Religion and Law in American Society

The following are organizations and associations that have influence with respect to church-state religions or at least have engaged in some form of organized advocacy.

• Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.  http://www.catholicleague.org/  (212) 371-3191
  Organization representing and supporting Catholics pursuing the recognition of religious and civil rights by the U.S. government.  The Catholic League has been involved in significant church-state disputes in the past.
• Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.  http://www.au.org/  (202) 466-2587
  Organization advocting for and litigating in cases involving the conceptual separation of church and state.  Americans United is a political and legal organization that has been involved in major recent church-state disputes, ranging from Supreme Court nominations to the dispute over the presence of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• American Center for Law and Justice.  http://www.aclj.org/  (757) 226-2489
  Conservative advocacy and legal group that litigates on behalf of religious interests across the United States.  The ACLJ provides political and legal representation for religious groups seeking political influence on moral issues and a tightening of the relationship between church and state.
• American Civil Liberties Union.  http://www.aclu.org/  (215) 592-1513 (Pennsylvania affiliate)
  Liberal advocacy and legal group seeking to expand rights protected by the Constitution.  The ACLU recognizes a constitutional separation between church and state, and it litigates accordingly; for example, the ACLU opposed public displays of the Ten Commandmants in recent Supreme Court cases.
• National Legal Foundation.  http://www.nlf.net/  (757) 463-6055
  Thinktank and legal advocacy group dedicated to integrating Christian and American law.  The NLF recognizes Biblial foundations to the American system of law and accordingly asserts that laws passed in the United States should reflect it historical legacy.
• Freedom from Religion Foundation. http://www.ffrf.org/  (608) 256-8900
  Minnesotta organization advocating for a separation between church and state.  FFRF asserts that permitting a strong relationship between church and state is tantamount to permitting the American government to become a theocracy.
• Supreme Court of the United States.  http://www.supremecourtus.gov/  (202) 479-3211 (Public Information Office)
  The Supreme Court of the United States is responsible for interpreting and assessing the propriety of the laws of the country.  The Supreme Court plays a major role in determining the extent to which government can interact with, support, or limit religion and religious activities.