AZ State Senate Passes Religious Conscience Bill

Written by Don Byrd
Arizona’s Senate has passed a freedom of conscience measure in response to the contraception coverage controversy. The debate centered on whether such extensive protections were necessary, and whether they would create unintended protections.

March Madness? Jewish High School in Texas Denied Sports Team Accommodation

Written by Don Byrd
Congrats to the Beren Academy boys basketball team in Houston, Texas, for making it to the state semifinals in the Texas Private and Parochial School championship. Now for the bad news: the Beren Academy team won’t be allowed to play in the semis because the state association refuses to move the game to a time when the Jewish school can play.

Reviews of Santorum Church-State Views Not Pretty

Written by Don Byrd
Presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s views on church-state separation, and on JFK’s famous speech on the topic to Houston’s Baptist ministers, is finally getting the scrutiny it deserves.

Santorum Discusses Church-State Views

Written by Don Byrd
Long time readers of this blog will remember that presidential hopeful Rick Santorum (R-PA) has criticized on numerous occasions the famous church-state speech given by then-candidate John F. Kennedy. In the context of explaining that he would not be controlled by the Vatican, JFK remarked that he believes the separation of church and state is “absolute.” Santorum’s rejection of that historic moment has finally brought significant attention.

Florida Court Upholds Lakeland Commission Prayer Policy

Written by Don Byrd
With one recent exception, courts have been fairly consistent in analyzing challenges to legislative invocations. The U.S. Supreme Court in Marsh set the standard by affirming the Nebraska legislature’s practice of opening sessions with prayer, but the Court emphasized in Alleghany that the nonsectarian nature of those particular prayers is what made them acceptable.