The group American Atheists has ranked Alabama one of the worst states for religious equality, according to a report it released today.

“Religious equality is under attack in Alabama,” said Alison Gill, American Atheists’ Vice President for Legal and Policy, who authored the report. “The state’s near-total abortion ban forces one particular religious view of reproductive health on every Alabaman woman. Sadly, Alabama schools let students receive credit for outside religious instruction but do not provide comprehensive, scientifically accurate sex education. Alabama lawmakers are more interested in imposing their religious views on citizens than protecting equality for everyone.”

The group’s 2019 “State of the Secular States” report, an analysis of state laws and policies, released today, ranks Alabama as worst, alongside Kentucky, Arkansas and Arizona in terms of religious equality as determined by American Atheists.

“The 2019 State of the Secular States provides a roadmap to fight Christian Nationalism and promote religious equality,” said Samantha McGuire, American Atheists’ National Field Director. “To be successful in 2020 and beyond, activists and legislators should make use of this powerful resource and demand equality from their elected officials.”

In Alabama, dangerous religious exemptions endanger children by shielding faith healers, impeding vaccination, and allowing discrimination in foster care and adoption, Gill said.

In 2019, the state passed a law encouraging public schools to offer Bible classes.

“More often than not, these Bible classes end up resembling Sunday school rather than public school because schools fail to meet the constitutional requirement to teach them in a secular way,” Gill said.