The ACLU of Iowa supports the First Amendment right to freely exercise religious beliefs without government restraint and to make sure the government does not endorse any particular religion.

As enshrined in the Iowa Constitution and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, religious freedom includes two complementary protections: the right to religious belief and expression and a guarantee that the government neither prefers religion over non-religion nor favors one particular faith over others. These dual protections work hand in hand, allowing religious liberty to thrive and safeguarding both religion and government from the undue influences of the other.

The ACLU of Iowa strives to safeguard these protections for all, from atheists to devout Christians and many others.

Throughout our history, we’ve taken action against government promotion of religion and forced student prayer.

Read more about how we fight for religious freedom in Iowa.