The Waseca Public School system in Minnesota will ensure that future district choir performances will not include religious content. (June/July 2026)

Minnesota —

The Waseca Public Schools system in Minnesota will ensure that future district choir performances will not include religious content, thanks to FFRF fighting for a secular family of the community.

A concerned parent reported that the Waseca Junior/Senior High School’s Feb. 24 Select Choir concert included mostly overtly religious songs. A program from the event confirmed the presence of religious content, such as the Christian songs “Even When He Is Silent,” “Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down,” “In Paradisum” and “Praise His Holy Name!” The parent stated that while “In Paradisum” was sung in Latin, it included an English spoken word section “highlighting the importance of faith with a religious context.” FFRF was also informed that Select Choir students were required to attend and perform in the concert for a grade, and that this was “not the first time this director has had religious themes sprinkled into her programs.”

FFRF contacted William L. Hoversten, the district’s legal representative, to ensure compliance with the Constitution.

“Requiring students to perform Christian worship music for a grade violates students’ First Amendment right to be free from religious coercion,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote. “Additionally, the selection of songs highlighting a single religion — Christianity — signals school favoritism toward religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths.”

Thankfully, the district decided to change its tune.

“The information you have provided has been forwarded to the Waseca Public Schools administration, and they have responded that they will look into the circumstances and the concerns raised by the parent who has contacted you,” Hoversten wrote. “This will include working with the high school team to review the concert selections and related student requirements and making appropriate adjustments.”

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Campaign headquarters or church? FFRF asks IRS to investigate Oklahoma pastor

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on the IRS to investigate an Oklahoma church after its pastor, congressional candidate Jackson Lahmeyer, publicly stated that supporters could pick up campaign yard signs directly from his church.

In a complaint filed with the IRS, FFRF reports that Sheridan Church in Tulsa appears to be using its facilities and resources to support Lahmeyer’s congressional campaign, a practice prohibited for tax-exempt churches under federal law.

“Tax-exempt churches are not permitted to function as campaign headquarters for political candidates,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “When a pastor tells supporters they can pick up campaign signs at his church, it shows that the church is providing tangible institutional support for a political campaign and it also inappropriately links the church with the candidate.”

FFRF’s legal complaint notes that this is not the first time concerns have been raised regarding political activity at Sheridan Church.

FFRF previously alerted the IRS to violations of the tax-exempt code after Lahmeyer hosted Tulsa mayoral candidate Brent VanNorman at Sheridan Church and solicited campaign donations from congregants in 2024. Lahmeyer has publicly joked about the repeated complaints filed against his church, remarking: “If I had a dollar for every time somebody reported my church to the IRS, I’d be a very wealthy guy.” The apparent lack of IRS enforcement or action clearly has emboldened the pastor to continue violating the law.

Federal law is clear that organizations receiving the privilege of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may not “participate in, or intervene in … any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” That protection, commonly known as the Johnson Amendment, has been part of federal law since 1954 and helps ensure that tax-deductible charitable contributions are not used to subsidize partisan political campaigns.

The FFRF complaint comes at a time when the Johnson Amendment is under renewed attack by the Trump administration and Christian nationalist groups seeking to transform churches into tax-subsidized political organizations. Earlier this year, a federal court rejected an effort by the National Religious Broadcasters and allied churches to effectively nullify the Johnson Amendment through a proposed settlement with the IRS. FFRF hailed the decision after warning that it would open the door for churches to become virtual tax-free PACs while retaining their tax-exempt status.

FFRF notes that churches are financial “black holes,” already enjoying unique privileges under federal law, including exemptions from many of the financial reporting requirements imposed on other nonprofit organizations. The Johnson Amendment provides one of the few safeguards that ensures that tax-deductible donations intended for religious or charitable purposes are not diverted to partisan electioneering.

FFRF clarifies that 501(c)(3) organizations are free to participate in politics, but in that case should not receive special tax advantages while doing so. Likewise, pastors and other religious figures as individuals are free to endorse or fund candidates, but may not do so using any charitable resources.

FFRF’s complaint emphasizes that the situation is particularly concerning because Lahmeyer is both a church leader and a candidate for federal office, creating an obvious risk that church facilities, staff, communications channels and other tax-exempt resources are being used to advance his personal political ambitions.

FFRF is asking the IRS to investigate the extent to which Sheridan Church resources are being misused to support Lahmeyer’s campaign and to take appropriate enforcement action against any violations found.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With about 41,000 members (including hundreds in Oklahoma), FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.

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FFRF’s efforts persuaded Maryland’s Calvert County Public Schools to remove a box for religious prayers from one of its schools. (June/July 2026)

Maryland —

FFRF’s efforts persuaded Maryland’s Calvert County Public Schools to remove a box for religious prayers from one of its schools.

