Today, Advocates for Faith & Freedom and the American Freedom Law Center filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Mr. Matthew Connolly, a Christian monk and peaceful pro-life advocate who was convicted and sentenced to jail. His only alleged offense: quietly kneeling in prayer in a public area near an abortion facility.
In a groundbreaking decision issued today in Mahmoud v. Taylor, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that parents have a constitutional right to receive advance notice and to opt their children out of exposure to LGBTQ+ themed books and curriculum. Advocates for Faith & Freedom applauds the Court’s protection of religious liberty, the family, and children.
The need for courageous and principled legal representation has never been greater. As the attacks on faith, family, and freedom intensify, Advocates for Faith & Freedom is experiencing unprecedented growth in litigation opportunities. From defending public prayer and protecting worship, to preserving girls’ sports, upholding parental rights, and ensuring election integrity, we are taking bold legal action to defend the freedoms that matter most. And now, thanks to the prayers and generosity of faithful supporters like you, we are expanding our ranks with two powerhouse attorneys whose careers reflect both elite legal credentials and an unwavering commitment to our mission: defending religious liberty and constitutional freedoms.
In a pivotal case for religious liberty, Calvary Chapel San Jose and its senior pastor, Mike McClure, have petitioned the California Supreme Court to overturn a $1.2 million fine imposed for holding worship services during COVID-19 lockdowns—restrictions that courts have already deemed unconstitutional.
Today, Advocates for Faith & Freedom, alongside NC Values Institute, filed an amicus curiae brief in the Supreme Court of the United States in the case Chiles v. Salazar, urging the Court to reverse the Tenth Circuit's decision and affirm the First Amendment protections for religious counselors.
Through California, a quiet revolution is unfolding in public schools, and parents are being deliberately cut out of the process. From hidden gender transitions to activist-driven curricula, radical agendas are displacing parental authority.
This is not a misunderstanding. It is an intentional movement. One that seeks to redefine truth, erase traditional values, and reprogram children without parental knowledge or consent.
In a pivotal turn of events, the United States Department of Justice has formally entered the legal battle to save girls' sports in California, filing a Statement of Interest in a federal lawsuit brought by Advocates for Faith & Freedom on behalf of two courageous female high school athletes in a Southern California school district.
Across the country, families of faith are facing mounting pressure to conform—to surrender their deeply held beliefs in exchange for government approval. In California, that pressure has turned into policy. The State has drawn a hard line between obedience to God and access to education, leaving countless Christian parents with an impossible choice. At Advocates for Faith & Freedom, we refuse to accept that choice as lawful or constitutional. That is why we are appealing the dismissal of our lawsuit against Senate Bill 277 (SB 277), a law that tramples parental rights and punishes religious conviction.
Today, Advocates for Faith and Freedom appealed a United States District Court for the Southern District of California’s decision granting the State of California’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 277 (SB 277), the 2016 law that eliminated all personal and religious belief exemptions from California’s state law which requires 17 vaccinations for K-12 school attendance.
Boys do not belong in girls’ sports. This should not be a revolutionary idea, yet, today, we find ourselves in a fight for common sense, biology, fairness, and truth. Girls who train their whole lives should not lose to policies that deny reality.
We see it time and again. A young athlete steps to the starting line, knowing she has put in the early morning workouts, the relentless effort, the sacrifices. But before the race even starts, she knows the odds are stacked against her. Boys are now taking away the level playing field she once had.
This is happening across California, and it is wrong. It is not just about sports. It is invading locker rooms, dorms, scholarships, and beyond. That is why Advocates for Faith & Freedom is not just exposing this injustice—we are fighting to end it.
The 2024 elections were a political earthquake. After four years of reckless policies that attacked religious freedom, parental rights, gender, and national sovereignty, Americans took back the ballot box. With President Trump’s return to the White House, the nation is already shifting back toward policies that protect faith, family, and freedom.
In a decisive victory for the will of the people, Mercy Peña will retain her duly elected seat on the Greenfield School District Board of Trustees following the court's denial of a last-ditch effort to overturn her hard-earned grassroots victory. The ruling confirms what has been clear from the start - Ms. Peña’s victory reflects the true voice of the voters.
Today, two female high school athletes from California, K.S. and T.S., along with their families, and the Save Girls’ Sports association, filed an amended federal lawsuit against the State of California, Riverside Unified School District, and school officials. The lawsuit now challenges AB 1266, the radical California law that requires schools to allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports and use female bathrooms. This law conflicts with federal Title IX protections, which were established to ensure fairness, safety, and equal opportunities for female students and athletes.
I want to take a moment to share a very personal story with you, one that has had profound challenges, but also immense blessings over the past few years. In early 2020, I was sitting with my Bible study group, reflecting on the year that had passed and sharing insights on the one ahead. I remember clearly voicing a prayer to the Lord, asking Him to keep me from becoming too comfortable in this world. It was not a prayer to escape hardship, but rather a plea for vigilance—because even the smallest comforts, if left unchecked, can breed complacency.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom secured a critical victory for Shawna Velasco, a former employee of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (FUESD) in Southern California, who faced discrimination and retaliation under the guise of COVID-19 workplace policies. To settle the lawsuit, FUESD agreed to pay $375,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees. This settlement marks a significant win for individual liberty and accountability in the public education system.
We have been on the offense to ensure election integrity, to protect children from forced vaccinations, to protect girls' sports, to protect children from woke indoctrination in schools, to protect pastors teaching biblical truth, to protect school boards and teachers who stand for parental rights and free speech. And almost four years later, we are still fighting against the remnants of governmental attempts to usurp the constitution under the guise of COVID-19.We have been on the offense to ensure election integrity, to protect children from forced vaccinations, to protect girls' sports, to protect children from woke indoctrination in schools, to protect pastors teaching biblical truth, to protect school boards and teachers who stand for parental rights and free speech. And almost four years later, we are still fighting against the remnants of governmental attempts to usurp the constitution under the guise of COVID-19.
Advocates for Faith and Freedom, together with North Carolina Values Institute, filed an amicus curiae brief in the Chiles v. Salazar case, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case which challenges Colorado’s “Censorship Law” for licensed counselors. This law targets faith-based counseling practices by prohibiting speech that aligns with traditional, religious values regarding gender identity and sexual orientation.
In a victory for free speech and religious liberty, the San Bernardino County District Attorney has dismissed all charges against Arturo Fernandez, a California street preacher arrested while peacefully preaching outside a public events arena in Ontario, California. Pastor Fernandez was unlawfully charged with trespassing despite remaining on a public sidewalk, conducting himself lawfully, and exercising his First Amendment rights.
Earlier this month, Pastor Greg Phelps and his church, Calvary Chapel Red Bluff, became the target of misleading allegations and sensationalist media coverage following their participation in lawful ballot collection during the recent election. The church, like many others, offered its congregation a convenient way to exercise their voting rights in full compliance with California’s laws. Despite this, media outlets such as the SF Gate have unfairly sought to paint this civic-minded initiative as questionable or improper.
Across America, parents, teachers, and concerned citizens are facing relentless pressure as radical cultural agendas invade classrooms and erode the values that built this nation. Yet there is a renewed sense of hope as we see a growing movement and a federal administration that is once again championing family values and opening doors for real change. At Advocates for Faith & Freedom, we are seizing this moment to push back even harder, equipping you with the tools, legal support, and encouragement you need to stand firm in truth and defend the rights that God has entrusted to you. This month, we are spotlighting a powerful resource for parents and announcing a critical opportunity for educators and allies to gather, prepare, and push back.