Decision time: Supreme Court will soon rule on gay rights, gerrymandering, unions
The Supreme Court is heading into the final month of its term, facing decisions on gerrymandering, unions, gay rights, abortion and President Trump’s travel ban.
Religious Liberty
Trump Religious Freedom Order Helps Charities Serve Over 13.7 Million in Need, Analysis Finds
Over 13.7 million people have been provided with health care and other social services offered by faith-based organizations this past year thanks to President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order protecting religious liberty last year, a new analysis has found.
Christian college wins battle with HHS over birth control mandate
A district court ruled that the federal government can’t force a small Christian college to provide reproductive services such as the morning-after pill in its healthcare plans because it violates the college’s religious beliefs.
Pro-life Advocates Win Court Victory in Free Speech Case
On January 29, 2018, a federal judge told participants in a lawsuit forcing pro-life sidewalk counselors to defend themselves against harassment charges, that leafletting is a “form of really protected speech,” and that sidewalks are recognized as the “quintessential public forum.” The words from the bench underscored the arguments of Thomas More Society Special Counsel Martin Cannon. Cannon is defending a group of pro-life advocates who are being charged by New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman in a federal lawsuit that accuses them of threats and violence against abortion clinic patients.
Supreme Court declines to review Mississippi religious liberty law
The Supreme Court announced Monday it would not hear cases challenging a Mississippi law that allows religious organizations to refuse to hire persons or provide services in situations that run afoul of their sincerely held religious beliefs.
Louisiana Says Students Have Right to Pray, Read Bible in Public Schools
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., have released the Louisiana Students Rights Review, a 15-page guide that explains the religious freedom rightsof teachers and students in public schools.
Christians killed globally for faith at Christmas
The deaths of nearly 150 Christians have been reported in targeted attacks on religious minorities in Nigeria, Cairo and India during the 2017 Christmas season, according to various reports from religious liberty advocates and news agencies.
‘Wake-up Call for Christians’: A Call to Prayer for Major Religious Liberty Supreme Court Case
Same-sex marriage advocates see Christian baker Jack Phillips’ actions as discrimination. People of faith say his case is a matter of freedom of conscience.
Christian Lawmakers Working to Keep Free Speech, Charitable Contributions in Tax Plan
In a victory for religious liberty advocates, the House voted to include a repeal of the Johnson Amendment in their tax cut bill that passed the House Thursday.
Evangelicals Urge Trump to Protect Immigrants, Families in ‘Temporary Protected Status’ Program
An evangelical coalition that lobbies for immigration reform has asked the Trump administration to extend the ‘Temporary Protected Status’ program for four nations.
Sessions outlines broad exemptions for religious freedom
Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued government-wide legal guidance Friday that urges sweeping protection for religious freedom and could impact a series of pending policy decisions involving health care, LGBT rights and even disaster relief.
‘Attacks on Religious Liberty’ in US Increased 133 Percent in Last 5 Years: Report
A new report released by a prominent religious liberty advocacy organization claims that there has been a 133 percent increase in domestic “attacks on religious liberty” in the last five years and about a 15 percent increase in attacks on religious liberty in the last year.
Religious liberty battles may take center stage in Supreme Court’s new term
A flurry of religious liberty challenges headed toward the Supreme Court in its upcoming term could leave a lasting mark on American law for years to come.
Evangelicals reveal ‘unprecedented’ levels of access in Trump White House
Evangelicals have ‘unprecedented’ levels of influence and access into Donald Trump’s White House, meeting foreign ambassadors and influencing high-level decisions from choosing senior personnel to consulting on policy, one adviser is claiming.
US Supreme Court Ruling Protects Religious Freedom for All Faiths
In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court Monday affirmed the freedom of Americans to pray according to their own beliefs at public meetings in the landmark religious freedom case Town of Greece v. Galloway.
Eritrea even persecutes ‘official’ Christians
Eritrea even persecutes its own officially recognized religions.
Just last week, five Christians about to be ordained in Eritrea’s state sanctioned Evangelical Lutheran Church were arrested instead, according to Morning Star News.
Christians in CAR threatened by Islamists
More than four months after Islamic rebels seized control of the Christian-majority Central African Republic (CAR), many non-Muslims are now faced with the prospect of being forced to live under Islamic law, according to Morning Star News.
Eritrea Punishes Christians for their Faith
Eritrean authorities are punishing 39 Christian high school students by subjecting them to beatings and hard labor, according to Open Doors.
Russian Mission Group Warns Of Crackdown On Evangelicals; Anti-Putin Protesters Gather
As protesters demanding more freedom and fair elections prepared to demonstrate in freezing temperatures in Moscow Saturday, February 4, a major Russian mission group warned of more difficulties for evangelical Christians and other, religious, minorities in Russia and other former Soviet Union nations.
Uzbek Christians Suffer as Regime Tightens Noose
At least four incidents of Christian persecution were reported from the former Soviet country of Uzbekistan this week. According to an analysis and report researched and written by Fernando Perez for the World Evangelical Alliance – Religious Liberty Commission, a Christian woman was beaten into concussion, another woman was fined $1,465 by a court for giving the New Testament to a child, a Christian man was threatened with axe attack by a police official and another man was assaulted by police.