Too much church-state news out there to choose from today. Here are some quick hits.
The briefs are in! You can access all friend-of-the-court briefs in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, scheduled for Supreme Court hearing in April, at ScotusWiki here. The Baptist Joint Committee filed a brief on behalf of neither party. Read my Q&A with General Counsel K. Hollyn Hollman, explaining the BJC's position and concerns, here.
Associated Baptist Press' Rob Marus rounds up Baptist response to the Texas Board of Education's proposed changes to the Social Studies curriculum, including the change they refused to make: a requirement to teach about the Establishment Clause. Included in his reporting are quotes from former BJC staffer Stephen Reeves, now with the Texas Christian Life Commission.
A new Washington Post article on the Texas curriculum issue adds the perspective of historians worried about inaccuracies in the new standards. Also, maybe their changes wouldn't impact textbooks nationwide as has been the concern?
Religion Clause's Howard Friedman notes that a recent 9th Circuit decision establishes a new legal test to determine whether a person qualifies as a minister, for purposes of a ministerial exception to discrimination laws.
David Waters writes on the 9th Circuit's "Under God" and "In God We Trust" decisions, asking an important question: "should people of faith be concerned about any branch of government's decision to downgrade God from religious to patriotic?"
