Today, Advocates for Faith and Freedom, together with North Carolina Values Institute, filed an amicus curiae brief in the Chiles v. Salazar case, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case which challenges Colorado’s “Censorship Law” for licensed counselors. This law targets faith-based counseling practices by prohibiting speech that aligns with traditional, religious values regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. Yet, the same law allows, and even encourages, conversations that the government favors regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.  Such blatant viewpoint discrimination violates the First Amendment’s protections for free speech and religious liberty.

Colorado’s law compels counselors to suppress their deeply held beliefs, forcing faith-based professionals to choose between their livelihoods and their faith. Counseling is a profession that uniquely touches religion. Religion and counseling both involve speech, thoughts, emotions, conduct, conscience, morality, and values. Counselors are not robots, and values cannot be extracted from counseling. Persons who seek counseling are best served by a system that incorporates respect for the values and conscience of both counselor and counselee. Colorado’s unconstitutional law fails to do so.

Advocates for Faith and Freedom is committed to protecting the foundational freedoms of speech and religion, ensuring counselors can serve their clients without compromising their faith. This case represents a critical moment for the Supreme Court to reaffirm constitutional principles and safeguard the rights of people of faith.

Thank you for standing with us as we defend these essential freedoms.

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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.

Press Release | Charges Against a California Street Pastor Dropped by District Attorney

ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2024

CONTACT: Nicole Velasco
NVELASCO@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM

Murrieta, CA— In a victory for free speech and religious liberty, the San Bernardino County District Attorney has dismissed all charges against Arturo Fernandez, a California street preacher arrested while peacefully preaching outside a public events arena in Ontario, California. Pastor Fernandez was unlawfully charged with trespassing despite remaining on a public sidewalk, conducting himself lawfully, and exercising his First Amendment rights.

The arrest occurred after a security guard, acting on behalf of a private entity using the city-owned arena, objected to Pastor Fernandez’s preaching and instructed him to leave. When Pastor Fernandez respectfully asserted his constitutional right to free speech on public property, the Ontario Police Department arrested him, booked him into jail, and charged him with trespassing.

Advocates for Faith & Freedom immediately issued demand letters to the Ontario Police Department and to the District Attorney, urging the dismissal of the baseless charge. Following the dismissal of the charge, the arena issued a statement that they “regret the initial issuance of the Citation” against Pastor Fernandez.

“This dismissal is a victory for free speech and religious expression,” said Julianne Fleischer, an attorney with Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “Pastor Fernandez was peacefully exercising his God-given and constitutionally protected rights to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While we have the utmost respect for the men and women in law enforcement, no government entity has the right to silence lawful public preaching.”

This case underscores hostility toward public expressions of faith in America. Advocates for Faith & Freedom remains committed to defending individuals like Pastor Fernandez, ensuring their voices are not silenced in the public square.

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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.

Press Release | Church Under Attack for Lawful Ballot Collection

ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: mONDAY, nOVEMBER 25, 2024

CONTACT: Nicole Velasco
NVELASCO@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM

Red Bluff, CA – Earlier this month, Pastor Greg Phelps and his church, Calvary Chapel Red Bluff, became the target of misleading allegations and sensationalist media coverage following their participation in lawful ballot collection during the recent election. The church, like many others, offered its congregation a convenient way to exercise their voting rights in full compliance with California’s laws. Despite this, media outlets such as the SF Gate have unfairly sought to paint this civic-minded initiative as questionable or improper.

The facts tell a different story. After meeting with the Tehama County District Attorney and Registrar of Voters, it was unequivocally confirmed that no laws were broken, no case exists, and there is no pending investigation. Pastor Phelps and his church strictly adhered to the legal procedures established by the state, which explicitly allows organizations, including churches, to engage in ballot collection. These laws, originally championed by progressive lawmakers, were designed to improve voter participation and accessibility.

“Churches like ours exist to serve the community, and that includes empowering our congregation to participate in the democratic process,” said Pastor Greg Phelps. “We just want to serve our people and positively affect our community. We will not be silenced or deterred by those who seek to distort our intentions.”

The media’s attacks are emblematic of a broader trend to vilify faith-based organizations that engage in lawful, civic-minded activities. These baseless accusations are not just a disservice to the church but also an attack on the democratic principles that ballot collection laws were designed to protect.

It is imperative to highlight that ballot collection is entirely legal and serves as a critical service to those unable to deliver their ballots directly. By following the law and fostering participation, the church demonstrated its commitment to civic engagement and the betterment of its community.

“Faith-based organizations must not be pressured or intimidated into abandoning their constitutionally protected rights,” said Advocates attorney, Robert Tyler. “The law applies equally to all groups, whether secular or religious, and these unfounded attacks against churches simply exercising their legal rights must come to an end.”

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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.