A community member informed FFRF that Patuxent High School had a prayer box in the front office. The box had the verse from Matthew 11:28 written on top, along with a Latin cross.

FFRF contacted the school district.

“The district has a duty to ensure that its teachers and administrators are not using their positions to promote their personal religious beliefs to students,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote to the district.

FFRF pointed out that public schools may not show favoritism toward or coerce belief or participation in religion.

Superintendent Marcus J. Newsome emailed FFRF after receiving the letter to confirm that the prayer box has been removed.

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A school bus driver in Missouri will no longer play religious music while students are being transported. (June/July 2026)

Missouri —

After hearing from FFRF, a bus driver in the Sainte Genevieve R-11 School District in Missouri will no longer play religious music while students are being driven to and from a district high school.

A parent of a Sainte Genevieve High School student reported that the school bus driver was playing Christian music every day while transporting students. According to the report, the driver was playing religious music loud enough that students cannot help but hear it, and a video provided to FFRF by the parent confirmed the claim.

The parent stated that school administrators and district officials had already spoken to the driver and warned her that she cannot play worship music while students are present, but the driver continued to do so.

“Playing Christian music over the bus radio for children to hear is troubling for all students and their families who are not Christian,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.

After receiving FFRF’s letter, the district’s attorney reached out via phone to confirm that action had been taken. The legal representative stated that the school again discussed the religious music with the driver and warned her to put a stop to the practice while transporting students. The district reported that they do not anticipate the issue being a problem going forward.

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Join the FFRF summer reading challenge! How to enter, and the full rules

Welcome, readers, to the inaugural #FFRFSummerReading Challenge! 

A simple guide on how to enter

Complete the reading goals on four adjacent spaces — across, down, or diagonally — to win the challenge. Books may be used for only one space each. Send us your winning card via direct message on Instagram or Facebook, or tag us on Instagram or Facebook (Freedom From Religion Foundation or @ffrf_official) and use #FFRFSummerReading in a new post. (Note: accounts must be public to enter via hashtag/tag).

Entrants who submit their cards by Friday, September 18 will be entered in a raffle to win one of three FFRF merchandise bundles. We will reach out to our raffle winners within the following 5 – 10 business days.

The categories are as follows:

•Read a novel with a nonreligious main character
•Read a religious satire or dystopia
•Read a book outdoors
•Read a blasphemous/banned book
•Read an FFRF blog post
•Read a book about state/church history
•Read a book by a nonreligious author
•Listen to an audiobook
•Read a nonreligious memoir or biography
•Journal or post about your current read
•Check out (and read!) a library book
•Read a philosophy or self-help book
•Read a book by an FFRF Convention speaker, past or present
•Read a science-related book
•Read a (non)religious-themed graphic novel
•Make a playlist for your current read

More rules, details and disclaimers are available below.

Freedom From Religion Foundation Summer Reading Challenge 

Complete Official Terms & Conditions

Competition Terms 

Welcome to the first ever Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) summer reading challenge! Below are the terms and conditions for the competition, including specific eligibility and entry criteria. By participating in the competition, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions. 

Competition Period  

The FFRF summer reading challenge begins accepting entries at 12:01am Central Time (“CT”) on 06/12/2026 and ends 11:59pm CT on 09/18/2026 (“Competition Period”). 

How to Participate 

• Read books in the genre or category named in the boxes on the FFRF Summer Reading Challenge bingo card. Write in each box the book you read that completes that box. You may either write in this information digitally or print out the bingo card and write the books in by hand. 
• When you have completed a bingo card (with four (4) adjacent boxes across, down, or diagonally), take a photo or screenshot of your completed bingo card. Participants can submit their completed bingo cards in one of the following two ways: 
  • (1) Direct message FFRF the photo of your completed bingo card on Facebook (@4ffrf) or Instagram (@ffrf_official). 
  • (2) Alternatively, make a new post on your Facebook or Instagram indicating completion of the challenge that includes a photo of your completed bingo card. In this post, participants must use the hashtag #FFRFSummerReading in the caption. Only public accounts may enter using the specified hashtag. 
• All entries must be submitted by 09/18/2026 at 11:59pm CT to be eligible to win.
• After the competition period has elapsed, FFRF will randomly select three winners from the pool of valid entries. FFRF will directly message the winners through the Facebook or Instagram account that the winner used to enter the competition. Winners have 10 business days from the time they receive FFRF’s message to respond and accept their prize. If winners fail to accept their prize by responding to FFRF’s message within 10 business days, FFRF reserves the right to revoke the winner’s prize and will draw a different winner from the remaining entries. 
• Participants are limited to one (1) entry per person. Participants are only eligible for the opportunity to win one (1) prize. Having multiple bingos on one card will not increase a participant’s chance of winning a prize. 

