconsidered.… More »
Help sustain Ahlquist victory
Jessica Ahlquist needs your help! The battle over the illegal prayer banner at Cranston West High School is up for discussion tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 25) evening at 6 p.m. Humanists of Rhode Island expect over 100 Jessica Ahlquist and Constitution supporters to be present at… More »
Jessica Ahlquist needs your support!
A few days after Jessica Ahlquist's important victory over an illegal prayer banner, some Rhode Islanders have started to fester over the ruling and attack the teenager personally. Rep. Peter Palumbo D-R.I. called the 16 year old an "evil little thing" in an interview on… More »
Support secular franking rule!
Rep. Diane Black R-Tenn. sent an inappropriate, religious message to her Tennessee constituents on Dec. 24. Her letter "Wishing You a Merry Christmas... Even if I'm not supposed to (copied at the end of this page)" began and ended with a personal rant in support… More »
Keep Christ out of Pitman government
FFRF has recently taken issue with a "Keep Christ in Christmas" banner in Pitman, N.J. Borough officials refuse to remove the Knights of Columbus sign that was erected over a public street. The banner stretches across Broadway, near 2nd Ave., and is strung in a… More »
Help remove illegal creche in Athens, Texas
It has been almost one month since we wrote to Henderson County officials in Athens, Texas, about their illegal nativity scene on courthouse property. The unconstitutional creche still stands in defiance of the law while county officials refuse to hang FFRF's Winter Solstice banner among… More »
Thank inclusive Governor
The Freedom From Religion Foundation applauds Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee for designating the Statehouse tree, a "holiday tree." Gov. Chafee contends in an ABC news interview that, "he's just respecting the state's history as a place respectful of all religions." Unlike the recent declaration… More »
Help raise FFRF banner
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is perplexed over recent action taken by Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court. Last December FFRF wrote to Ellwood City asking it to remove a nativity scene from government property. In response, the city on Friday erected its manger scene, adding… More »
Thank President Obama for secular address
President Obama's Thanksgiving Day address was as American as apple pie, but has the Christian Right in a tizzy because he did not utter the word G-O-D. Christians have been up in arms, tweeting comments such as, "God help us!" and "So sad," according to… More »
Tell Obama to side with women, not Catholic bishops!
Dear FFRF'er: Please contact President Barack Obama to urge him to stand firmly in favor of women's right to contraceptive health care in the face of attacks by the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. Our office contacted you in September asking you to chime in… More »
Make public comment against federal Jesus shrine
Dear FFRF'er: We need your continued help to remove a shrine to Jesus from Big Mountain on Flathead National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service, at FFRF's request, had agreed not to renew a no-cost lease to a Catholic group to erect a statue to Jesus… More »
Walker trims holiday from tree
It's not even December yet, and the war against state/church separation has begun! Dear FFRF Member: Gov. Scott Walker's "momentous" announcement that he is renaming the state tree that goes up in the Capitol every December a "Christmas" tree instead of a "holiday" tree is… More »
Act now to oppose Christian license plate in Texas
The Board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is meeting this morning (starting at 9 am) and is considering approval of a specialty license plate promoting Christianity. This plate, dubbed "Calvary Hill," also includes the words "One State Under God." Incredibly, sales revenues would… More »
Protest ‘In God We Trust’ vote in U.S. House
The U.S. House of Representatives is playing political football with religion. Yesterday, in a 396 to 9 vote, the U.S. House approved Rep. J. Randy Forbes' pandering resolution "reaffirming 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the… More »
Take a stand against Montana Jesus shrine
HELP FFRF REMOVE THE JESUS SHRINE ATOP BIG MOUNTAIN: • Please take a moment to participate in U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg's "public comment for Mountain Jesus Memorial" online form. (Note: This is the Congressman whose protests caused the federal government to retract its sensible decision… More »
FFRF to Forest Service: Remove Montana Jesus shrine
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has contacted the chief of the US Forest Service asking him to remove a Catholic shrine atop Whitefish Mountain, and overrule an underling's decision to take public comments on whether the federal government should host the religious display. FFRF is… More »
Keeping tabs on PBS’s groundbreaking series on Catholicism
A member of FFRF in Colorado contacted us this week about "Catholicism," a series of 60–minute episodes that began airing on PBS in the Maryland market in late September, with later airings on PBS in Chicago and elsewhere beginning Oct. 3. As FFRF staff have… More »
Support removal of cross from Tenn. water tower!
