McCollum v. Board of Education (1948)
By a 6-1 vote the Supreme Court agreed with Mrs. McCollum, an atheist mother, and disallowed the practice of having religious education to take place in public school classrooms during the school day.Torcaso v. Watkins (1961)
In a unanimous decision, the Court found that Maryland's religious test for public office violated Torcaso's right to religious freedom.Murray v. Curlett (1963)
The Court ruled 8-1 against requiring the recitation of Bible verses and the Lord's Prayer.Florey v. Sioux Falls School District (1980)
Roger Florey, an atheist, filed suit against a local school district's holiday programs, claiming that singing of religious carols during Christmas concerts, like "Silent Night" and "O Come All Ye Faithful," were a violation of the separation of church and state.Ganulin v. United States (1999)
Is it constitutional for the United States government to recognize Christmas as an official paid holiday? Richard Ganulin, an atheist lawyer, argued that it isn't and filed suit, but a U.S. District Court ruled against him.ESA v. Rylander (2001)
A Texas district court ruled that a nontheistic Ethical Culture Society deserved a religious tax exemption. The Court rejected State arguments that religion must be defined by a belief in a "Supreme Being."FFRF v. Faith Works (2002)
A federal district court decides that the state government cannot give direct, unrestricted funding to a "faith based" drug counseling program which also includes a heavy dose of religious indoctrination.Newdow v. U.S. Congress (2002)
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allgiance back in 1954 was unconstitutional.FFRF v. Rhea County Board of Education (2002)
A federal district court decides that a public school cannot have students from the local Bryan College come in to teach Bible classes.
Major Sources:
The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. Kermit L. Hall, ed.
The Oxford Guide to United States Supreme Court Decisions. Kermit L. Hall, ed.
The Godless Court? Supreme Court Decisions on Church-State Relationships. Ronald B. Flowers.
The Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness. Isaac Kramnick & R. Laurence Moore.
The Constitution and Religion: Leading Supreme Court Cases on Church and State. Robert S. Alley
The Supreme Court on Church and State. Robert S. Alley
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