A Freedom From Religion Foundation member has placed the group's Winter Solstice sign in the Milwaukee courthouse today for the second year in a row.

FFRF Lifetime Member Edward Susterich delivered the festive display early this morning.

The Winter Solstice sign first went up last year to counteract an inappropriate nativity scene that began appearing in the courthouse in 2009.

FFRF wrote a letter of complaint in 2010 to Lee Holloway, chair of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of its Milwaukee-area members protesting the devotional display appearing in the lobby every December. Then-County Executive Scott Walker helped private individuals place the crèche in the rotunda in 2009. FFRF’s letter went unanswered.

FFRF's Winter Solstice sign, on one side, reads “State/Church: Keep Them Separate,” and on the other says:

“At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”

“Fifteen percent of Milwaukee County is nonreligious. This is their courthouse, too, supported with their tax dollars, and if religion is going to be there, there has to be ‘room at the inn’ for the nonreligious perspective,” commented FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. 

FFRF extends warm thanks to Edward Susterich for his activism.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation helped one of its Pennsylvania members obtain a favorable ruling for nonbelievers from the state Human Relations Commission.

After John Wolff of Lancaster was unable to get the owners of Prudhomme's Lost Cajun Kitchen in Columbia to stop discriminating against atheists and agnostics, he enlisted FFRF's help. The restaurant was offering an illegal 10 percent discount for customers who brought in a church bulletin.

On April 11, 2011, FFRF Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote the first of three letters of complaint to owners Sharon and Dave and Sharon Prudhomme.

Markert pointed out that the discount "violates the federal Civil Rights Act in addition to provisions of state civil rights statutes.

"The Civil Rights Act states in relevant part, 'All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation ... without discrimination on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin,' " wrote Markert, adding, "As a place of 'public accommodation,' it is illegal for Lost Cajun Kitchen to discriminate, or show favoritism, on the basis of religion.

After getting no response, Wolff, filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. On Sept. 24, the commission approved the following terms of settlement:

"Respondent will continue to give a discount for any bulletin from any group oriented around the subject of religious faith[,] including publications from the Freedom From Religion Foundations[,] as long as they maintain the Sunday discount program."

Wolff was notified Nov. 21 by letter of the disposition of his complaint.

Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor noted that FFRF publishes a monthly newspaper, Freethought Today, and several irreligious "nontracts" that apparently now qualify as church bulletins. "We have titles such as 'Why Women Need Freedom From Religion,' 'Is America a Christian Nation?' 'What's Wrong With the Ten Commandments?' and 'What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?' "

Gaylor added, "It's nice that atheists and agnostics qualify for the 'church' discount. The 'nones' (those affiliated with no church) are, after all, the fastest-growing group in America."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has racked up four solid victories in the past several weeks on behalf of the separation of state and church.

Victories in Kansas and Michigan will remove direct endorsements of God and Christianity from public schools and government property. Texas and Kentucky victories have stopped proselytizing in public schools.

The Latin cross on the city seal of Buhler, Kan., will be removed in response to a letter from FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott. Buhler Mayor Daniel Friesen told the local media that the decision to change the seal was based on the Constitution, which he said, “protects the view of people who may not agree with the values of this community.” The city's governing body consensually agreed last night to redesign the logo. Now local residents will have a chance to submit their own design by the end of January.

The Buhler seal is displayed on a large billboard in Albert Becker Park, as well as on official city forms.

Students as young as three were being instructed to pray by their teacher in an Elkhorn City, Ky., public school every day before lunch until a concerned parent contacted FFRF. Action from FFRF Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert prompted Elkhorn City Elementary School on Nov. 1 to end the illegal organized prayer and stop posting religious fliers in the school.

The staff of the Deaf Smith Elementary School in Rosenberg, Texas, will no longer be subject to a principal's proselytizing weekly newsletters. FFRF's local complainant referred to the principal's newsletters as “Sunday Sermons” because of their near constant use of biblical verses, references and discussions, and the presentation of biblical stories as fact. After FFRF Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt alerted the school district to the situation, the district instructed the principal to stop putting religious references in his school communications. 

FFRF also succeeded in having a promotional church sign on an elementary school lawn in New Haven, Mich., taken down. The church will now only display its sign at Endeavour Elementary School on Sundays, the day it rents the school’s cafeteria.

FFRF has over 19,400 members, and is working hard to see the constitutional principle of separation of state and church honored throughout the holiday season.

A special thanks to FFRF Journalism Intern Sarah Eucalano. 

