#freedomofreligion — Public Fediverse posts

ICYMI A prayer festival backed by #Trump took place in DC yesterday.

Speakers including top #government officials framed the #UnitedStates as a nation founded to be explicitly #Christian [nope]. #Trump delivered a video message reading a #Bible passage aloud.

Until Trump, it was virtually unheard of for #US ofcls to publicly tie the nation to a specific set of #religious beliefs.

#law #Constitution #EstablishmentClause #FreedomOfReligion #ChurchAndState

#GiftArticle
https://wapo.st/4tDbKZZ

"Bay Area USDA workers sue over ag secretary’s ‘Christ is Risen’ email

Workers say holiday messages crossed a constitutional line"

By Ethan Baron | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 15, 2026 at 5:03 PM PDT

Link around paywall of San Jose Mercury News:

https://archive.ph/bSynV

#FreedomOfReligion includes #FreedomFromReligion

"Bay Area USDA workers sue over ag secretary’s ‘Christ is Risen’ email

Workers say holiday messages crossed a constitutional line"

By Ethan Baron | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 15, 2026 at 5:03 PM PDT

Link around paywall of San Jose Mercury News:

https://archive.ph/bSynV

#FreedomOfReligion includes #FreedomFromReligion

"Bay Area USDA workers sue over ag secretary’s ‘Christ is Risen’ email

Workers say holiday messages crossed a constitutional line"

By Ethan Baron | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 15, 2026 at 5:03 PM PDT

Link around paywall of San Jose Mercury News:

https://archive.ph/bSynV

#FreedomOfReligion includes #FreedomFromReligion

"Bay Area USDA workers sue over ag secretary’s ‘Christ is Risen’ email

Workers say holiday messages crossed a constitutional line"

By Ethan Baron | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 15, 2026 at 5:03 PM PDT

Link around paywall of San Jose Mercury News:

https://archive.ph/bSynV

#FreedomOfReligion includes #FreedomFromReligion

"Bay Area USDA workers sue over ag secretary’s ‘Christ is Risen’ email

Workers say holiday messages crossed a constitutional line"

By Ethan Baron | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: May 15, 2026 at 5:03 PM PDT

Link around paywall of San Jose Mercury News:

https://archive.ph/bSynV

#FreedomOfReligion includes #FreedomFromReligion

https://www.europesays.com/news/22756/ Trump Administration Casts Host of Policies Under Biden as Anti-Christian #AttorneysGeneral #Biden #Blanche #ChristiansAndChristianity #DonaldJ #FederalBureauOfInvestigation #FreedomOfReligion #Garland #Headlines #JosephRJr #JusticeDepartment #MerrickB #NationalSchoolBoardsAssn #News #PlacesOfWorship #ReligionStateRelations #SchoolBoards #SouthernPovertyLawCenter #Todd(Attorney) #TopStories #trump #UnitedStatesPoliticsAndGovernment

Swiss Teachers’ Association advises against prominent religious symbols

The Swiss government has rejected calls for a ban on headscarves in schools arguing that such a measure…
#Switzerland #CH #Europe #Europa #EU #article #beat-SwissPolitics #freedomofreligion #latestnews #Nachrichten #Nouvelles #politics(general) #production-type-DeepL-autotranslation #Religión #schweiz #Suisse #switzerland #Userneed-Updateme
https://www.europesays.com/2946692/

A quotation from Lyman Beecher

It was as dark a day as ever I saw. The injury done to the cause of Christ [by disestablishment], as we then supposed, was irreparable. For several days I suffered what no tongue can tell for the best thing that ever happened to the State of Connecticut. It cut the churches loose from dependence on state support. It threw them wholly on their own resources and on God.

Lyman Beecher (1775-1863) American minister, preacher, abolitionist
Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. 51 “Downfall of the Standing Order” (1864) [ed. Charles Beecher

More about this quote: wist.info/beecher-lyman/83657/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #lymanbeecher #churchandstate #disestablishment #establishment #firstamendment #freedomofreligion #religiousfreedom

#FreedomOfReligion includes freedom from a #religion in which kindergartners are regarded as sexually attractive and older women as unattractive. The practice of veiling robs children of their childhood! Civilised people reject such repugnant behaviour. #StopSexism, #stopMisogyny, #resist! #ALText

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:gtiydtetgfsqdqtrvw7dtmeg/post/3mjtx3ofvnc2a

https://www.europesays.com/people/32691/ Zelenskyy receives international prize honoring his and Ukraine’s courage and resilience #CivilRights #ForeignAid #FreedomOfReligion #GeneralNews #HumanRights #i #MilitaryAndDefense #MilitaryOccupations #Politics #ReligionAndPolitics #RussiaUkraineWar #VolodymyrZelenskyy #WorldNews

On Monday, #PopeLeo said he would continue to publicly oppose #war, while downplaying the idea that he was engaged in a direct dispute with #Trump.

