The resolution went on to deal with a number of specific issues in more detail It said that science and medicine-- including funding, research, availability of medicines and services, and appointments to governmental advisory boards-- need to remain independent from religious, political and ideological interferences.The pairing of the Free Exercise Clause alongside the Establishment Clause secures for Americans freedom of religion and freedom from governmental imposition of religion. These freedoms have enabled America to thrive as perhaps the most religiously diverse society in history. There are those, however, who seek not just a place for religion in the public square, but to co-opt the institutions of the government itself to advance their own religious agenda, while denying freedoms to others.
It is the right of individuals, including political and religious leaders to express their beliefs in public settings, but it is not their right to imbue governmental actions, meetings, buildings and other segments of the 'public square' with sectarian religious messages. It is the rights of individuals to adopt religious or scientific explanations for the origins of life, but religious theories should never be taught as science or an alternative to science in public schools. It is the right of members of the military to express religious viewpoints to fellow soldiers, but not to proselytize within the chain of command, or implicitly or explicitly pressure those of differing religious beliefs. It is the right of individuals to seek personal freedoms that may run contrary to religious convictions, but the laws of this nation and the pluralistic spirit which they foster demand no single religious belief or view be championed or codified above other sincerely held beliefs.
The JCPA is the umbrella group for 13 national Jewish groups and local community relations councils from around the country.
