Victory for Church:State Separation in Vail

We are thrilled to share a significant victory in our ongoing commitment to uphold the separation of church and state: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has officially canceled its agreement with the Vail Unified School District to construct a religious seminary building on the campus of Cienega High School! 

This outcome is a direct result of action taken by community members like you, coupled with the strategic and determined legal efforts spearheaded by Secular AZ’s Legal Team. Together, you stood firm in defense of the constitutional separation of church and state within Arizona’s public schools. 

This is a pivotal win that resonates far beyond the Vail Unified School District. It sends a clear message to all public school districts in Arizona: taxpayer-funded property should not be used for the construction of religious buildings or the provision of religious instruction. The proposed agreement with the LDS Church would have dangerously blurred the essential boundaries between church and state. Cienega High School is a public institution dedicated to education, not a platform for religious proselytization. 

Secular AZ’s Legal Department initiated its challenge in early 2025, prompted by concerned local residents who alerted us to the formal agreement between the LDS Church and the Vail Unified School District to locate a seminary facility adjacent to Cienega High School on school grounds. This arrangement presented serious constitutional concerns under both the Arizona and U.S. Constitutions, which explicitly prohibit the endorsement or establishment of religion by public entities. Furthermore, it violated the Arizona Constitution’s gift clause and raised legitimate concerns regarding the safety and security of students. 

Secular AZ responded swiftly, issuing legal warnings to the district, clearly outlining the violations of federal and state constitutional and statutory law, and amplifying the well-founded safety and security concerns of local parents. The powerful combination of public pressure from a dedicated and vocal group of Vail residents, amplified by media attention, ultimately led to the cancellation of this inappropriate agreement. 

We want to take this opportunity to remind you that Secular AZ is the only nonprofit organization in Arizona solely dedicated to safeguarding the separation of religion and government. Through proactive legal advocacy, comprehensive public education initiatives, and effective grassroots organizing, Secular AZ tirelessly works to ensure that public policy decisions are grounded in reason, scientific understanding, and fundamental human rights—not in religious doctrine. 

Secular AZ's Legal Department addresses over 50 complaints annually concerning violations of religious freedom across Arizona’s public institutions—from educational settings and city councils to courthouses and beyond. 

Your support empowers Secular AZ in our unwavering commitment to hold government officials accountable, protect civil liberties for all, and educate the public about the growing threats posed by religious extremism in policymaking. 

Thank you for standing up and speaking out to defend the Constitution and the separation of church and state.

SECULAR NEWS FROM AZ AND BEYOND

Religious groups and employment law: A SCOTUS case brought by Catholic Charities claims that it should be able to opt out of a mandatory Wisconsin state unemployment compensation system and instead join a less-expensive alternative church system. Justices from both sides of the ideological spectrum seemed to agree that the states denial of the exemption amounted to discrimination against Catholic Charities.

Parental rights: This week, SCOTUS heard arguments in Mahmoud v Taylor, and the court seems poised to require schools to offer opt-outs for parents who object to books with LGBTQIA+ content in the classroom. The case was brought by six Maryland parents (backed by the Becket Fund, a religious rights advocacy group) and challenges LGBTQIA+-inclusive children's books in public schools. These books were selected by education professionals and are intended for optional use to enhance literacy. The parents argue that not allowing opt-outs violates their religious freedom. This case has the potential to significantly impact book bans nationwide, particularly those targeting LGBTQIA+ narratives, despite opposition to such bans from a majority of the public and the negative impact on education.

This Could Change Everything: This week, SCOTUS will hear St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond, concerning Oklahoma's attempt to establish a religious charter school paid for with tax dollars. This violates the Establishment Clause and the Oklahoma Constitution's church-state clause, but the OK governor and OK Board of Education head Ryan Walters, a prominent Christian nationalist, are pushing for the school's creation. Walters previously advocated for placing "Trump Bibles" in all public school classrooms, created an Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism within the Oklahoma Department of Education, and required schools to include Bible study in curriculum.