The Freedom From Religion Foundation's 9-month-old request to the town of Whiteville, Tenn. has finally got action. Three FFRF letters to Mayor James Bellar were ignored until a letter on FFRF's behalf to remove the cross atop its water tower. "If you fail to comply… More »
Help educate Kentucky community about the First Amendment
FFRF complained about the Bell County, Ky. School District’s practice of hosting prayers, mostly Christian, over loudspeakers to begin school sports events. Superintendent George Thompson begrudgingly halted the practice. But Thompson has made unprofessional comments about the community being “Christian,” has admitted he knew such… More »
Statement from FFRF regarding “Pulpit Politicking Sunday”
This Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, churches across the country will participate in an event that sponsors call “Pulpit Freedom Sunday.” This event, organized and promoted by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Christian right legal group based in Arizona, encourages pastors to abuse their tax-exempt… More »
Help educate Kentucky community about the First Amendment
FFRF complained about the Bell County, Ky. School District’s practice of hosting prayers, mostly Christian, over loudspeakers to begin school sports events. Superintendent George Thompson begrudgingly halted the practice. But Thompson has made unprofessional comments about the community being “Christian,” has admitted he knew such… More »
Comment on Birth Control Healthcare Provision by Sept. 30, 2011
The Obama Administration has opened its proposal to require contraception be provided by insurance companies without a co-pay fee to public comment through September 30, 2011. Please take a moment to voice your support for this historic expansion of preventative health care. Encourage these departments… More »
Letter to President Barack Obama Re: 9/11 Anniversary Prayer Proclamation and Remarks at 9/11 Memo
If you wish to contact the President: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact You can also call or write to the President: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Please include your e-mail address Phone Numbers Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213 Visitors Office:… More »
Thank Mayor Bloomberg for refusing to cater to religionists
It's important for FFRF members, as advocates of state-church separation, to support New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's effort to keep religion out of the city's commemoration of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Bloomberg is taking incredible heat for his refusal to… More »
Educate Oklahoma commission about why many of us don’t “trust in God”
Please protest a vote by the commissioners of Pittsburg County, Okla., to post the motto "In God We Trust" in the county courthouse. According to an article in the McAlester News-Capital, the resolution wording was supplied to the county in a letter from an attorney… More »
Iowa school to pay for church renovations
The board of education of Cedar Falls, Iowa, approved $61,940 on Aug. 8 to remodel space inside Kaio Church. The district plans to lease space from the church, which is next door to Southdale Elementary School, for two preschool classrooms, but the building will need… More »
Sand Springs City Council: ‘First Amendment does not apply to us’
Background Sand Springs, Okla., a city near Tulsa, has become embroiled in a familiar state/church controversy — a resident has asked the city council to stop praying on government time, but the mayor and council members have refused to stop these mostly Christian prayers. The… More »
Object to wisconsin.gov link to Christian anti-abortion group!
Dear FFRF Member: The Foundation sent a letter July 14 to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, on behalf of a state citizen, objecting to a Christian group’s link on the wisconsin.gov website. Please join in support of the Foundation’s request for secular government. The state must… More »
Keep ‘God’ off Georgia license plates
The state of Georgia is holding a design competition for a new standard issue license plate. Three of the eight final designs, currently up for online voting here, display the words, “In God We Trust.” Voting will be open until July 8, and finalists will… More »
South Bend Common Council set to vote on unconstitutional plan
An outrageous proposal by the city of South Bend, Ind., to buy a commercial property and donate it to a Catholic school violates the U.S. and state constitutions, says a complaint to the city from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In a June 14 letter to… More »
FFRF to Clinton: Stop funding of places of worship abroad
A national state/church watchdog is calling on the U.S. Department of State to discontinue funding refurbishment of places of worship abroad. The 16,500-member Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., sent a letter to Ann Stock, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the State… More »
FFRF to Gov. Perry: Rescind call to Aug. 6 prayer event
On behalf of its 700 Texas members, the 16,500-member Freedom From Religion Foundation has called on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to disassociate from a prayer conclave August 6 at the Reliant Stadium in Houston and to rescind his prayer proclamation calling Aug. 6 a “Day… More »
God gets involved in Ohio sticker “election”
The Ohio Secretary of State's office is holding an online poll, called "Elect Your Sticker," where Ohioans can choose between six options for the sticker to be handed out to voters at polling places this November. This contest is supposed to encourage young people just… More »
