General
A Victory for Religious Freedom and Public Education
The Senate Parliamentarian just struck a major blow to efforts to undermine public education and erode the separation of religion and government. The proposed national school voucher program, modeled on the so-called Educational Choice for Children Act, has been removed from the Senate’s budget reconciliation package after being ruled in violation of the Byrd Rule.
This provision would have diverted billions of public dollars to fund private and religious schools that are not subject to the same civil rights protections or accountability standards as public schools. It was a clear threat to both educational equity and religious freedom.
Interfaith Alliance was proud to be among the more than 60 faith-based organizations and over 260 faith leaders who spoke out against this dangerous scheme. Faith communities across the country joined together to call on Congress to reject this misuse of taxpayer funds and defend the foundational American principle that no one should be forced to fund religious education with their tax dollars.
"Vouchers are deeply unpopular with voters of both major political parties," said Interfaith Alliance President & CEO Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush. "The Senate Parliamentarian's decision to strip the first-ever national voucher scheme out of the Big, Beautiful Bill means that ultra-wealthy and Christian-nationalist backers of vouchers won't get to ram this through Congress against the will of the American people. Removing the national voucher scheme from the reconciliation bill is a big, beautiful win for our public schools and religious freedom."
This decision is a testament to the power of faith voices united in defense of the public good. While we celebrate this important win, we remain vigilant. Any effort to advance a federal voucher program, by any name or process, will continue to face strong, organized opposition from communities of faith committed to inclusive, accountable, and truly free public education.
National Faith Coalition Stands Up for Reproductive and Religious Freedom
Last week, Interfaith Alliance proudly joined the launch of Faithful Majority for Reproductive Freedom, the first national faith-based coalition dedicated to advancing reproductive and religious freedom. This coalition unites diverse faith organizations committed to challenging the harmful falsehood that religion opposes reproductive health care.
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Against Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law is a Big Win for Religious Freedom
Interfaith Alliance, a leading advocate for healthy boundaries between religion and government, welcomed the ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that prevents Louisiana from enforcing its unconstitutional law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments. Interfaith Alliance was one of 19 religious organizations that co-signed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case.
Faith That Speaks Truth to Power: Reform Rabbis Reject White Nationalism
A few weeks ago, the U.S. Reform Jewish community delivered a powerful message of moral clarity. The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), a leading voice in progressive Judaism, passed a bold resolution explicitly opposing white Christian nationalism and affirming its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This action demonstrates the power of empowering and mobilizing the Jewish community to challenge the growing threats to democracy and pluralism by reclaiming and correcting the false narrative promoted by white Christian nationalist rhetoric. It also offers a vital example of how faith communities can and must speak out.