Freedom of Religion
D.C. Police Agree To Allow Religious Head Scarves In Police Lock-Ups
October 17, 2011The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has agreed to a new policy that will for the first time respect the First Amendment right to wear religious head scarves in police holding facilities such as district stations and the central cellblock.
Preventing government-subsidized religious proselytization
September 11, 2010This lawsuit challenges emergency legislation enacted by the D.C. Council in July 2008 authorizing the transfer of a valuable government building (the Gales School) and millions of dollars in cash to the Central Union Mission to provide shelter for 150 homeless men. The problem is that the Mission is an evangelical Christian organization; homeless men who stay there must attend gospel services and are pressured to change their lives through Jesus Christ. Our lawsuit brought the proposed government subsidy of religion to a halt. In early 2010, the District issued a Request for Proposals to lease the Gales School for use as a homeless shelter. We are monitoring the situation to be sure the leasing process will not result in a subsidy or religious proselytization.
Protecting conscientious objection
September 11, 2010Toby Jacobrown is a young Quaker who has refused to register with the Selective Service System – which is a felony – because it will not officially record his claim of conscientious objector status. We argue that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act exempts him from registering for the draft unless the Selective Service System will record his C.O. claim when he registers.
Seeking a religious exemption from vaccination
September 11, 2010The U.S. Air Force fired a civilian chiropractor because he refused a vaccination on religious grounds, even though Air Force regulations allow for exemptions and federal anti-discrimination law requires reasonable accommodation for religious needs. Our complaint seeks accommodation for this religious observance.
Accommodation for religious beards
September 11, 2010In 2001 the D.C. Fire Department prohibited beards, with no exception for members who wore beards for religious reasons. We challenged that under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In 2007, the district court ruled that the Department had not carried its burden of showing that a ban on facial hair was the least restrictive means of serving the District’s compelling interest in safety. In 2009 the court of appeals agreed.
D.C. Council Approved Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty Bill, 11-2
September 06, 2010Rejected Bullying by Catholic Archbishop; Adopted Bill & Amendments Backed by ACLU-NCA, GLAA, Many Churches
The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 took effect on March 3, after expiration of the 30-day congressional review period.
On Dec. 1, 2009, the D.C. Council voted 11-2 to approved Bill 18-482, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, removing any uncertainty about the right of same-sex couples to get married in the District of Columbia. Only Councilmembers Marion Barry (Ward 8) and Yvette Alexander (Ward 7) voted against the marriage fairness bill, which had been sponsored by Councilmember David Catania (At-Large) and reported favorably from the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary on Nov. 10 by a vote of 4-1 (Alexander opposed).
Freedom of Religion
September 05, 2010The right to practice religion, or no religion at all, is among the most fundamental of the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. It is sometimes wrongly imagined that the ACLU does not vigorously protect rights of freedom to exercise religion, particularly of Christians. In fact, the ACLU defends both the right against governmental establishment of religion and the right to freely practice one’s religion without governmental interference. These rights operate hand in hand, and together ensure that freedom of belief (and non-belief) can flourish.
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- Topics: Issues, Freedom of Religion
