Agriculture secretary in controversy over Easter email

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins is facing a backlash over a department-wide Easter email that discussed Jesus’ sacrifice for sin and resurrection. A Department of Agriculture spokesperson told WORLD Friday that Rollins was well within her rights to share an Easter message with employees and the general public, just as the USDA leaders who came before her.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a nonprofit focused on church and state separation, penned a letter calling on Rollins to stop using her official communication channel to promote her religious beliefs. The email goes far beyond a simple holiday acknowledgment and constitutes a Christian devotional delivered through an official government channel, FFRF claimed. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause required religious neutrality from the government, so Rollins should refrain from such religious messaging out of respect for the wide range of viewpoints within her department, the group added.

Also, CNN reported that the Office of Special Counsel received the complaint from a USDA employee who characterized the Easter message as a pro-Christianity sermon. The federal office handles formal complaints and protects whistleblowers. 

What did Rollins’ letter say? The Freedom From Religion Foundation released an apparent copy of Rollins’ email on Wednesday. The message, addressed to Team USDA, opened by describing Christ’s resurrection as the greatest story ever told and a cornerstone for faith. No matter the trials and hardships, Christ overcame sin and death, which is a reason to rejoice, she wrote. Rollins hoped everyone would remain alive with hope and enjoy a blessed Easter with loved ones.