Mt. Adams Democrats | October 27, 2025 Panel Discussion
The separation of church and state is one of America’s most enduring and essential principles, protecting both religious liberty and democratic equality. Yet across the country, that wall of separation is being tested through policy, politics, and culture.
Here are 4 key take-aways along with actions you can take to protect the separation of church and state in Ohio.
1. From the Founding to the Present
America’s founders built a clear boundary between religion and government to protect both faith and freedom. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause forbids government from establishing or favoring religion, ensuring that belief remains a matter of personal conscience.
Over time, court rulings, from Everson v. Board of Education (1947) to recent Supreme Court decisions, have interpreted and sometimes narrowed this protection. Understanding that history helps us recognize what’s at stake today.
Learn more:
- Time: How the Founders Understood the Separation of Church and State
- America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State. A book by Randall Balmer.
- Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF)
2. Church–State Issues in Education
Public schools are where children of all backgrounds come together, a cornerstone of civic equality. Yet Ohio’s expanding voucher program now sends over 90% of state voucher funds to religious schools, diverting money from public classrooms.
These policies blur the line between public funding and private faith, challenging the constitutional principle that government must remain neutral in matters of religion.
Learn more:
3. Christian Nationalism and Project 2025
A growing movement known as Christian Nationalism promotes the false idea that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. Its influence can be seen in efforts such as Project 2025, a policy agenda that seeks to align government power with conservative Christian priorities.
Religious leaders from across faith traditions warn that this movement distorts both religion and democracy, undermining the freedom of belief for everyone.
Learn more:
- Christians Against Christian Nationalism
- The New Yorker: Is This the End of the Separation of Church and State?
4. The Ohio General Assembly and Church–State Policy
In Ohio, legislative debates increasingly involve religious advocacy — from school funding and reproductive rights to LGBTQ protections and classroom content.
These policy choices determine whether Ohio remains a state where government stays neutral in matters of faith.
As citizens, we can hold legislators accountable to the Constitution through civic engagement, testimony, and our votes.
Learn more:
How You Can Take Action
✅ Support advocacy groups like FFRF, Americans United, and Vouchers Hurt Ohio.
✅ Sign up to volunteer with Americans United
✅ Submit this e-letter to your state legislature encouraging them to uphold the uphold the separation of church and state