Religious Liberty
ACLU Applauds South Haven Schools’ Decision to End School Sponsored Religious Instruction
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:March 16, 2011
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan applauded a decision by the South Haven Public Schools to adopt comprehensive policies that would end the practice of allowing a local youth minister to proselytize to students during school hours and to recruit students for church functions. The organization encouraged other districts to adopt similar policies today.
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Ferndale Church Has the Right to Help Poor People, ACLU Tells Court
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:September 24, 2009
DETROIT — In a friend-of-the-court brief filed on behalf of the First Baptist Church of Ferndale, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has urged the Oakland County Circuit Court not to interfere with the church's mission of serving the poor. A group of Ferndale residents, citing a zoning ordinance, recently asked the court to deny the church the ability to use its own building to provide charitable social services to poor people. The ACLU argued in its brief that denying the church permission to help poor people would violate the Religious Land Use Act of 2000.
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Terrorism Finance Laws Undermine Michigan Muslims’ Religious Freedom, Says ACLU
Comprehensive Report Details Effects Of Flawed Policies On Muslim Charitable Giving
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 16, 2009
DETROIT – U.S. terrorism finance laws and policies unfairly prevent Muslims around the nation from practicing their religion through charitable giving and undermine America’s diplomatic efforts in Muslim countries, according to an American Civil Liberties Union report released last night. The 164-page report, “Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity,” is the first comprehensive report that documents the serious effects of Bush administration terrorism finance laws on Muslim communities, including those in Michigan. > Full Story
Court Rule Would Unconstitutionally Deny Muslim Women Access to Justice, ACLU and Allies Tell Court
IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 30, 2009
DETROIT-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, with the support of a diverse group of religious, ethnic and domestic violence organizations, submitted a comment today to the Michigan Supreme Court asking the court to change a proposed court rule that would effectively close the courthouse doors to Muslim women who wear a niqab, a veil which covers the lower part of the face.
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Denying Church Right to Help Homeless Violates Federal Law, ACLU Tells City of Ferndale
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 3, 2009
DETROIT-- In a letter today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan urged Ferndale city officials not to interfere with the First Baptist Church of Ferndale’s religious mission of serving the poor. The city is currently reconsidering its decision to allow the church to provide social services. The ACLU warned that denying the church permission would violate the Religious Land Use Act.
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ACLU Asks South Haven Schools to End Religious Proselytizing During School Hours
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:January 12, 2009
KALAMAZOO, MICH – In a letter today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan asked the superintendent of South Haven Public Schools to put an end to the practice of allowing a local youth minister and lunchroom volunteer to proselytize to students during schools hours and to recruit students for church functions.
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Freedom of Religion Includes Defending Diversity of Beliefs
by Kary L. Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan
Over the years, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has been called many names, but nothing brings out the taunting more than the holiday season.
Beginning in about mid-October, we receive our first holiday card of the season calling us, among many things, Godless. The truth is the ACLU is neither Godless nor God-full. Our point of view is that religious belief -- or the choice not to believe -- is among the most personal and private decisions an individual can make.
ACLU Declares Victory for Catholic Man Coerced to Convert or Face Jail Time
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 30, 2007
DETROIT- A federal judge in Detroit ruled today that the constitutional rights a Catholic man were violated when he was sent to jail for asking a drug court judge to remove him from a drug rehabilitation program that coerced him into practicing the Pentecostal faith.
ACLU Applauds School's Decision to Grant Religious Accommodation to Student
Ninth grader recommended for expulsion because he refused to cut hair for religious reasons will be permanently reinstated
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 16, 2007
Detroit – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan announced victory today in the case of Claudius Benson, a ninth grader who was suspended from Old Redford Academy for refusing to cut his hair for religious reasons.
> Full StoryACLU Hails Judge's Order to Reinstate Student
Ninth grader was recommended for expulsion because he refused to cut hair for religious reasons
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 10, 2007
Detroit – A Wayne County judge today ordered Old Redford Academy, a public charter school in Detroit, to temporarily reinstate a ninth grader who refused to cut his hair for religious reasons. Judge Kathleen MacDonald has scheduled an evidentiary hearing for Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 10 a.m. She will then decide whether to extend the order.
> Full StoryACLU Files Religious Liberty Lawsuit on Behalf of Ninth Grader Facing Expulsion
Ninth grader was recommended for expulsion because he refuses to cut hair for religious reasons
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 3, 2007
Detroit -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a lawsuit on behalf of a ninth grader at Old Redford Academy, a public charter school in Detroit, who is facing expulsion for his refusal to comply with a strict dress code requiring all male students to maintain “closely cropped” hairstyles. A hearing is scheduled before Third Circuit Court Judge Kathleen MacDonald on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 9 a.m.
