FYI: Happy Fourth! Here’s a fastidiously-arranged potluck of religiously-flavored fare for you to chew on at your leisure. And these stories all appeared within the last week. -jp
The Founders put God at the center of the Declaration of Independence
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5383838-the-founders-put-god-at-the-center-of-the-declaration-of-independence/
America’s Founders And The Quran: A Forgotten Legacy Of Religious Freedom
https://religionunplugged.com/news/july-4-americas-founders-and-the-quran-a-forgotten-legacy-of-religious-freedom-in-america
Religious liberty ‘the best blessing’ America has, Baptist immigrants say
https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/religious-liberty-the-best-blessing-america-has-baptist-immigrants-say/
KY's freedom of religion has deep roots. Louisville's first synagogue shows how. | Opinion
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2025/07/03/louisville-synagogue-kentucky-freedom-religion-jewish-christian-july-4/84422508007/
In Colonial Newport, my Jewish ancestor had to fight for religious freedom | Opinion
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/06/28/recalling-a-newport-ancestors-fight-for-religious-freedom-citizenship-opinion/84266041007/
The Founders Meant to Keep Government Out of the Church, Not God Out of the Government
https://cbn.com/news/us/founders-meant-keep-government-out-church-not-god-out-government
What’s The Proper Role For Religion In U.S. Public Schools?
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/religionqanda/2025/07/whats-the-proper-role-for-religion-in-u-s-public-schools/
U.S. adults hold ‘nuanced’ opinions on religion in public schools, new polling shows
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265089/us-adults-hold-nuanced-opinions-on-religion-in-public-schools-new-polling-shows
New Poll Reveals US Adults Support Chaplains in School
https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2025/07/new-poll-reveals-us-adults-support-chaplains-in-school
Poll: Slim majority of Americans support Christian prayer in public schools
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/03/poll-slim-majority-of-americans-support-christian-prayer-in-public-schools/
Hostility to prayer and religion is bad for schools and kids
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/07/hostility_to_prayer_and_religion_is_bad_for_schools_and_kids.html
Politicized pastor seeks library limits to ‘protect children’
https://baptistnews.com/article/politicized-pastor-seeks-library-limits-to-protect-children/
From Nazi Germany to ancient Rome, no one is safe from the LGBT agenda
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/from-nazi-germany-to-ancient-rome-no-one-is-safe-from-the-lgbt-agenda/?utm_source=most_recent&utm_campaign=usa
Court allows parents to opt their children out of school lessons involving LGBTQ+ themes
https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/06/court-allows-parents-to-opt-their-children-out-of-school-lessons-involving-lgbtq-themes/
Supreme Court Provides Cover for Bigotry Draped in the Fig Leaf of Religion With LGBTQ School Books Decision
https://buckscountybeacon.com/2025/07/supreme-court-provides-cover-for-bigotry-draped-in-the-fig-leaf-of-religion-with-lgbtq-school-books-decision/
'They had every right': Conservative justices led by Alito defend religious parents who want to pull their kids from LGBTQ book-reading at public school
https://lawandcrime.com/supreme-court/they-had-every-right-conservative-justices-led-by-alito-defend-religious-parents-who-want-to-pull-their-kids-from-lgbtq-book-reading-at-public-school/
A Victory for Religious Freedom and Public Education
https://www.interfaithalliance.org/post/a-victory-for-religious-freedom-and-public-education
Celebrate Religious Freedom Victories at SCOTUS This Independence Day
https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/07/celebrate-religious-freedom-victories-at-scotus-this-independence-day/
Prestonwood celebrates Trump and Supreme Court in morning worship
https://baptistnews.com/article/prestonwood-celebrates-trump-and-supreme-court-in-morning-worship/
Supreme Court takes blockbuster case on trans student athletes
https://www.inkl.com/news/supreme-court-takes-blockbuster-case-on-trans-student-athletes
SCOTUS will soon hear a conversion therapy case. Queer kids need us to fight for them.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/06/scotus-will-soon-hear-a-conversion-therapy-case-queer-kids-need-to-know-well-fight-for-them/
Virginia AG says enforcing Virginia’s ban on ‘ex-gay therapy’ for minors would violate religious freedoms
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-07-01/virginia-ag-says-enforcing-virginias-ban-on-ex-gay-therapy-for-minors-would-violate-religious-freedoms
Virginia’s ‘conversion therapy’ ban ruled unconstitutional in free speech victory
https://catholicvote.org/virginias-conversion-therapy-ban-ruled-unconstitutional-in-free-speech-victory/
NY Court Strikes Balance on Secular Standards, Religious Schools
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/ny-court-strikes-balance-on-secular-standards-religious-schools
Arkansas lawmakers entangle school districts in an unneeded fight over religion
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2025/jun/29/nwa-editorial-arkansas-lawmakers-entangle-school/
Oklahoma social studies standards challenged by group over religious content
https://www.newson6.com/story/6865b0afde5c49f45434b37f/oklahoma-social-studies-standards-challenged-by-group-over-religious-content
Civil liberties organizations sue Texas over law requiring Ten Commandments display in public schools
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/religion/2025/07/02/525523/four-civil-liberties-organizations-sue-texas-over-ten-commandments-display-law/
The Ten Commandments enter the classrooms: Trump and his allies push for religious education
https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-06-30/the-ten-commandments-enter-the-classrooms-trump-and-his-allies-push-for-religious-education.html
Pray, and God will make you rich: Trump elevates prosperity preachers
https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-07-04/pray-and-god-will-make-you-rich-trump-elevates-prosperity-preachers.html
MAGA Pastor Brags About Receiving $10,000 For Supporting Trump
https://tntribune.com/maga-pastor-brags-about-receiving-10000-for-supporting-trump/
Trump Assures Faith Leaders: He’s Fighting For Religious Liberty, World Peace
https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-assures-faith-leaders-hes-fighting-for-religious-liberty-world-peace
State Dept. Spox Goes Full Dear Leader in Praise of Trump: He’s ‘Saving This Country and the World!’
