Americans United - Massachusetts

Pardon the mess, we are working to modernize this website!

Calling All Activists for the Separation of Church and State in Massachusetts! Sunday, August 3rd 7PM ET

Please join us for a Zoom meeting where we'll provide an update on the relaunch of the Massachusetts Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, get to know each other, discuss upcoming initiatives (like a book club!), and share your thoughts and questions about fighting for the separation of church and state here in MA.
Click Here to Sign Up for the Meeting

Americans United Massachusetts Present At Good Trouble Lives On Event July 17, 2025

The Massachusetts Chapter of Americans United is rejoining the advocacy space after a change in organizational structure this upcoming Thursday, July 17th at the "Good Trouble Lives On" event commemorating the five year anniversary of the passing of the legendary Representative John Lewis, a revolutionary voice of civil rights and advocacy.
See More Details on the Event's Website

The Right to an Abortion is a Religious Freedom Issue

Some Christians seem to have fixated on the passage in the Bible that says "God knows you in the womb" and have been trying to push their belief on others through state and federal courts such as the Ala. Supreme Court decision on IVF and the US Supreme Court dismanteling of Roe vs Wade. This violates First Amendment religious freedom since there are Christians and other religions that believe the soul does not enter the body until later, or even not until the first breath is taken (see HERE & HERE). HERE

Americans United lawsuit in 2018 to stop the town of Acton, Mass. from spending taxpayer funds to support two local churches was decided by the Supreme Judicial Court

The court handed down a split decision, ruling that public money can indeed be used to support religious activities, but under strict guidelines and with rigid scrutiny. More details are available HERE

Towns Should Not Use Public Funds to Support Churches,
Americans United Says In Lawsuit

Historic Status Of Buildings Is Not An Excuse To Subsidize Religion With Taxpayer Funds, Group Says

The Massachusetts Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State was first contacted by a member on the issue described below. After gathering information we sent the information to the AU Legal Department. The AU-MA Chapter also worked to recruit some of the plaintiffs and supplied the name of the attorney from Massachusetts, Russell Chernin.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has filed a lawsuit to stop the town of Acton, Mass., from spending taxpayer funds to support two local churches. In legal action filed on behalf of 13 Acton taxpayers, Americans United says officials in Acton violated the Massachusetts Constitution when they approved Community Preservation Act grants for Acton Congregational Church and South Acton Congregational Church. “Government should not use tax funds to support churches,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “The fact that a house of worship is old doesn’t mean taxpayers should be forced to subsidize a religious group to which they don’t belong. If a church needs money to preserve or restore its buildings, it should raise that money from its own members.” In April, Acton approved the grants for the two churches. One grant would pay for the restoration of stained-glass windows at Acton Congregational Church, including a large window depicting Jesus. The second grant would pay for a master plan for extensive work at the same church. The third grant would pay for roof work at South Acton Congregational Church.
The three grants total $115,000. In its Caplan v. Town of Acton lawsuit, Americans United asserts that the Anti-Aid Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution prohibits this sort of direct government payment to sectarian institutions. “The Anti-Aid Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution protects the religious liberty of all citizens of the Commonwealth by prohibiting the use of public funds to support active houses of worship. Defendant Town of Acton is threatening that religious liberty,” the lawsuit says. Added Alex J. Luchenitser, Americans United’s associate legal director: “Historical p reservation is a worthy goal, but it doesn’t justify violating the Constitution. Public funds should support buildings that can benefit all members of a community equally, not ones that are mainly used by members of one particular faith.” Attorney Douglas B. Mishkin of the national law firm Venable LLP is providing pro bono representation on behalf of Americans United to the plaintiffs. The thirteen Acton taxpayer plaintiffs include George Caplan, Jim Conboy, Del Friedman, Daniel Gilfix, Maria Greene, Jesse Levine, Dave Lunger, Allen Nitschelm, Scott Smyers, William Alstrom, and David Caplan (no relation to George Caplan).

Along with Mishkin and Luchenitser, the case is being litigated by Americans United’s legal director Richard B. Katskee; Venable attorneys Joshua C. Cumby, Jamie L. Edmonson, and Xochitl S. Strobehn; and Massachusetts attorney Russell S. Chernin.