The Freedom From Religion Foundation strongly denounces Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new executive order, which prioritizes religious favoritism over constitutional principles.
Stitt’s order, issued Monday, mandates that all state agencies “root out” policies that purportedly exclude religious individuals and institutions from public programs, benefits and funding — an alarming step toward religious privilege at the expense of true religious freedom and government neutrality.
The order directs state agencies to eliminate laws, regulations and policies that “exclude religious individuals or institutions from public programs, funds or benefits.” It also mandates a full review and revision of any state law or regulations that “exclude religious entities.” FFRF contends Stitt’s executive order is wrong on a number of fronts, such its contention that faith-based groups are being victimized.
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor particularly takes issue with Gov. Stitt proclaiming that religious freedom is “a God-given right.” She explains, “It is the framers of our godless and entirely secular U.S. Constitution, not ‘God,’ who inaugurated true religious freedom when they adopted the first constitution in the world separating religion from government. They knew there could be no true religious freedom, without the freedom to dissent, which requires freedom from religion in government.”
The directive comes just weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond on April 30, a case that will determine whether Oklahoma can force taxpayers to fund a religious public charter school. Stitt’s executive order explicitly references the case and appears to be a preemptive maneuver to further entrench religious privilege in state governance, regardless of legal precedent or public interest.
Stitt claims that “faith-based organizations — including faith-based schools — are being pushed to the sidelines,” but the reality is quite the opposite. Religious institutions already receive numerous public benefits and enjoy vast exemptions from civil rights laws. What Stitt is demanding is not equal treatment but special treatment that allows religious entities to access taxpayer dollars while avoiding public accountability.
This executive order is consistent with Stitt’s past theocratic rhetoric. In 2022, Stitt alarmingly declared that he had claimed “every square inch” of Oklahoma for Jesus, an action that blatantly disregards the religious diversity of the state’s residents, including the 26 percent of Oklahomans who are religiously unaffiliated. Such statements, combined with his policies, reveal an intent to impose Christian nationalism rather than uphold the constitutional requirement that the government remain neutral on matters of religion.
“This is not about protecting religious freedom,” adds FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. “It’s about forcing taxpayers to subsidize religion in violation of the First Amendment, in a manner that could destroy our public schools — the bedrock of our democracy.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation will continue to monitor and challenge any governmental actions that violate the Establishment Clause and threaten true religious freedom. Oklahomans deserve a government that respects the rights of all — not one that uses religion as a political weapon.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with nearly 42,000 members nationwide, including hundreds of members in Oklahoma. FFRF’s purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
