WHEN GOVERNMENT DEMANDS CONFORMITY, WHO WILL
DEFEND FREEDOM?
Dear Friends,
What happens when standing by your convictions comes at a cost?
When a pastor’s Christian beliefs cost him the opportunity to serve his community. When employees must choose between their faith and their livelihoods. When parents face government scrutiny for speaking out about their children’s education.
These are not hypothetical questions. They are battles unfolding across America, revealing how easily our most fundamental freedoms can be challenged.
Yet amid these challenges, we are witnessing something equally powerful: Americans who refuse to surrender their convictions, and victories that remind us why standing firm matters.
This October, Advocates for Faith & Freedom has taken another case to the United States Supreme Court, secured meaningful religious liberty victories, and continued defending Americans whose constitutional rights are at stake.
Our Constitution does not require Americans to abandon their beliefs to participate in public life.
Pastor Dennis Hodges leading prayer at the Museum of the Bible
A Pastor’s Faith. A Constitutional Question. The Supreme Court.
Pastor Dennis Hodges devoted decades to serving his community. Yet after respectfully abstaining from a vote to amplify the transgender community, because of his sincerely held Christian beliefs, he was denied reappointment to a San Diego advisory board. He did not vote against the initiative. He abstained.
This month, Advocates petitioned the United States Supreme Court to hear his case.
At stake is a question every American should care about: Can government officials effectively impose a religious or ideological test on those who wish to serve their communities?
This case is about far more than one pastor. It concerns the First Amendment protections safeguarding religious expression and participation in public life for all Americans.
Month in Review:
- Parental Rights: Federal Report Raises Free Speech Concerns: A new DOJ report underscores the importance of AFF’s ongoing fight for parental rights.
- George Washington University: AFF Challenges Campus Antisemitism: AFF files an amended complaint alleging discrimination and harassment against Jewish students.
- Christian Educators: AFF Defends Teachers’ Religious Rights: AFF advises and supports educators facing challenges to their religious convictions.
- Save Girls’ Sports: Title IX Litigation Moves Forward: Discovery continues in AFF’s fight for fairness, privacy, and equal opportunities for female athletes.
- Firefighter’s Religious Rights: AFF Secures Accommodation: AFF successfully protects a firefighter’s religious convictions regarding compelled pronoun use.
Tom Davis, Plaintiff
Religious Liberty Prevails After Four-Year Battle
Advocates, alongside co-counsel, secured a favorable settlement for Santa Clara County employees who challenged workplace restrictions imposed despite their religious exemptions from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
These employees endured years of uncertainty while seeking reasonable accommodations that would allow them to continue serving their community.
Their perseverance serves as a powerful reminder that religious freedom cannot stop at the workplace door.
We are grateful to have stood alongside these courageous employees and helped bring their long legal battle to a favorable conclusion.
Cristina Leal, Public School Teacher
Parents Are Not the Enemy
Across the country, parents continue fighting for a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their children.
On October 5, the U.S. Department of Justice released a report examining federal law enforcement actions involving parents who spoke at school board meetings, raising concerns about the chilling of constitutionally protected speech.
Meanwhile, a recent California court ruling recognized important protections for parents in Chino Valley seeking information about their children.
Parents do not surrender their God-given responsibilities when they send their
children to school.
Sonja Shaw, CVUSD School Board President
Confronting Antisemitism on America’s Campuses
Antisemitism is no longer lurking in the shadows. It is increasingly visible across our nation, particularly on college campuses, where hatred and intimidation are too often excused as political expression.
What is tolerated in our universities today can shape the society we become tomorrow.
This month, Advocates filed an amended federal complaint against The George Washington University, alleging years of antisemitic harassment, threats, and discrimination against Jewish students while university officials failed to adequately protect them.
Antisemitism is not an academic exercise. Universities must be held accountable when they fail to protect those entrusted to their care.
Protecting Conscience Beyond the Courtroom
Not every victory requires a lawsuit. This month, Advocates continued advising Christian educators about their rights and supporting teachers facing challenges to their religious convictions..
We also successfully secured a religious accommodation for a firefighter directed to use preferred pronouns contrary to his sincerely held beliefs.
These efforts demonstrate that defending constitutional freedoms sometimes means preventing violations before they escalate.
We remain committed to ensuring their voices are heard.
The Work Before Us
Each case represents a person, family, or community united by one truth: Freedom must be defended when challenged, not simply celebrated when convenient.
Some battles end in victory. Others demand perseverance. Through your prayers and generosity, Advocates can stand alongside those fighting for their constitutional freedoms and pursue protections extending far beyond individual cases.
Thank you for standing faithfully with us.
Together, we are protecting the freedoms our children and grandchildren will inherit.
In Christ,
Erin Mersino
Vice President and Chief
of Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
– Proverbs 31:8
Leave a Legacy that supports the fight for Truth and Justice.
Remember Advocates for Faith & Freedom
in your will and estate planning.