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has successfully petitioned the city of Buhler to remove a cross from its official seal — and now we need your help to sustain the victory.

FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott wrote to Mayor Daniel Friesen on Sept. 14, urging him to discontinue using a Latin cross as a symbol of "traditional values" in the city's motto and logo.

Friesen told reporters that "the city consulted several law firms, which said the city would most likely lose if it took this to court." Now the mayor says the seal will be redesigned.

The Buhler seal is displayed on a large billboard in Albert Becker Park, as well as on official city forms.

In his letter, Elliott cited seven federal court decisions which found municipal seals and logos to be unconstitutional.

"The endorsement of religion in the Buhler seal is particularly egregious because the cross is prominently featured and used to symbolize the 'Traditional Values' portion of the town motto. Courts addressing less prominent depictions have found that the inclusion of a Latin cross among other symbols on government seals and logos violates the Establishment Clause," wrote Elliott.

The mayor rightfully added that if the city were to fight the case it would be wasting taxpayer money.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation succeeded in convincing Stone High School to stop religious messages from being promoted at the school’s football games. FFRF received a complaint after Stone High School cheerleaders held a banner with a bible quote at a football game.

FFRF Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt sent a letter addressing the constitutional violation to Stone County School District Superintendent Dr. Gwen Miller on Oct. 17.

Stone County School District Attorney Sean Courtnal called FFRF on Oct. 22 to say the District took this violation very seriously and that it would not happen again.

FFRF has contacted Stone County School District in the past to address its constitutional violation of promoting prayer at school-sponsored athletic events.

A Texas school district no longer selects a student to lead a prayer during pep rallies as a result of a letter it received from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

FFRF Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt wrote to Superintendent of Ballinger Independent School District Will Brewer on Sept. 18 after FFRF received a complaint from a former Ballinger student.

“It is illegal for a public school to organize, sponsor and lead payers at public school events,” Schmitt said in the letter.

Brewer said in a Sept. 26 response letter that the Ballinger Integrated School District does not endorse religion, and are reviewing the pep rally program.

“Ballinger ISD employees do not request that students engage in prayer, privately or publicly, nor do they encourage or otherwise lead students in prayer,” Brewer said.

A high school biology teacher in a Buffalo suburb removed religious displays from her classroom and will no longer talk about religion as a result of a Freedom From Religion Foundation complaint.

A concerned student complained to FFRF after a teacher invited a guest speaker who promoted the Christian religion and used quotes from Isaiah and Judges. There were also four posters with bible quotes in the teacher's classroom. The complainant also noted that she made religious references while teaching and there was a cross painted in the school’s hallway.

FFRF Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert sent Cheektowaga School District Superintendent Dennis Kane a letter on June 7 to alert him to the constitutional violations. Kane said in a June 22 reply that the cross in the hallway and religious posters had been removed from the school. He said the district had discussed the student’s concerns with Silver.

The complainant notified FFRF that on the last day of school, June 12, the teacher had said the unidentified student who reported her first amendment violations lacked character and integrity. The teacher compared the complainant to a student who cheated on the class’s final exam, and said she had the right to promote her religious beliefs in her classroom.

Markert responded to the teacher's inappropriate handling of the situation with a June 14 letter to Kane. “Bullying is rampant in schools,” Markert said. “Teachers should strive to conduct their classes in an inclusive manner so that students can participate fully without compromising their own personal beliefs.”

Kane responded with a Sept. 11 letter which stated that the teacher's conduct on the last day of school was addressed and she has been directed to not discuss religion in her classroom.

A member of the Martin County Kentucky Community told the Freedom From Religion Foundation that a local elementary school’s electronic sign read, “Attend church this Sunday.”

FFRF Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert sent a letter on Oct. 17 to Superintendent of Martin County Schools Mark Blackburn to address the constitutional violation at Eden School.

“It is inappropriate for the District to advocate church attendance on school property,” Markert’s letter said.

Martin County School District attorney John Triplett replied with an Oct. 24 letter which said the religious phrase was removed from Eden School’s message board.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has helped Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Oklahoma City, Okla., rethink its use of religion in school assemblies and counseling sessions.

A local complainant witnessed several incidents of school-sponsored religion during an Oct. 4, 2012, assembly. A third party counselor was invited to speak to students in response to a recent bullying incident. The speaker described to the students "what heaven looks like" and "how we get to heaven." Even more egregiously, the speaker informed students that "the way they were acting was not going to get them into Heaven." School counselors were also being forced to distribute fliers to students. One flier listed worship times at a local church and a Gamblers Anonymous meeting schedule. FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote to Superintendent Karl Springer on Nov. 5, urging him to "refrain from hosting overtly religious assemblies like this counseling program."

