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defend religious liberty

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BJC’s Amanda Tyler writes, “Those of us who are Christians profess this hope in the midst of profound grief, but I am asking myself in this fraught time: Are we practicing it?”

defend religious liberty

By Amanda Tyler, Aaron Dorfman, and Jennifer Walker Thomas for Religion News Service

defend religious liberty

By Amanda Tyler for Bloomberg Opinion

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On a 4-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court leaves ban on religious charter schools in Oklahoma in place

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.
Call to action: Federal voucher scheme, other troubling provisions in budget bill worry faith leaders ahead of vote

Call to action: Federal voucher scheme, other troubling provisions in budget bill worry faith leaders ahead of vote

Now is the time for members of Congress to hear from their constituents on a number of concerning provisions in the budget reconciliation bill being hotly debated in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Apache Stronghold wins late reprieve as federal court halts transfer of sacred Oak Flat land to mining company pending Supreme Court review

Apache Stronghold wins late reprieve as federal court halts transfer of sacred Oak Flat land to mining company pending Supreme Court review

The long-running legal dispute over the land known as Chí’chil Biłdagoteel — loosely translated in English as “Oak Flat” — has taken another turn. A federal court halted a planned transfer of the land, which was scheduled to take place as soon as June 16 of this year.

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The most consequential church-state case of this Supreme Court term involves whether the government could – or even must – fund religious charter schools. Amanda and Holly examine key moments in the oral arguments from Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond, playing clips from the courtroom and looking at how the justices may apply recent precedent to shape future law. As BJC noted in the brief we filed, if the government funds religious charter schools, it will drag our government deeper into questions it is unfit to answer on matters of doctrine and church composition. That’s not government neutrality toward religion – that’s religious preference repackaged as educational choice.

Melissa Rogers joins the podcast for a conversation about how each of us can take steps to promote religious freedom and the common good in the United States today. After leading the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Obama and Biden administrations, she shares her inside perspective on government, where we are right now, and how people can truly make an impact. Our religious freedom protects everyone’s right to bring their faith to the public square, and you won’t want to miss this conversation about opportunities we have as Americans to engage government at all levels and express ourselves in the face of injustice. 

On this special bonus episode of the Respecting Religion podcast, we are featuring a conversation that could not wait until our normal release date. In this still-developing story, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was mistakenly removed by the U.S. government from Maryland to El Salvador. His case and series of injustices are not just things that move all of us as people of faith, but there are also profound ramifications of this situation on due process, the rule of law and freedom for everyone living in our country.

There has been no shortage of news from all three branches of government in Washington, D.C., but one thing hasn’t changed: the U.S. Supreme Court continues to be interested in religious liberty cases. On today’s show, Amanda and Holly review the recent oral arguments in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin, which focuses on a religious exemption in the state’s unemployment compensation laws. There are big questions being asked in this case, such as where one draws the lines, how can “religion” be defined, and what is meant – exactly – by the term “proselytization.” Plus, Holly and Amanda take a moment to step back and talk about the current attacks we are seeing on the rule of law in our country. 

African Americans’ knowledge traditions, religious practices, political cultures and ideas are rich resources that facilitate new concepts of religious freedom. On this episode of Respecting Religion, Dr. Sabrina E. Dent and Dr. Corey D. B. Walker join Amanda and Holly to discuss the book they co-edited, African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities. It’s  a collection of essays that provide novel interpretations of religious freedom informed by African American experiences, which are essential for a full public discourse about the topic. First released in the days before the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the second edition includes a new preface addressing the need for religious freedom to undergo a deep interrogation in our perilous times.

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Amanda Tyler testifies to Congress on the threat of Christian nationalism

Amanda Tyler testifies to Congress on the threat of Christian nationalism

Watch a portion of the testimony of Amanda Tyler, executive director of BJC and lead organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, before Congress on October 25, 2023. "To oppose Christian nationalism is not to oppose Christianity," she said.
Meet the 2023 BJC Fellows

Meet the 2023 BJC Fellows

What happens when young professionals from diverse backgrounds gather in Colonial Williamsburg to begin their journey as a BJC Fellow? Hear from the class of 2023 about their experience and what it means to defend faith freedom for everyone.
Introducing the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation

Introducing the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation

The BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation offers a variety of educational programs that expand and deepen our understanding of religious freedom with a broader justice lens.
Is the United States a Christian nation? What does that mean?

Is the United States a Christian nation? What does that mean?

BJC General Counsel Holly Hollman shares about the prevalence of the "Christian nation" myth and a special responsibility Christians have.