> Full StoryRemember Rights and Keep Government Out of Religion
ACLU on the so-called “War on Christmas”
by Kary L. Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan
It's the magical season again when a generous spirit fills the air, and the media are abuzz with stories of the purported "War on Christmas." The American Civil Liberties Union receives dozens of notes from across the country. Some kindly wish us a Merry Christmas, while others resort to taunting, name-calling and threats.
ACLU Tells DeVos Teaching Intelligent Design is Unconstitutional and Bad Policy
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2006
Detroit -- As a longtime defender of freedom of religion, the ACLU of Michigan today noted with alarm the endorsement by gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos of the insertion of an intelligent design into the science curriculum at Michigan high schools.
> Full StoryNational Television Program on Religious Liberty Features Two Michigan Residents
February 9, 2006 - Press Release
Catholic Coerced to Convert and Censored Valedictorian Highlighted On Court TV
DETROIT - A Genesee County Catholic who was criminally punished for not completing a Pentecostal drug rehabilitation program and a Utica valedictorian whose yearbook entry was censored by the school because it contained a bible passage will be featured in a documentary on religious freedom being aired on Court TV this week. The segment on religious liberty will air
Controversy Over Holiday Displays Continue This Year
ACLU offers guidelines and update on Berkley, MI display
December 22, 2005
At this time of year, it is common for the ACLU to receive phone calls regarding religious displays on government property. Though, in recent years, the number of complaints has drastically decreased, there still seems to be some confusion around this issue.
> Full StoryACLU Files Lawsuit in Defense of Catholic Man Coerced to Convert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:December 6, 2005
DETROIT – After exhausting all avenues in the Michigan courts, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan announced today that it has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Catholic man who was criminally punished for not completing a Pentecostal drug rehabilitation program. > Full Story
ACLU Opposes Ypsilanti's Discrimination Against Churches
August 17, 2005 - Press Release
DETROIT -- In a letter sent yesterday to the Ypsilanti mayor and city council, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and its Washtenaw Branch has advised that a city zoning ordinance unconstitutionally discriminates against religious groups. The letter also urges that the city reverse a decision to evict a Pentecostal church group from a building in the business district.
> Full StoryACLU Letter Prompts High School Coaches to Discontinue Unconstitutional Prayer
January 19, 2005 - Press Release
DETROIT – After learning that a public school wrestling coach was praying with his team at sporting events, the ACLU of Michigan sent a letter to the school’s administration urging that the unconstitutional practice of school-sponsored prayer be immediately discontinued.
> Full StoryCatholic Man Punished for Refusing Conversion to Pentecostal Faith
ACLU Appeals to State Supreme Court to Reverse Conviction
July 20, 2004 - Press Release
DETROIT – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan asked the Michigan Supreme Court today to hear a case of a Catholic man who was criminally punished for not completing a Pentacostal drug rehabilitation program. His request to be transferred to another program was denied and he was sentenced to six months in jail and boot camp. > Full StorySchool Agrees to No Longer Censor Religious Yearbook Entries
ACLU Settles Case On Behalf Of Christian Valedictorian
May 11, 2004 - Press Release
ACLU of Michigan: Hamtramck noise ordinance still needs work
May 6, 2004 - By Kary L. Moss / Special to The Detroit News
Muslim calls to prayer are constitutionally permissible if Hamtramck treats religious and nonreligious speech equally.
In the past week, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has received hundreds of calls and e-mails from around the country from people asking our position on the amended Hamtramck noise ordinance passed by the City Council. The change in the ordinance occurred in response to a request that the Wayne County city allow a Muslim call to prayer five times a day.
Michigan Legislation Flies in the Face of U.S.Supreme Court Ruling
DNR Right to Abandon Park Policy
October 1, 2002
The DNR has dropped a policy, revised in 1999, that required religious groups that wished to "solicit, canvass or proselytize" in a state park to submit a written request for the activity and require participants to wear identification tags.
> Full StoryDNR Backs Off on Battle
September 29, 2002
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has tossed out the policy that sparked a dispute over religious activities at Fort Custer Recreation Area this summer.
> Full StoryACLU Fights to Get Minister a Permit to Baptize
July 9, 2002 - Press Release
The ACLU of Michigan has intervened on behalf of a Baptist minister who was unconstitutionally denied a permit to conduct baptisms at a lake operated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
> Full StoryRead the Op-Ed on School Vouchers
We Should All Agree on Vouchers Issue
By Wendy Wagenheim, ACLU Legislative Director
Whether or not you agree with all the American Civil Liberties Union does, surely we agree that public education must be defended. Public education is the cornerstone of American democracy. An educated electorate is vital to sustaining a democracy.
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