Atheist Monuments to Join Ten Commandments

Written by Don Byrd
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. That’s the new strategy of a group of atheists who object on church-state grounds to Ten Commandments monuments on public land. The New York Times today profiles the effort, which recently erected its first atheist monument in Starke, Florida.

Michigan School District: No Coach Participation Allowed in Student-Led Prayers

Written by Don Byrd
A school district near Detroit has ended the practice of coach involvement in pre-game prayers before high school football games. Following an ACLU complaint, the coach apologized and the Bloomfield Hills school officials sought to clarify the policy does not mean prayer has been banned at the school.

NYTimes: Contraception Mandate Rule is the Right Religious Freedom Balance

Written by Don Byrd
Last week, the Obama Administration issued a final rule governing the contraception coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act. The rule exempts houses of worship, and allows religious institutions like hospitals to avoid the costs of providing such coverage while still requiring insurance companies to provide it for employees. Many employers and religious institutions argue those accommodations do not go far enough, an editorial in today’s New York Times makes the case that the rule hits the right balance.

Judge: Yoga is Not a Church-State Problem

Written by Don Byrd
Judge John Meyer has ruled that yoga is not necessarily a religious exercise. Teaching yoga as it is done in California’s Encinitas School District schools, therefore, does not create a church-state problem.

Obama Administration Issues Final Contraception Mandate Rule

Written by Don Byrd
On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services released the final rule governing the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, the rule adopts the simplified definition of religious organizations proposed in February of that expands the net of organizations exempt from the mandate. The Administration declined to expand further the exemption.