The Secular Coalition for America is the national lobby representing the interests of atheists, humanists, agnostics, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans.
Secular Coalition Responds to Pew Faith-Based Program Survey
Nov. 17 - A recent survey on faith-based programs from Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life collected considerable data that concerns the Secular Coalition for America. Press release »
Related media
Christian Scientists seek reimbursement for prayers(Washington Post, OnFaith, Nov. 23)
Should health care package cover prayer?
(Chicago Tribune, The Seeker, Oct. 29)
House Excludes Spiritual Care from Health Care Reform Bill
Oct. 28 - The Secular Coalition for America lobbied against insurance reimbursements for prayer. Now, all three drafts of the House of Representatives' health reform plan exclude payments for "spiritual care." Press release »
Good Without God (WCVB-TV Boston)
Oct. 27 - Four video segments about the growing secular population in the U.S., including an interview (Segment 3) with Woody Kaplan, advisory board chair to the Secular Coalition for America
Secular Coalition Urges Kevin Jennings To Protect Nontheist Students
Oct. 13 - The Secular Coalition for America and member group American Atheists were invited to an event held by U.S. Dept. of Education Asst. Deputy Secretary Kevin Jennings to comment on the problems teens without a god belief face in public schools. Read more»
One in 5 Americans may be secular by 2030
Religion News Service article quoting Jesse Galef, the Coalition's communications associate (Sept. 25).Alabama Honors Freethinker and Humanist
Oct. 6 - The Secular Coalition for America announced its approval today upon hearing that the State of Alabama and the U.S. Congress will be honoring Helen Keller, a noted freethinker and humanist, with a statue in the U.S. Capitol Complex. Press release
Related media: Helen Keller: radical (Tuscaloosanews.com, Oct. 8)
Secular Coalition Opposes Amendments to Baucus' Health Care Reform bill
Related media
- Separation of church and state makes the world better place, says Coalition executive director Sean Faircloth: Secular Coalition [for] America Lobbies for Separation (Santa Barbara Independent, Oct. 11, 2009)
- Coalition president Herb Silverman speaks to C. Welton Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance about the Baucus amendments: State of Belief podcast, Oct. 10/11, 2009
- Coalition executive director Sean Faircloth addresses the Atheist Alliance International conference about religious exemptions for faith-"killing" parents: Secular Coalition chief to atheist convention: 'Our efforts are not yet worthy' (Examiner.com, Oct. 2, 2009)
Related: Secular Coalition Opposes Health Care Reform Exemptions for Christian Ministries
Secular Coalition to Justice: Stop Promoting Religious Discrimination
Sept. 16 - In a memo to Attorney General Eric Holder, the Secular Coaltion requests that he direct the Office of Legal Counsel (“OLC”) to review and withdraw its June 29, 2007 Memorandum that erroneously interpreted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 to exempt religious organizations receiving federal dollars from abiding by federal nondiscrimination provisions. Read our Department of Justice MemorandumSecular Coalition Submits Testimony for Senate Hearing on Vouchers
Sept. 14 - A Sept. 16 Senate hearing will address reauthorization of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which funnels tax dollars to religious schools. Read our Senate Testimony2009 August Break Report on the 111th Congress
Read the full report.Highlights of our advocacy work this session: federal funding of faith groups, abstinence-only sex ed, tuition vouchers for religious schools, global gag rule, Spiritual Heritage Week, and meetings with the Obama administration.