“The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” Leo told reporters.

He added: “I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”

#law #ChurchAndState #FreedomOfReligion #TrumpIsUnfit

One senior #Vatican official familiar with internal assessments of the meeting called it “unusual” & not “a walk in the park.” It was “a frank & direct dialogue on issues where the distance between the Vatican & the #US is evident & clear,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal assessments.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol

During the discussion, the small group of #Pentagon & #Vatican officials discussed their differing views of current events, according to people on both sides with knowledge of the conversation.

What is less clear is how adversarial the meeting was.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #ChurchAndState #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol

During the discussion, the small group of #Pentagon & #Vatican officials discussed their differing views of current events, according to people on both sides with knowledge of the conversation.

What is less clear is how adversarial the meeting was.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #ChurchAndState #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol

Cardinal’s meeting at #Pentagon was ‘unusual,’ #Vatican official says

Through the first year of Trump’s 2nd term, tensions between his admin & the Vatican — with the first #US born #pope — have simmered.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #ChurchAndState #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/10/trump-vatican-pentagon-meeting/

Cardinal’s meeting at #Pentagon was ‘unusual,’ #Vatican official says

Through the first year of Trump’s 2nd term, tensions between his admin & the Vatican — with the first #US born #pope — have simmered.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #ChurchAndState #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/10/trump-vatican-pentagon-meeting/

https://www.europesays.com/africa/181588/ In Algeria, Saint Augustine’s city anticipates Pope Leo’s visit | National #AbrahamicReligions #afp #Algeria #annaba #AugustineOfHippo #CatholicChurch #Christianity #Faith #FreedomOfReligion #HippoRegius #PierreClaverie #pope #Religion #SoukAhras #spirituality #thagaste #visit

https://www.europesays.com/africa/179042/ In Algeria, Saint Augustine’s city anticipates Pope Leo’s visit | National #AbrahamicReligions #afp #Algeria #annaba #AugustineOfHippo #CatholicChurch #Christianity #Faith #FreedomOfReligion #HippoRegius #PierreClaverie #pope #Religion #SoukAhras #spirituality #thagaste #visit

https://www.europesays.com/africa/176968/ In Algeria, Saint Augustine’s city anticipates Pope Leo’s visit | National #AbrahamicReligions #afp #Algeria #annaba #AugustineOfHippo #CatholicChurch #Christianity #Faith #FreedomOfReligion #HippoRegius #PierreClaverie #pope #Religion #SoukAhras #spirituality #thagaste #visit

But without naming #Hegseth, #PopeLeo has also pointed out the ways in which #Christianity has been marshaled for purposes that the pope says do not align with Catholic teaching.

“We tend to consider ourselves powerful when we dominate, victorious when we destroy our equals, great when we are feared,” the pope said in the homily…. “God has given us an example — not of how to dominate, but of how to liberate; not of how to destroy life, but of how to give it.”

#law #Trump #FreedomOfReligion

In a homily during a Mass on Thursday morning before #Easter, #PopeLeo said that the #Christian mission has often been “distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”

Since the #US & #Israel began bombing #Iran in late February, the pope has consistently called for an end to the violence & a return to dialogue to resolve the conflict.

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/04/02/260402a.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #military #IranWar

#Hegseth Says #US #Troops Are Fighting for #Jesus. The #Pope Disagrees.

In sharp contrast to the #Trump administration’s calls for #Christian prayers for the #war effort, #PopeLeo XIV says #military domination is “entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”

#law #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #IranWar #Iran #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/world/middleeast/pope-iran-war.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

#Hegseth Says #US #Troops Are Fighting for #Jesus. The #Pope Disagrees.

