ABSTRACT
The organization dropped the "Protestant and Other" portion of its original name in 1972, reflecting its expansion into all issues concerning church and state, not just those affecting Protestantism. This group blended a number of distinct religious, fraternal, and educational groups, as well as liberal, conservative, and fundamentalist leaders. The organization may be best known for its participation in major church-state cases such as Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 US 602, among others, but members collect information and advocate the constitutional rights of individuals outside of the courtrooms through nonadversarial means. The Americans United pursues a number of strategies of advancing strict separation. It is a major player in the state and federal courts on the church-state issue as it initiates lawsuits; provides legal counsel and support, including legal briefs; and partners in joint lawsuits. The separation is considered to be a safeguard of religious liberty to all people and all churches.
