MORE ARTICLES FROM ‘Religion In Public Life News’
Md. governor signs bill legalizing gay marriage
‘Religious freedom was the very reason for our state’s founding and at the heart of religious freedom is the freedom of individual conscience,’ Martin O’Malley said.
2nd Circuit allows churches’ access to NYC public schools
Appeals panel also urges judge to make a final decision in Bronx Household of Faith case by mid-June so issue can be resolved by next school year.
Federal judge allows NYC churches access to public schools
City officials say they will appeal, guaranteeing that a case that has gone back and forth for 17 years will continue.
Colleges work to balance gay, religious rights
Christian Legal Society attorney says groups shouldn’t be asked, and high court ruling doesn’t require them, to erase religious identities to comply with nondiscrimination codes.
Wash. state can’t make pharmacies sell Plan B
Federal judge says state’s true goal was to suppress religious objections by druggists who believe that emergency contraceptives can have an effect tantamount to abortion.
NYPD built secret databases on Muslims in N.J., Long Island
Newark Mayor Cory Booker said he never authorized the spying and was never told about it.
Utah pays $388K to resolve roadside-crosses case
Highway Patrol Association also has taken down the crosses honoring Utah troopers killed in the line of duty and plans to move them to nearby private land with the owners’ permission.
Bronx church can keep meeting at NYC school for now
Federal judge says church is likely to win its latest challenge to the city’s ban on using public schools for worship services; city attorney says he’ll appeal to the 2nd Circuit, which last year upheld the ban.
Mosque foe leads Tenn. sheriff training on Islam
During an anti-Shariah law conference last year, John Guandolo said local mosques were front organizations for the Muslim Brotherhood.
6th Circuit rules in favor of Christian leafleters
Court finds anti-solicitation policy at southwest Ohio corn festival unconstitutionally broad.
Top Republicans want vote on birth-control mandate
Sen. Mitch McConnell says he’ll push to overturn requirement because it is another example of government meddling.
Amish man’s letters sway Ky. lawmakers on buggy issue
Senate unanimously endorses allowing Amish to use reflective tape on their horse-drawn buggies after receiving 138 individual, handwritten letters, which one Senator said could be the best example of ‘citizen advocacy’ he’s seen.
11th Circuit rejects ex-CDC counselor’s religious claim
Judges say Marcia Walden, who refused to advise woman in same-sex relationship, can’t sue agency or contractor because company sought other ways to accommodate her beliefs.
Federal judge allows polygamy challenge to proceed
Family featured in reality show ‘Sister Wives’ claims Utah’s bigamy statute violates its rights to due process, equal protection, free exercise of religion, free speech and freedom of association.
Iowa high court overturns Mennonite’s steel-wheel citation
Justices say Mitchell County’s goal of road preservation can be accomplished less restrictively without banning the tractors used by the Mennonites.
Note: We cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer/First Amendment Center. Previously, Paulson served as editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today and USATODAY.com.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is a scholar at the First Amendment Center. Hudson writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications devoted to First Amendment issues.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