In sharp contrast to the #Trump administration’s calls for #Christian prayers for the #war effort, #PopeLeo XIV says #military domination is “entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”

#law #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #IranWar #Iran #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/world/middleeast/pope-iran-war.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

NYC Mayor Mamdani can't use his office to promote Islam | Secular Spotlight - https://youtu.be/SAM65T30jjc?si=zwJgN53twS9kHFgw #ffrf #NYC #Mamdani #Islam #ChurchStateSeparation #FreedomOFReligion #FreedomFROMReligion #atheism

NYC Mayor Mamdani can't use his office to promote Islam | Secular Spotlight - https://youtu.be/SAM65T30jjc?si=zwJgN53twS9kHFgw #ffrf #NYC #Mamdani #Islam #ChurchStateSeparation #FreedomOFReligion #FreedomFROMReligion #atheism

NYC Mayor Mamdani can't use his office to promote Islam | Secular Spotlight - https://youtu.be/SAM65T30jjc?si=zwJgN53twS9kHFgw #ffrf #NYC #Mamdani #Islam #ChurchStateSeparation #FreedomOFReligion #FreedomFROMReligion #atheism

NYC Mayor Mamdani can't use his office to promote Islam | Secular Spotlight - https://youtu.be/SAM65T30jjc?si=zwJgN53twS9kHFgw #ffrf #NYC #Mamdani #Islam #ChurchStateSeparation #FreedomOFReligion #FreedomFROMReligion #atheism

NYC Mayor Mamdani can't use his office to promote Islam | Secular Spotlight - https://youtu.be/SAM65T30jjc?si=zwJgN53twS9kHFgw #ffrf #NYC #Mamdani #Islam #ChurchStateSeparation #FreedomOFReligion #FreedomFROMReligion #atheism

https://www.europesays.com/news/11303/ Israeli police prevent Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church #BenjaminNeta​nyahu #CatholicChurch #Christianity #CivilRights #EmmanuelMacron #Europe #FaridJubran #FreedomOfReligion #GeneralNews #GiorgiaMeloni #Headlines #HumanRights #Iran #IranWar #Israel #IsraelGovernment #ItalyGovernment #Jerusalem #MIDEASTWARS #MikeHuckabee #MilitaryAndDefense #News #NicoleWinfield #Politics #PopeLeoXIV #Religion #ReligionAndPolitics #TopStories #WorldNews

Israeli police prevent Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli police prevented Catholic leaders from entering the…
#Israel #News #2024-2025mideastwars #2024-2026mideastwars #BenjaminNetanyahu #catholicchurch #Christianity #CivilRights #EmmanuelMacron #FaridJubran #freedomofreligion #generalnews #GiorgiaMeloni #humanrights #Iran #iranwar #jerusalem #MikeHuckabee #NicoleWinfield #PopeLeoXIV #Religión #Religionandpolitics #WorldNews
https://www.europesays.com/2881763/

Rumsfeld in 2001 invited some local #Muslim leaders to the #Pentagon to gauge their feelings about how the admin was communicating, said a chaplain who was at the meeting.

Around that time, the Navy Chaplain Corps changed its motto from “Cooperation Without Compromise” to “Called to Serve All.” The change aimed to emphasize that #chaplains served everyone in their command, no matter the faith.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #military #war #NationalSecurity

An investigative panel in 2005 said some academy officials used their positions to promote *their* understanding of #Christianity & didn’t accommodate the religious needs of non-Christians.

President George W. Bush & Donald Rumsfeld, in the years after 9/11, spoke often about de-emphasizing any #religious differences between #US #troops & their enemies.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol

Experts say in the 1990s, 20 years after the draft ended, the #military shifted to pull disproportionately from #conservative-leaning areas of the country. Then the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001, pushed ideas of #religious #war into the fore. The Air Force Academy in the 1990s & early 2000s faced investigations & #litigation over allegations that #religious #intolerance & #proselytizing were rampant.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NationalSecurity #USpol

Experts say in the 1990s, 20 years after the draft ended, the #military shifted to pull disproportionately from #conservative-leaning areas of the country. Then the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001, pushed ideas of #religious #war into the fore. The Air Force Academy in the 1990s & early 2000s faced investigations & #litigation over allegations that #religious #intolerance & #proselytizing were rampant.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NationalSecurity #USpol

Experts say in the 1990s, 20 years after the draft ended, the #military shifted to pull disproportionately from #conservative-leaning areas of the country. Then the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001, pushed ideas of #religious #war into the fore. The Air Force Academy in the 1990s & early 2000s faced investigations & #litigation over allegations that #religious #intolerance & #proselytizing were rampant.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NationalSecurity #USpol