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/state-dept-spox-goes-full-dear-leader-in-praise-of-trump-hes-saving-this-country-and-the-world/
It's Trump's America now: Republicans' new definition of Christianity says 'starve babies' for a signed hat
https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/its-trumps-america-now-republicans-new-definition-of-christianity-says-starve-babies-for-a-signed-hat/
Catholic Bishops Trash Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Passing
https://www.newsweek.com/catholic-bishops-trash-trump-big-beautiful-bill-passing-2094831
New bill expands school choice; Catholic leaders applaud, urge caution
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265181/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-expands-school-choice-catholic-leaders-applaud-urge-caution
July Fourth celebration prompts Catholic reflection on religion and U.S. founding
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265159/july-4-celebration-prompts-catholic-reflection-on-religion-and-us-founding
Religious Liberty Commission Begins Work amid Concerns over Church–State Separation
https://wildhunt.org/2025/06/religious-liberty-commission-begins-work-amid-concerns-over-church-state-separation.html
Several Cabinet secretaries sermonize at right-wing religious conference
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/separation-church-state-faith-and-freedom-conference-rcna216028
Transportation secretary delivers Christian sermon and insults nonbelievers
https://ffrf.org/news/releases/transportation-secretary-delivers-christian-sermon-and-insults-nonbelievers/
Trump official fires back at Democratic senator who called historic flag 'Christian nationalist' symbol
https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-official-fires-back-democratic-senator-who-called-historic-flag-christian-nationalist-symbol
Christian Nationalism Raises Its Flag at the Pentagon
https://flaglerlive.com/christian-nationalism-hegseth/
Summer Awakening: Americans Push Back Against Christian Nationalism
https://globalextremism.org/post/americans-push-back-against-christian-nationalism/
Presbyterians vote to condemn racial supremacy, study Christian nationalism at Chattanooga gathering
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/jun/27/presbyterians-vote-to-condemn-christian/
Humanist conference relocates, citing U.S. religious nationalism
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/06/30/humanists-convention-moved-canada/9011751234916/
How to Challenge MAGA’s Biblical Authoritarianism
https://flaglerlive.com/christian-nationalism-hegseth/
Prophecy, not politics, may also shape America’s clash with Iran
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/29/us/iran-israel-evangelicals-prophecy-cec
End Times Prophecy Expert Skewers CNN’s ‘Apocalyptic Religious Myths’ Article
https://www.faithwire.com/2025/07/02/end-times-prophecy-expert-skewers-cnns-apocalyptic-religious-myths-article/
Prophetic Signs Surround Trump’s Strike on Iran and Israel’s Role
https://mycharisma.com/culture/prophetic-signs-surround-trumps-strike-on-iran-and-israels-role/
“No God Bombs Children”: Peace Activists Protest Gathering of Christian Zionist Lobby Group
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/7/3/headlines/no_god_bombs_children_peace_activists_protest_gathering_of_christian_zionist_lobby_group
Why Are Evangelicals So Horny For War?
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/snarkyfaith/2025/07/why-are-evangelicals-so-horny-for-war/
The blessing of Christian support for Israel
https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/the-blessing-of-christian-support-for-israel/
Trump Administration Targets Iranian Christians for Deportation
https://www.christianpost.com/news/trump-ends-tps-for-haitian-migrants-christian-advocates-concern.html
Trump’s halting of protections for Haitian migrants draws concerns from Christian groups
https://www.christianpost.com/news/trump-ends-tps-for-haitian-migrants-christian-advocates-concern.html
'She is not doing good': ICE detains Phoenix woman with leukemia at Eloy Detention Center
https://www.abc15.com/she-is-not-doing-good-ice-detains-phoenix-woman-with-leukemia-at-eloy-detention-center
Joe Rogan calls Trump's targeting of migrant workers for deportation “insane”
https://www.mediamatters.org/immigration/joe-rogan-calls-trumps-targeting-migrant-workers-deportation-insane
ICE Raids Churches, Arrests Christian Asylum Seekers
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/publiccatholic/2025/06/the-persecuted-church-fridays-persecution-in-america/
Empty Pews
https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/religion-ice-raids-immigration-hoover-los-angeles-trump
The Decline and Fall of Christianity in America
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/american-christianity-decline-christian-smith-sociology-evangelical-catholic-mainline-christian-smith-religion-obsolete-review