Tornado coverage highlights voluntary religion and diversity

By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
While conflicts over the role of religion in society will persist, we are fortunate. Our country protects religious freedom and preserves the religious peace by keeping the government out of the religion business, protecting the rights of the religious and non-religious alike.

From the June 2013 Report from the Capital

Religious liberty and same-sex marriage

By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
Many conversations about religious liberty and same-sex marriage are oversimplified. Too often what is lost in these understandably impassioned battles are the striking similarities between the claims of each side.

From the May 2013 Report from the Capital

Free exercise standards increasingly debated

By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
While it is not surprising that RFRA — like religious liberty in general — is more popular in principle than in its specific applications, research suggests that even among states that have enacted some version of RFRA, there has been scant litigation testing the statutes’ application to various types of claims.

From the April 2013 Report from the Capital

Administrative rulemaking is essential component

By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
After harsh criticism, dozens of lawsuits and heated debate challenging its rules on mandated contraceptive care coverage, the Obama administration announced Feb. 1 “the next step” in providing no-cost preventive care for women, while respecting the religious concerns of their employers. It is clear that the highly-anticipated proposed regulations won’t yet bring the controversy to an end.

From the February 2013 Report from the Capital

Government interests and religious objections

By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
Now that the presidential election of 2012 is over, perhaps we will hear fewer claims that religious liberty is under attack. There is little evidence that such rhetoric affected the election’s outcome, but there are plenty of worries that the public’s understanding of religious liberty has been harmed.

From the November/December 2012 Report from the Capital

Celebration of a new beginning highlights the BJC’s collaborative work

By K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
With the opening of the Center for Religious Liberty, the BJC is poised to strengthen its advocacy in the nation’s capital and beyond. As we celebrate this new beginning, we also rededicate ourselves to our mission and to expanding our reach in the future.