Experts say in the 1990s, 20 years after the draft ended, the #military shifted to pull disproportionately from #conservative-leaning areas of the country. Then the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001, pushed ideas of #religious #war into the fore. The Air Force Academy in the 1990s & early 2000s faced investigations & #litigation over allegations that #religious #intolerance & #proselytizing were rampant.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NationalSecurity #USpol

Experts say in the 1990s, 20 years after the draft ended, the #military shifted to pull disproportionately from #conservative-leaning areas of the country. Then the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001, pushed ideas of #religious #war into the fore. The Air Force Academy in the 1990s & early 2000s faced investigations & #litigation over allegations that #religious #intolerance & #proselytizing were rampant.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NationalSecurity #USpol

“I don’t approve of cramming your #religious faith down people’s throats, & when the top of the chain couches these operations in this hyper-#Christian tone, it flies in the face of the #FreedomOfReligion that the #Constitution enshrines & that our men & women in uniform sign up to defend.”

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol

“I don’t approve of cramming your #religious faith down people’s throats, & when the top of the chain couches these operations in this hyper-#Christian tone, it flies in the face of the #FreedomOfReligion that the #Constitution enshrines & that our men & women in uniform sign up to defend.”

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #USpol

…former & current military officers said, the #military has historically adopted an unspoken rule: no #religion & no #politics.

“The point was, it didn’t matter, & it shouldn’t have mattered, who you worship, or whether you worship at all. What mattered was doing the job & being mindful that you represent all Americans, no matter what they believe,” said a person who was in the leadership team of a recent chairman of the #JointChiefs.

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion

“The Secretary’s prayer services undoubtedly improve morale for those who choose to attend & are constitutionally protected. No special treatment or punishment is given as a result of one’s choice to attend these prayer services.” [sure, Jan.]

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics

“The Secretary’s prayer services undoubtedly improve morale for those who choose to attend & are constitutionally protected. No special treatment or punishment is given as a result of one’s choice to attend these prayer services.” [sure, Jan.]

#law #Trump #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics

They feel they can’t voice their concerns to their superiors, & feel their work as the primary advocate for #troops’ spiritual, mental & moral #health is being threatened.

“I’ve had people tell me they’re not included in staff meetings,” Manner said.

A snr #Army civilian who has worked in the #Pentagon for decades said people who work there are afraid to talk to one another or their superiors about concerns over #Hegseth’s actions.

#law #Trump #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #military

Ret Army Maj Gen Randy Manner, who was second-in-command at the #NationalGuard 2011–2012, has worked in recent years to train hundreds of #interfaith #military #chaplains. Manner said he has talked with “dozens & dozens” of active-duty chaplains in recent weeks who say those who don’t identify with #Hegseth “are being marginalized.”

#law #Trump #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #war #NationalSecurity

The Pentagon’s shift from previous historical norms is dangerous, according to multiple former high-ranking #military officials, heads of #chaplain corps, some #veterans groups, current #Pentagon staff & current officers, some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution from the #Trump admin.

#law #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics

The Pentagon’s shift from previous historical norms is dangerous, according to multiple former high-ranking #military officials, heads of #chaplain corps, some #veterans groups, current #Pentagon staff & current officers, some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution from the #Trump admin.

#law #Hegseth #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics

His social media profile & public comments routinely espouse *his* understanding of #Christianity, which is one that would dominate American life & cast those who disagree with him as God’s enemies. #Hegseth has brought clergy from his small Christian denomination to preach at the #Pentagon, including a prominent pastor who says #women shouldn’t have the right to #vote.

#law #Trump #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity

His social media profile & public comments routinely espouse *his* understanding of #Christianity, which is one that would dominate American life & cast those who disagree with him as God’s enemies. #Hegseth has brought clergy from his small Christian denomination to preach at the #Pentagon, including a prominent pastor who says #women shouldn’t have the right to #vote.

#law #Trump #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Evangelism #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity

Rather than boosting cohesion through a more universal spiritual uplift, they say, the new approach violates the #Constitution & undermines the bonds of mutual #respect between #troops that are essential, especially in #wartime.

Every month at the #Pentagon, #Hegseth hosts #evangelical worship services that #legal experts say are unprecedented.

#law #Trump #Republicans #Constitution #FreedomOfReligion #Christianity #NewApostolicReformation #NAR #military #war #NationalSecurity #geopolitics