Articles and Resources:
The Administration’s Efforts to Protect Houses of Worship
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security recently launched a new webpage specifically dedicated to providing access to information that supports efforts to secure houses of worship. We encourage you to visit CISA’s new Faith Based Organization-Houses of Worship (FBO-HOW) resource page at HERE.
CISA maintains a nationwide presence through regional offices that consist of personnel, including Protective Security Advisors (PSAs), who can assist in enhancing security at houses of worship and related facilities through assessments, exercises, training, and other tangible capabilities. To find out more about CISA’s resources, please check out their newly released CISA Services Catalog, or reach out to CISA Central with any questions at Central@cisa.gov.
Department of Justice Announces Guidance on Religious Liberty Protections in Grant Programs
Following the Supreme Court’s opinion in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, this week the Department of Justice issued guidance summarizing religious liberty protections applicable to organizations that participate in the Department’s grant programs. The guidance, an initiative of the Department’s Religious Liberty Task Force, reiterates the fundamental premise affirmed by the Supreme Court in Espinoza that “[t]he Free Exercise Clause . . . ‘protects religious observers against unequal treatment’ and against ‘laws that impose special disabilities on the basis of religious status.’” [1] For that reason, absent a compelling government interest, the Department shall not disqualify otherwise eligible recipients from a public benefit solely because of their religious character.
“The Department is pleased to work with a diverse array of organizations, including faith-based organizations, to provide critical services to our communities,” said Claire McCusker Murray, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General and co-Vice-Chair of the Religious Liberty Task Force. “We recognize that faith-based organizations may have questions or concerns about how they can provide these secular services while maintaining their religious character. The guidance released today is intended to answer those questions and help ensure that faith-based organizations can compete on an equal footing with secular organizations for Department grants.”
To view more information, click HERE.
First Lady: ‘Be Best’ is Advocating that Every Child Find a Loving, Safe and Forever Family
“America’s kids need us now more than ever,” First Lady Melania Trump writes. “The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have had a serious impact on America’s children and those who care for them, from parents and teachers to child welfare workers and foster families . . . We are doing all we can to establish commonsense solutions that best serve our children in the welfare system.”
Read The First Lady’s full article HERE
As always, we welcome you to share this information with your networks and communities. Have a blessed and healthy weekend.
Sincerely,
Amanda Robbins
Associate Director
White House Office of Public Liaison