Recent News & Columns
Here are recent columns and news items from the Baptist Joint Committee. Visit our blog and read our monthly magazine, Report from the Capital, to stay current on all religious liberty news. You can also read our press releases online.
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Can free parking be a church ministry? Federal court in Florida says yes
A federal court in Florida sided with a community church in St. Pete Beach in a dispute over the congregation offering free parking to the public.
U.S. Supreme Court declines to intervene in Nevada COVID restriction case, sends death row chaplain case back to lower court
New orders issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday addressed two cases of religious liberty interest: one about a death row inmate in Texas and the other about a challenge to Nevada’s worship service COVID restrictions.
Watch a recording of the conversation on Christian nationalism
Biden reverses travel ban on first day in ‘victory for faith freedom’
In one of his first official actions, President Joe Biden reversed one of the most troubling, controversial, and highly litigated policies of his predecessor: the Muslim and African travel ban.
Shift in balance at U.S. Supreme Court alters trajectory of COVID-related worship restriction cases
The Supreme Court’s latest order underscores a broader shift in COVID-related religious liberty jurisprudence across the country as courts apply the November decision in Agudeth Israel of America v. Cuomo.
BJC statement on January 6
At this time of crisis for our country — when the value of truth itself is in serious jeopardy — we are compelled to speak the truth as a sign of our love for God and our love for our neighbors.
In waning days of Trump presidency, Department of Health and Human Services undercuts religious liberty protections in new final rule
This final rule would allow religious discrimination to take place across the country.
Christian nationalism on display as mob storms Capitol
The mob that overtook the Capitol building during a day of unprecedented violence on American democracy entered our halls of government while plainly adorned with signs of Christian nationalism.
COVID updates: NY congregation limits halted, MI’s school mask requirements remain in place, new COVID funding
Before we mercifully close the book on 2020, here are some developments in religious liberty stories related to COVID-19 that took place in the last part of December.
Top 10 religious liberty stories of 2020
Like every other area of human life, the coronavirus pandemic dominated religious liberty discussions this year. Here’s my list of the top 10 religious liberty developments this year, with the caveat that – being that this is 2020 – the year is not over yet.