Controversy over Prayer at Graduation in Bastrop, La.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the Superintendent of the Morehouse Parish Schools over concerns about a teacher's reaction to the exclusion of prayer at commencement this Friday, May 20, at Bastrop High School in Bastrop, La. After graduating senior Damon Fowler… More »
Jon Stewart slams FFRF for NDOP suit
For reasons unknown, both The New York Times and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" this week decided to showcase David Barton, an ignorant self-appointed Christian revisionist "historian" and ideologue whose claims have been freely used by the religious right since the late 1980s to… More »
Texas Governor declares ‘Days of Prayer for Rain’
Texas Governor Rick Perry, who has issued some preposterous prayer proclamations in the past, has almost outdone himself declaring Thursday, April 21 to Sunday, April 24, as "Days of Prayer for Rain." Perry's worthless proclamation was executed as a "response" to recent droughts and several… More »
Object to Rep. Forbes’ ‘In God We Trust’ resolution
FFRF sent out an Action Alert in February asking FFRF'ers to contact members of the U.S. House of Representatives, opposing Rep. J Randy Forbes' resolution "reaffirming 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display… More »
Walker budget proposal would open voucher floodgates, destroy common schools
The Freedom From Religion Foundation today blasted the budget proposal by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to eliminate the enrollment cap and the low-income requirement for participation in the Milwaukee voucher program. FFRF charged that Walker’s voucher scheme could ultimately destroy public education in Wisconsin. Walker’s… More »
Protest Army’s refusal to support nonreligious festival
The Freedom From Religion Foundation objected to a March 1 decision by Col. Stephen J. Sicinski, garrison commander at Fort Bragg, to deny promised support for a nonreligious event called "Rock Beyond Belief," which was scheduled to take place at Fort Bragg in April. Due… More »
Ask House to oppose ‘In God We Trust’ resolution
U.S. Rep. J. Randy Forbes (Va.) introduced a concurrent resolution in the U.S. House on Jan. 26 "reaffirming 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings,… More »
Thank Rep. Pete Stark, ask House reps to support Darwin Day resolution
U.S. Rep. Pete Stark, a firm ally for state/church separation and the only openly "nonbelieving" member of Congress, proposed a House resolution (H. RES. 81) "expressing support for designation of February 12, 2011, as Darwin Day and recognizing the importance of science in the betterment… More »
Obama the preacher?
President Obama, like many presidents before him since 1953, delivered an address at this year's National Prayer Breakfast today, attended by about 3,000 high-ranking political and religious leaders. The president's speech this morning included biblical passages, and discussed his prayers and the path to "finding… More »
Virginia school board votes to put Ten Commandments back in county schools
The Giles County School Board, unbelievably, voted 5 to 0 this afternoon to return Ten Commandment postings to school walls. The Board overruled a responsible decision by its superintendent to remove unlawful postings of the Ten Commandments from county schools, following an FFRF complaint. (See the… More »
UPDATED INFO: New Alabama governor starts off on wrong foot
UPDATE: Gov. Bentley apologized for his remarks late yesterday largely after pressure from the Jewish community and others offended by his exclusionary statements. You may wish to acknowledge his apology, but he still needs to be educated by freethinkers about why his statements were inappropriate.… More »
Educate Florida Senator promoting ‘Merry Christmas’ resolution
Florida Senator Gary Siplin introduced a Senate Resolution (SR 320) on Dec. 22, 2010, that would recognize "Merry Christmas" as the State of Florida's "official greeting" for December 25. The resolution in part states: WHEREAS, Christmas, a holiday of great significance to most Americans and… More »
Empire State Building owner a ‘knucklehead’ for standing up to Catholic bullying?
Anthony Malkin, owner of the Empire State Building, is being called one of 2010's "knuckleheads of the year" by New York Daily News [Jan. 1, 2011] for refusing to light the building blue and white in honor of Mother Teresa's birthday last August (see FFRF Action… More »
Affirm Obama’s ‘E Pluribus Unum’ remarks
The Congressional Prayer Caucus, headed by U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) yesterday chastized President Barack Obama for praising America's original motto, 'E Pluribus Unum' ("from many [come] one") to an audience last month in Indonesia. In his letter, Forbes ignorantly wrote Obama that 'E Pluribus Unum'… More »
Complain to State Attorneys General who seek to overturn FFRF court victory
Oral arguments in Obama v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, which challenges the National Day of Prayer, will take place Thursday, Dec. 2 before the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. FFRF won its challenge against the unconstitutional law in federal court last spring.… More »
Educate a columnist offended about atheist advertising
Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett claims in a recent column that the Freedom From Religion Foundation's new "Out of the Closet" billboard campaign is spreading "ill will." Brett misunderstands the purpose of the "Out of the Closet" ads, wondering if they are "meant to mock… More »
Urge release of 43-year-old Iranian mother of two
UPDATE: Iranian officials appear to be responding to the international outcry against stoning Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtianti. They have not confirmed what sentence awaits her, but they have stated she will not be stoned to death. Please continue writing and pressuring the contacts below, asking that… More »
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