Seield asked that the school end all religious assemblies and counseling programs as part of the school's curriculum. The counseling, religious fliers and assemblies carry the stamp of official school endorsement. Such a young, captive audience of students may easily be swayed by a purported group of Christian "experts." Seidel reminded Springer that "Public schools have a constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion."

General counsel for the school district told Seidel in a Nov. 9 phone call that the superintendent agrees "that their current policy on religion in the public schools is 'clearly not enough for non-lawyers' and they are going 'to draft a new policy.'" She added that this will involve additional staff training.

Austin High School (Decatur, Ala.) teachers will no longer sponsor the First Priority Club (FPC), thanks to a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

The FPC is a Christian, non-curricular club that describes itself as a "vision with a comprehensive plan of action. . . to reach and disciple a generation with the . . . message of Jesus Christ." A photo caption in the local paper described the relationship between the school and local churches: "Austin High School students, teachers and youth pastors join hands and pray at the closing of the First Priority club meeting Tuesday." FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote an Oct. 19 letter to Superintendent Edwin Nichols objecting to the school's endorsement of FPC.

"A public school may not endorse or provide preferential treatment to a Christian club. While students may organize religious clubs, we are concerned that FPC is not 'student-inititated' or 'student-run.' Students might presume that this Christian club is sponsored by the school because of the apparent role of school faculty in organizing club activities," wrote Seidel.

Nichols told Seidel via an Oct. 29 letter that he would "review with the teacher providing custodial oversight of this student non-curricular group and make sure that they understand their parameters as related to the legal ramifications cited in your letter."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has stopped the Cherokee County School District (Canton, Ga.) from including religious messages on anti-drug ribbons during "Red Ribbon Week."

During a special drug prevention week, the Cherokee County School District distributed ribbons to students with a religious message: "God answers prayers, drugs don't." The ribbons also featured an image of two hands praying. Students were instructed to pin the ribbon to their clothing, despite objections. A concerned parent brought this violation to FFRF and Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel sent an Oct. 26 letter to Superintendent Frank Petruzielo. Seidel asked that the superintendent "remain sensitive to the diverse religious and nonreligious views of students and staff."

"While the anti-drug concept is laudable, the injection of religion into the public schools is unconstitutional. Government actors must be especially careful to remain neutral on matters of religion in the public school context," wrote Seidel.

A school district attorney replied to FFRF's complaint on Oct. 30: ". . . staff has been counseled to be more careful in the future in giving even an appearance of promoting religion."

First graders at Ada Givens Elementary School in Merced, Calif., will no longer be instructed to sing "God Bless America" in the classroom.

A school district parent told the Freedom From Religion Foundation that her six-year-old daughter was being taught to sing "God Bless America" — a song that is essentially a prayer in her first grade classroom. FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote to Superintendent RoseMary Parga Duran on Oct. 17: "The first verse of 'God Bless America' ends with, 'As we raise our voices in solemn prayer.' A prayer conceived, hosted and advocated by a publicly-supported school does not pass constitutional muster."

Seidel urged school officials to end the use of "God Bless America" as part of the curriculum. He noted that this situation was especially egregious given that "young students are particularly prone to believing that a religious message is school endorsed."

The school district issued a positive response to Seidel on Oct. 25: "The principal spoke to the teacher about the complaint and about the district's policy regarding these matters. The teacher was very apologetic and stated she never intended to offend any of her students, nor make them uncomfortable in her class. She immediately discontinued singing patriotic songs. . ."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has prevented Gideons International from distributing bibles to fifth grade students at Central Elementary School in Magnolia, Ark.

Prior to FFRF's involvement, men from Gideons International were scheduled to give a presentation to young students and then present them with a bible. "It is unconstitutional for public school districts to facilitate or allow the distribution of bibles on school grounds to a captive audience of students. Courts have held that the distribution of bibles to students at public schools is prohibited," wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott in an Oct. 31 letter to Superintendent John Moore.

Elliott added that districts cannot allow Gideons, or any other groups to distribute religious material during the school day. Young school children can be very impressionable and "feel immense social pressure to accept the bible."

"It's very rare that we issue a complaint and the school district takes action to prevent this kind of illegal activity," Elliott said. FFRF received word on Nov. 5 that the Gideons were not allowed to be on campus.