With Congress

BJC was founded on the principle of religious liberty for all, including people of every faith and those who do not claim a religious tradition. BJC supports the Save Oak Flat Act and the NO BAN Act.

The bipartisan Save Oak Flat Act would keep an Indigenous sacred space currently within the boundaries of Tonto National Forest protected from total destruction by a foreign mining operation.

The NO BAN Act would add religion as a protected category in the Immigration and Nationality Act and add important accountability measures if there are any future immigration bans. It passed the House with bipartisan support (April 21, 2021), and we are awaiting action in the Senate. 

These projects are two of many BJC undertakes to defend religious minorities.

Proposals to use public dollars for tuition or other expenses at private, often religious, schools pop up frequently in state and federal bills. BJC has long worked with a number of religious, public education, and civil liberties groups to oppose any kind of publicly funded voucher program. Simply put, religious teachings should be paid for by voluntary contributions, not through compulsory taxation. Vouchers violate the freedom of conscience of taxpayers, who have the right to insist that the government remain neutral in matters of faith. In addition, for any religious academy that might benefit financially, government funding comes with strings attached—regulations or pressures that could threaten the private school’s religious independence and purpose.

In countries around the world, laws that criminalize religious dissent stifle religious expression and undermine human rights. They are often used to silence religious minorities and punish political opponents, fostering religious intolerance, discrimination and violence. In December 2020, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate passed bipartisan resolutions that call for the State Department and the administration to prioritize the repeal of such laws in foreign policy. BJC supported both measures (H. Res. 512 and S. Res. 458). These laws still exist in more than 80 countries, so the work continues as we stand with our global neighbors seeking faith freedom for all.  

BJC is a leading voice in fighting the current administration’s various attempts to repeal the “Johnson Amendment” — the provision in the tax code that prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits from partisan campaigning. We believe this law is critical because it allows houses of worship and other religious charities to engage issues and carry out their missions without the political pressure and additional dangers that come with endorsing and opposing candidates, including turning their offering plates into political slush funds. More than 4,700 faith leaders, 100 denominational groups, and 5,500 charities agree. So far, our efforts have preserved the Johnson Amendment. But, the battle continues.

It’s a well-known adage that government money comes with “strings attached.” It’s also a constitutional principle that government must not advance religion, and therefore cannot directly fund it. For example, when Congress offers disaster relief through FEMA, are churches eligible for those funds? BJC says no, taxpayers should not be forced to build — or rebuild — churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship. Should a Christian nonprofit in South Carolina participate in a federally-funded foster-care program, even though it will only work with Protestant families? BJC says that’s crossing the line — government-funded services must be available to all regardless of religion. Delicate issues will continue to arise, and BJC supports the kinds of laws and regulations that protect religious liberty rights of beneficiaries while permitting the government to partner with faith-based organizations to meet its secular interests.