Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!

The Church and State Debate

Many use the First Amendment to argue their notion of religious liberty, which is defined as both freedom from government involvement in religion and freedom to practice one’s faith.  But disagreements abound over these matters, whether it’s prayer at public meetings, polling places at churches, or substituting the term “holiday” for Christmas. Today, experts on both sides debate church and state.

Guests

  • Barry W. Lynn - Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, an organization dedicated to preserving the Constitution’s religious liberty provisions. He is also an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He is in the state to speak at the NH Civil Liberty Union's annual Bill of Rights dinner.
  • Hiram Sasser - Director of Litigation for Liberty Institute, a non-profit law firm dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America. Some of the Institute's prominent cases include representing veterans groups who objected to the removal of a cross at a memorial site in the Mojave Desert.

Laura is well known in New Hampshire for her in-depth coverage of important issues and is widely regarded for her interviews with presidential hopefuls. Laura is a graduate of Keene High School in New Hampshire. Prior to hosting The Exchange, Laura worked in public radio in Washington, D.C. as a local reporter and announcer for WAMU and as a newscaster for NPR. Before her radio career, she was a researcher for USA Today's "Money" section, and a research assistant at the Institute for International Economics. Laura occasionally guest hosts national programs such as The Diane Rehm Show and Here and Now. In 2007 Laura was named New Hampshire Broadcaster of the Year by the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters.
Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.