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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Bills promoting religion in public schools are advancing in the Texas legislature
The Texas state Senate passed four measures in April related to religion in public schools, some of which are raising significant religious liberty concerns for public school students and their parents.
Supreme Court hears oral argument in dispute over workplace religious accommodations
Justices questioning Groff’s attorney explained their concern about overturning a previous court ruling interpreting a statute that Congress could change if it desired. In other words, they seemed more interested in defending the principle of statutory stare decisis than they were defending the “more than de minimis” standard established in Hardison.
Appeals court rules emotional harm to students and disruptions in learning are ‘undue hardships,’ justifying a refusal to accommodate a teacher’s religious beliefs
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an Indiana high school music teacher’s claim that his dismissal for refusing to use transgender students’ preferred names and pronouns violated his religious liberty rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
U.S. House rejects nationwide school voucher amendment 311-113, while states continue to enact voucher programs
A strong, bipartisan majority defeated a problematic voucher amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 5).
BJC supports Biden administration restoring religious liberty protections to beneficiaries of government-funded services
BJC filed comments in support of the regulations proposed by nine federal agencies that restore religious liberty protections to individuals who receive taxpayer-funded services.
BJC urges SCOTUS to strengthen workplace religious accommodations under Civil Rights Act of 1964
In a brief filed in Groff v. DeJoy, BJC joined other groups in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that employers can deny a religious accommodation request only if it will impose a “significant difficulty or expense.”
A quick look at religious freedom bills proposed in Georgia, Texas and South Carolina
As state legislative sessions are in full swing across the country, several are considering bills on issues related to religious liberty.
New Study: 68% of Americans disagree with Christian nationalism beliefs
A solid majority of Americans disagree with beliefs associated with Christian nationalism, according to a new survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and Brookings.
State appeals court rules against Masterpiece Cakeshop in yet another Colorado anti-discrimination case
A Colorado appeals court ruled in favor of customer Autumn Scardina, who filed suit against Masterpiece Cakeshop under the CADA law for refusing to make her a pink birthday cake with blue frosting.
U.S. Supreme Court to review threshold for when employers must accommodate an employee’s religious practices
Gerald Groff is a postal worker who faced discipline after refusing to work on Sundays in accordance with his faith. He filed suit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts, which bars employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of religion.
