Standing Up for Religious Freedom

Don Wagner is no stranger to the fight for religious freedom – but today, Don is the target of the misguided efforts of the left-wing Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and needs your help.

Westphal v. Wagner, filed in 2009 by Americans United on behalf of a group of atheist college professors and anonymous students, targets Wagner, as president of the South Orange County Community College Board of Trustees, for opening district commencement ceremonies, awards ceremonies, and other events with invocations. These well-educated adult plaintiffs argue that they are “offended” and “uncomfortable” listening to a simple invocation before a college ceremony.

It has long been the aim of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State to drive any mention of God from public life, failing to recognize that the U.S. Constitution does not require open hostility to religion. Americans United suffered a major setback to its efforts when Wagner filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that it was legally untenable and should be thrown out in its entirety – and the atheists’ attorneys actually agreed! But then, unwilling to accept the reality of the law, nor the role that God plays in American society, Americans United has rewritten the complaint and filed it again.

The founder of the Orange County Federalist Society, Don is a practicing attorney and has devoted himself to protecting religious freedom. In 2006, he teamed up with John Eastman, Dean of the Chapman University Law School, to fight the ACLU’s attempts to remove the cross from the Los Angeles County seal. In spite of their efforts, the L.A. Board of Supervisors caved in to the ACLU and abandoned the historic L.A. County seal.

Don also worked pro bono on behalf of the Pacific Justice Institute – a nationally recognized charitable organization fighting for religious liberty – in its efforts to defend a school teacher who alleged that she was fired for wearing a Christian religious item.

Don vows to continue the fight for religious freedom and is running for California’s State Assembly to represent the 70th District. Send a message to the ACLU, Americans United, and other atheist groups by making a contribution to Don’s campaign today. We need more faith – and more Don Wagners – in public life.