Secular groups praise Biden’s agenda but express concerns about religious rhetoric
‘I worry that this administration’s idea of interfaith outreach may tend to exclude nonbelievers,’ said Sarah Levin, program director for Secular Democrats of America. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, listens as President Joe Biden delivers remarks to State Department staff, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
February 4, 2021
WASHINGTON (RNS) Like many on the political left, the leaders of secular-oriented advocacy organizations Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Secular Democrats of America have celebrated as President Joe Biden has rescinded a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military, rejoined the Paris climate accords and reversed the “Mexico City policy,” which bars federal funds to foreign aid groups that provide abortion counseling to their clients.
When the board met earlier this week, neither item was on the agenda.
The reason, according to board chairman Robert Queen, is because the board is not yet ready to tackle those issues. I expect the attorney selection committee to have a recommendation for the board at the meeting on the 25th, said Queen in an email to
The Shelby Star. Display of the Ten Commandments is still with the Policy Committee that has not had time to meet yet. There is no deadline for them to report.
The latter issue has become a hot-button one of late, even drawing attention from national organizations focused on religious freedom.
The administration building for Cleveland County Schools, Shelby, N.C. | Google Maps
A North Carolina school board is exploring the possibility of putting Ten Commandments displays near the entrances at each of its school buildings, a possibility that has upset a secular legal group.
The Cleveland County School Board first discussed the idea at its Dec. 14 board meeting, drawing support and criticism in the last week from opposing national First Amendment legal groups.
During the December meeting, board member Ron Humphries made a motion to prepare, or have prepared, a policy requiring the display of the Ten Commandments . in a prominent place at or near the main entrance of all of our campuses.
Gov. Tate Reeves, R-Miss., announces a day of prayer, humility, and fasting during a Facebook Live video, Dec. 16, 2020. | Facebook/Tate Reeves
As 2020 comes to a close and the United States continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, the governor of Mississippi has called for a statewide day of prayer, humility and fasting.
During a press conference aired on Facebook Live Wednesday, Gov. Tate Reeves, R-Miss., reflected on the challenges Mississippians faced throughout the year, including the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment, economic uncertainty and natural disasters.
“This has been a challenging, dare I say a very, very hard year for so many of our fellow Mississippians,” he said. “There has been so much suffering and for many of our fellow Mississippians, we continue to suffer.”
Kirk Morledge marks 30 years as FPC pastor in Waunakee hngnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from hngnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.