Prizes 

• After the competition period has elapsed, FFRF will select three prize winners randomly from the pool of valid entries. 
  • The first-place winner (the first participant selected) will receive a Happy Heathen mug and a bookmark set. 
  • The second-place winner (the second participant selected) will receive an Imagine No Religion tote and a bookmark set. 
  • The third-place winner (the third participant selected) will receive a bumper sticker set and a bookmark set. 

Eligibility 

• To enter, participants must: 

1. Be a resident of the 50 United States or Washington, D.C.; 
2. Be 18 years old or over at the time of entry; 
3. Not be an officer, director, or employee of Freedom From Religion Foundation; 
4. Agree with and comply with these Terms, and correctly enter the competition as set out above and in the competition details; and 
5. Meet any other specific eligibility criteria set out in the Terms and Conditions

• Freedom From Religion Foundation may request proof of your age at any point following the entry. 
• Freedom From Religion Foundation reserves the right to disqualify participants at any time, if, in FFRF’s absolute discretion, the organization believes that you have contravened any of the Terms and Conditions of the competition. If FFRF disqualifies a participant, that participant must return any prize and FFRF may substitute another winner in your place. 

Limitations of Liability  

• Freedom From Religion Foundation assumes no responsibility for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, stolen, misdirected, or illegible entries; nor for any computer, telephone, electronic, or Internet hardware or software malfunctions, failures, or connections; nor service provider, Internet, Web site, user net accessibility or availability; nor for any technical error; nor for unauthorized human intervention, human error, or the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information; nor for the failure to capture any such information. 
• FFRF is not responsible for injury or damage to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this competition. If, for any reason, the competition is not capable of running as planned by reason of, but not limited to, infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which FFRF deems, in its sole opinion, could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this competition, FFRF reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the summer reading competition or any part thereof and select the winners from entries received prior to the action or as otherwise may be deemed fair by FFRF. 
• In no event will FFRF, or any of their employees, be responsible or liable for any damages or losses of any kind, including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of participation in the competition, competition related prizes or activities, or access to and use of any internet sites accessed while participating in the competition.

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10 Things I Hate About You Atheists!

New episode of ‘Secular Spotlight’ dissects official D.C. religious event

The latest episode of the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s web series, “Secular Spotlight,” examines the recent officially organized Christian nationalist shindig held in Washington, D.C.

FFRF’s Liz Cavell and Chris Line are joined by YouTuber Tim Whitaker to examine “Rededicate 250,” a massive religious and political rally that brought together a few weeks ago Trump administration officials, evangelical leaders and Christian nationalist activists on the National Mall. They break down the event’s messaging, challenge claims that America was founded as a Christian nation, and discuss what the growing influence of Christian nationalism could mean for church-state separation and secular democracy.

“This is like the Christian nationalist victory lap, this is like them saying, ‘Look what we’ve done, we’ve captured the government,’” Whitaker explains. “They weren’t even pretending to call this a nongovernment-funded thing. We know taxpayer money was used. Freedom 250 received a lot of money and we don’t know how much, but a good chunk of it went to this … essentially evangelical revival style event full of Trump officials.”

You can catch this episode of “Secular Spotlight” on FFRF’s YouTube channel, as well as by watching on your smart TV after downloading FFRF’s free app, Freethought TV, which also highlights FFRF’s other video programming. Our recent episodes include three FFRF staff members discussing their work to counter a religious organization that is devouring public school students’ education hours, and a deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of AI-generated religious content with special guest “The Antibot” Taylor Leigh. Make sure you’re subscribed to FFRF’s YouTube channel for all the latest updates!

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.

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FFRF objects to $15 million Fla. taxpayer giveaway for Catholic school security

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is decrying a provision in Florida’s newly approved state budget that would hand $15 million in taxpayer funds directly to Catholic schools.

The funding, included in the state’s $114.5 billion budget, would benefit 68 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Miami in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. Catholic officials have said the money will be used for projects such as fencing, bulletproof glass, surveillance systems and additional law enforcement officers.

“This is a blatant example of taxpayers being forced to subsidize religious institutions” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “The government has no business singling out one denomination for special treatment and handing it millions of dollars in public funds, particularly with our public schools, which serve all evenhandedly, being grossly underfunded.”

The appropriation was the product of a coordinated lobbying effort by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and other Catholic advocates. Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Miami, said he was “overjoyed” by the funding and “hopes that the security grants are just the beginning of prolonged state support for Catholic school students.”

That statement should alarm every Floridian concerned about the separation of church and state, FFRF warns.

“This isn’t a one-time request for emergency assistance,” says Gaylor. “Catholic officials are openly celebrating this appropriation as the beginning of a long-term taxpayer funding stream for Catholic schools.”

The funding is especially troubling because Catholic schools are already major beneficiaries of Florida’s massive school-voucher program, which would receive roughly $4.5 billion under the proposed state budget. Now, on top of taxpayer-funded tuition subsidies, lawmakers are directing millions more in public money specifically to Catholic institutions.

