Wisconsin School Board Backs Away From Sacred Music Rule After Outcry

Written by Don Byrd
In Wausau County, Wisconsin, a dispute is growing louder over the school district’s recent decision to limit the amount of sacred music that can be performed at school concerts. As a result of the new rules, concerts were cancelled and one popular school choir was temporarily placed on hiatus. As you might expect, the move has angered some community members and organizations, with typical battle lines being drawn. The Alliance Defending Freedom wrote a letter decrying the Board’s move and urging them to undo it, explaining that the First Amendment does not require such an extreme effort to keep sacred music out of school concerts. Meanwhile, the Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote praising the Board’s decision and urging them to stand strong in the face of inevitable public pressures.

Wisconsin RFRA Amendment May Go Too Far

Written by Don Byrd
An editorial in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Badger Herald argues the state’s proposed Religious Freedom Amendment – a state version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act – would disrupt the balance of religious freedom protections already in place. Quoting the Baptist Joint Committee’s Nan Futrell commenting on a state RFRA proposal similar to Wisconsin’s, law student Aaron Loudenslager warns that the Wisconsin threshold for claims under the amendment may be too permissive.

Appeals Court: Prisoners Must Give Atheist Inmates a Fair Chance

Written by Don Byrd
On Friday, the 7th Circuit ruled that prison officials must treat fairly atheist prisoner requests for religious study groups dedicated to atheism. Overturning the trial court’s dismissal of the inmate James Kaufmann’s case, the appeals court said atheists must be given a chance to demonstrate there are enough of them to warrant creation of a group.

Wisconsin Legislature to Consider Religious Freedom Amendment

Written by Don Byrd
A constitutional amendment proposed in the Wisconsin legislature would add Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) language to the state’s religious freedom guarantees. RFRAs have been enacted in several states to require the government to demonstrate a compelling interest to justify any substantial burden on religious exercise. The proposed amendment in Wisconsin, however, does not require the burden to be substantial.