Category Archives for church and state

The Constitution or ‘God’s Law’?

Speaking Sunday on Fox News, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore declared that he will continue to reject any federal court rulings that state same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional. Why? God’s law (as he interprets it) trumps everything: “This power over marriage, which came from God under our organic law, is not to be redefined by the United […]

Also posted in LGBT issues, marriage equality, TFNEF | 3 Comments

This Is How Bigotry Works

So here’s a story about how bigotry works — and how religious-right groups feed off it. Schools across America typically close for important Christian holidays like Christmas. Some also close for major Jewish holy days like Yom Kippur. Muslims in Maryland’s Montgomery County asked officials to consider closing local schools in recognition of major Islamic days of observance like Eid al-Adha as well. […]

Also posted in religious freedom, TFNEF, war on Christmas nonsense | 3 Comments

Texas Legislator-to-Be Says There Is No Separation of Church and State

“It sounds crazy, because you ask, ‘where is the separation of church and state?’ You tell me. Where is separation of church and state? It’s not there. Somebody is determining the values of this culture and they are determining the values of those who hold public office, that are determining the future of your children, […]

Also posted in Mark Keough, TFNEF | 3 Comments

Rep. Louie ‘Terror Babies’ Gohmert Questions Barry Lynn on Christianity

If you read this blog, you’re probably the kind of person that, for one reason or another, knows the name Barry Lynn. But in case you don’t, here’s a brief refresher. For starters, it’s the Rev. Barry Lynn. Rev. Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He’s an accomplished lecturer and […]

Also posted in Barry Lynn, Louie Gohmert, religious right, TFNEF | 4 Comments

The Day My Son Was Taught ‘Bible’ in a Public School

What happens when public schools cross the line by promoting personal religious views in their classrooms? One Texas parent — a religious studies scholar — explains what happened to her family in this cross-post (with permission) from Scribalishess. Susan M. Pigott is a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at a small, liberal arts university […]

Also posted in Bible in schools, TFNEF | 31 Comments

Texas Ed Board Candidates Want Religious Beliefs Promoted in Public Schools

We told you Monday that a religious-right group’s voter guide reveals that several Republican candidates in Texas State Board of Education elections this year think government shouldn’t be responsible for making sure all children get an education. The same candidates also support shifting tax dollars from public to private schools. So it might not be surprising to […]

Also posted in 2014 Texas SBOE elections, creationism, David Bradley, Eric Mahroum, evolution, intelligent design, Lady Theresa Thombs, marriage, Pat Hardy, TFN | 14 Comments

Religious Groups Call for an End to the Ban on Electioneering from the Pulpit

In what must thrill the hearts of zealots like David Barton who have spent their careers trying to drag houses of worship into partisan politics, the Washington Post reports: Even as polls show Americans broadly oppose electioneering from the pulpit, a new report by a group of faith leaders working closely with Capitol Hill argues for […]

Also posted in TFNEF | 17 Comments

Into the Lion’s Den: Minister Stands Against the Right’s War on Women (w/video)

TFN Insider is pleased to present this guest post from Rev. Beth Ellen Cooper of Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church in The Woodlands north of Houston. Rev. Cooper participated in TFN’s clergy gathering in March in support of women’s access to birth control and state funding for family planning. She blogs regularly for the Houston Chronicle at Keep the Faith. Rev. Cooper also […]

Also posted in Beth Ellen Cooper, birth control, sex education, Steve Toth, TFN, war on women, Women's health | 3 Comments

David Barton Rewrites His Own History, Dan Patrick Doesn’t Seem to Notice

Following is even more proof that self-styled “historian” David Barton is little more than a propaganda artist: now he’s rewriting his own history. Yet Barton’s distorted versions of history are still getting traction on the political right, as Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston demonstrated last week. Let’s start with Barton. The president of […]

Also posted in Dan Patrick, David Barton, TFNEF | 5 Comments

Texas Sen. Dan Patrick Rejects Separation of Church and State

Texas state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, thinks he’s somehow qualified to tell local school districts and teachers what instructional materials they can use in their classrooms, but he doesn’t have a very good understanding of the basics of American constitutional freedoms. Speaking at the Mims Baptist Church in Conroe this past weekend, the Houston Press […]

Also posted in Dan Patrick, TFNEF | 25 Comments