drawing of a cross smashing a gavel

When the Cross Smashes the Gavel: Bolick, King, Montgomery & Judicial Ethics

Posted on by Dianne Post, Legal Director Secular AZ

The battle over Proposition 137 to eliminate the judicial merit selection and give judges lifetime appointments subject not to the people but to increased legislative control, and the campaign to vote no on Supreme Court Justices Bolick and King has snagged another victim – the ethics system.

Arizona has a Code of Judicial Conduct and a Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee (JEAC) that does what it says , i.e. issues ethics advisories about judicial conduct. Never before has the Supreme Court overturned an advisory.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

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What is Project 2025?

Posted on by Linsay

Have you heard about Project 2025? Created by the Heritage Foundation with the help of more than 100 conservative organizations  — like AZ’s own Turning Point USA and Alliance Defending Freedom — and members of the Trump administration,  it’s a blueprint to dismantling democratic institutions by tearing down what remains of the wall between church and state, removing consumer protections, and imposing an extremist agenda that transfers ever-more power to the executive branch.

In other words, a policy agenda that delivers every fever dream of the religious right. Continue reading →

Heading from AZ central about Trump's appearance at Dream City Church above image of crowd waving signs and arms

Church Electioneering at Dream City?

Posted on by Dee Maitland

On January 26th Dream City Church in Phoenix hosted was set to host Trump for the Arizona Republican Party event. Per its website, Dream Church’s motto is “Love People.  Cultivate Community. Inspire Hope.”

Their first and greatest commandment is to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Their second commandment is to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.”

Leaders Luke and Angel Barnett say “the Dream City Church is a community of people united in our common mission to gather as God’s people, grow in understanding of God’s Word and grace, and reach out to serve others in Jesus’ name.”

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It’s sAtAn DaY at the AZ Legislature!

Posted on by Jeanne Casteen, Secular AZ Executive Director

Hey there, Secular Fam, I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring weather we’re having. This is a big week to be sure.

SCOTUS is hearing the Trump 14th Amendment arguments, the Waste Management Phoenix Open is in full swing (pun intended), and aLpHa MaLeS all over the country are losing their minds over a talented young woman who will be supporting her significant other during the Superbowl.

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Peoria Unified Board Meeting (a.k.a. Worst Board Meeting Ever)

Posted on by Jeanne Casteen, Secular AZ Executive Director

Buckle up for for a wild ride as Jeanne breaks down the latest Peoria Unified Board meeting. (Spoiler alert: It’s a sh*tshow)

Hey there, Secular Fam, have you all noticed how many evangelical extremists reject the expertise of actual experts of things lately? It all started in 2020. At first, everyone was like, “OMG, yay, teachers! You’re amazing. My children are horrible! Homeschooling sucks! Why am I drinking wine at 9:00 AM?”

Teaching is hard for certified teachers under the best of circumstances, and I do not envy the parents and/or teachers who went through such a difficult time. Something shifted with the MAGA crowd in the fall of 2020 when individual school districts had to make tough decisions about school openings, closures, and masking.

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It’s National Religious Freedom (For Me, Not for Thee) Day!

Posted on by Jeanne Casteen, Secular AZ Executive Director

Question: how did everyone celebrate National Religious Freedom Day on 1.16.2024?

Me? I went down to the Arizona Capitol because lawmakers reached out to let me know that a bunch of festivities were planned, and Rep. Teresa Martinez (R-LD16) wanted to celebrate religious overreach freedom:

“January 16th is National Religious Freedom Day. 

To celebrate that day we are asking each member to bring their person of faith, clergy, spiritual advisor, priest, pastor, cleric, chaplain, rabbi and bishop to shadow you for the day and be your guest in the Gallery.

 We will be holding a press conference at 11:00am in the Rose Garden to talk about the importance of Religious Freedom and all members are welcome to come.

Please let me know if you have any questions.”

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