Latest News
Written by Don Byrd, these updates bring together the latest news impacting the conversation around religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
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U.S. Supreme Court says Constitution guarantees parents the right to opt out of public school instruction that interferes with religious upbringing of children
In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with parents seeking notice and the opportunity to opt their children out of public school curriculum that conflicts with the parents’ religious beliefs.
Federal appeals court finds Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law unconstitutional as Texas enacts a similar measure
In Roake v. Brumley, Louisiana’s plan to mandate the posting of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom again met a constitutional roadblock.
Unanimous Supreme Court decision focuses on definition of ‘religious purposes’ in giving exemption to Catholic Charities Bureau
In its unanimous decision, the Supreme Court said that Wisconsin’s denial of a religious exemption under the state’s unemployment compensation laws violated the First Amendment rights of Catholic Charities Bureau.
BJC slams new Trump travel ban as a ‘moral failure and a constitutional affront,’ supports NO BAN Act
One of the ugliest policies of the first Trump administration is back: President Donald Trump’s new travel ban prohibits or limits nationals from more than a dozen countries from entering the United States. But, there’s a way for you to oppose this policy.
U.S. Supreme Court declines Oak Flat petition, allows for federal transfer of sacred land to mining company
The fight to save sacred land in the southwest won’t happen at the U.S. Supreme Court – at least, not right now. Over an impassioned dissent, the Court declined to take up the petition of Apache Stronghold challenging the federal government’s transfer of sacred land to a mining company.
On a 4-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court leaves ban on religious charter schools in Oklahoma in place
What was expected to be a major Supreme Court decision thankfully fizzled in a 1-page, unsigned opinion this week that ended a recent push for a religious charter school.
Call to action: Federal voucher scheme, other troubling provisions in budget bill worry faith leaders ahead of vote
Now is the time for members of Congress to hear from their constituents on a number of concerning provisions in the budget reconciliation bill being hotly debated in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Apache Stronghold wins late reprieve as federal court halts transfer of sacred Oak Flat land to mining company pending Supreme Court review
The long-running legal dispute over the land known as Chí’chil Biłdagoteel — loosely translated in English as “Oak Flat” — has taken another turn. A federal court halted a planned transfer of the land, which was scheduled to take place as soon as June 16 of this year.
