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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Newly enacted national school voucher program undermines ‘both public schools and religious freedom’
The national school voucher program in the new law is disguised as a tax credit scheme. It makes a mockery of our Founders’ principled opposition to forcing taxpayer support of religion.
IRS announces new policy regarding houses of worship and endorsement of political candidates in settlement of lawsuit challenge
The IRS has refrained from enforcing the ban on church electioneering in recent years. This announcement makes it official with respect to houses of worship while keeping the so-called “Johnson Amendment,” that portion of the tax code that prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from opposing or endorsing candidates for office, intact.
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.