Catholic leaders have argued that their schools deserve state funding because they face security concerns and because Jewish schools have received state security grants in recent years. But FFRF notes that the solution to one unconstitutional subsidy is not another.

“Every child deserves to be safe at school,” Gaylor says. “But if the state wishes to provide security assistance, it must do so through neutral programs that treat all schools equally, not by carving out special appropriations for politically connected religious organizations.”

The appropriation also raises serious concerns about government entanglement with religion. Catholic leaders have made it clear that the funds could be used to hire additional security personnel for church-operated schools, thereby reducing costs currently covered by tuition, donations and church resources.

According to Catholic officials, some schools spend as much as $150,000 annually for on-site law enforcement officers. Public funds would now relieve religious institutions of expenses they have traditionally borne themselves.

“The Catholic Church is one of the wealthiest religious institutions in the world,” Gaylor notes. “Taxpayers should not be expected to underwrite operating costs for church-run schools while public schools continue struggling to meet basic educational needs.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation urges Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto the appropriation and reject yet another attempt to funnel public money into religious education.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with about 41,000 members and several chapters nationwide, including more than 2,000 members and a chapter in Florida. FFRF’s purposes are to defend the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.

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June 12-14, 2026 – Revival of Reason 26 (Atlanta)

Black Nonbelievers is proud to present

Revival of Reason 2026 – 15 Years of BN!!!

Register Now!

June 12-14, 2026

Join us in Atlanta for RoR2026, where we will celebrate 15 years of BN and MORE!!!

Featured speakers include:

– Chris Cameron
– Candace Gorham
Detroit Atheist Queen
– Hemant Mehta: The Friendly Atheist
– Cynthia McDonald
– Mandisa Thomas
– And MORE!!!

This is a family friendly event, so please bring your loved ones, and anyone who is interested in learning and needs secular support. Student discounts and sponsorship opportunities are available.

Register Now!

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Pride Month backlash reveals coordinated Christian nationalist campaign 

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is castigating a coordinated effort that several conservative states have launched to undermine Pride Month.

Governors in Florida, Indiana, Alabama and Utah, among other states, have, respectively, issued proclamations declaring June to be “Faith and Family Month,” “Nuclear Family Month,” “Strong Families Month” or “Fidelity Month.” While disingenuously framed as celebrations of families and faith, these governmental proclamations clearly are intended as a rebuke to Pride Month and its recognition of LGBTQ+ Americans.

“These proclamations are not about celebrating families,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “They are about using government authority to elevate a particular religious and political vision of family while signaling that LGBTQ-plus families, single-parent families, blended families and nonreligious Americans are somehow less worthy of recognition.”

The most blatant example is Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s proclamation of June as “Nuclear Family Month,” which defines the family as “one husband, one wife, and any children.” The proclamation calls this “God’s design for the family structure” and “the foundation of society since the creation of the world.” Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith embraced the culture-war motivation behind the proclamation, posting an illustrated version online proclaiming, “Take back the rainbow!”

Tennessee similarly designated June as “Nuclear Family Month,” declaring that the nuclear family is “God’s perfect design for humanity” and warning that it is “under attack.” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox quietly declared June “Fidelity Month,” citing faith, family and patriotism and calling for Americans to “rededicate” themselves to those values. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis designated June “Faith and Family Month,” emphasizing Christianity’s role in American society and encouraging faith-centered celebrations throughout the month. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed June “Strong Families Month,” praising households led by “a father and a mother” and suggesting that nontraditional families are responsible for various social problems.

The common thread running through these proclamations is the assumption that the government should endorse a particular religion-suffused view of family life.

“The government has no business declaring that any family structure is ‘God’s preferred arrangement,’” Gaylor says. “Public officials should not use the machinery of the state to promote their private religious beliefs about marriage, sexuality and gender. This not only violates the spirit of state/church separation, but excludes millions of good Americans, whether LGBTQ+ or those among the 29 percent of adult Americans who are nonreligious, from full civic belonging.”

FFRF notes that these proclamations are part of a broader Christian nationalist movement seeking to redefine American identity in explicitly religious terms. Increasingly, extremist political leaders are using government proclamations, legislation and public institutions to advance the notion that America is fundamentally Christian, that traditional gender roles are divinely mandated and that LGBTQ+ equality represents a threat to society.

Pride Month exists because LGBTQ+ Americans spent generations facing criminalization, discrimination, family rejection and government hostility. Yet rather than acknowledging that history, some elected officials are using June to celebrate the very institutions and belief systems that were often used to justify that discrimination.

FFRF emphasizes that families come in many forms. They include married or unmarried couples, single parents, adoptive families, grandparents raising grandchildren, blended families, as well as LGBTQ+ families. A secular government serves all of them equally.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With about 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.

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