New Book From BJC’s Walker Released

Written by Don Byrd
A new book explaining the basic issues and central importance of church-state separation from the Baptist perspective is now available! The book, What a Touchy Subject! Religious Liberty and Church-State Separation, is a compilation of last year’s Shurden Lectures, delivered by the Baptist Joint Committee’s Executive Director, Brent Walker. It also includes material on the BJC, and essays on the intersection of religion and politics.

You can find the book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or as an e-book at nurturingfaith.net.

Mississippi House Delays Final Action on Religious Freedom Bill

Written by Don Byrd
Last week, I posted about the effort in the Mississippi legislature to adopt a Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Unfortunately, in recent months, state RFRA proposals have become increasingly controversial, partly because the language of many of the bills strays too far from the careful safeguards in the federal version, and partly due to the extreme rhetoric from both advocates and opponents.

Perhaps in response to the intense debate, the Mississippi House earlier today voted to send the measure back to be studied by committees, rather than voting on the bill itself.

U.S. House Approves Religious Exemption Amendment to Health Care Law

Written by Don Byrd
The U.S. House yesterday sent a measure to the Senate that amends the religious exemption from the Affordable Care Act’s individual coverage mandate. As currently written, the ACA exempts an individual that is a “member of a recognized religious sect… and an adherent of established tenets… by reason of which he is conscientiously opposed to acceptance of the benefits of any public or private insurance.” This allows members of faiths that object to medical treatment on religious grounds avoid having to purchase insurance.

The Hill’s Floor Action blog explains how the House amendment would broaden that exemption…