China Rebuffs Religious Freedom Ambassador, Denies Visa

Written by Don Byrd
When I read a few weeks ago that Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, the U.S. Religious Freedom Ambassador at Large, was planning a trip to China, I was surprised the story hadn’t made more news. After all, advocates have been pretty tough on the Obama Adminstration – as on the Bush Administration – for not raising religious liberty concerns with China more publicly. Dr. Cook planned to meet with Chinese officials to discuss those issues explicitly.

Supreme Court lets prayer decisions stand

Written by K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
Recent decisions reflect a proper application of religious liberty case law, recognizing that sectarian prayers by public officials undermine religious liberty and degrade religion by entangling it with government. The Supreme Court was right to deny the public officials’ request for review — in one case, a school board, and in another, a county board of commissioners.

6th Circuit Rules for Religious Speakers over Festival Restriction

Written by Don Byrd
Via Religion Clause, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the Fairborn, Ohio’s Sweet Corn Festival may not prohibit attendees from soliciting for causes, including religious proselytizing. The involvement of the city in hosting and promoting the free, public event, the Court argues, makes the rules of the fair a state action, barred by the First Amendment from limiting speech in that way.

Judge in TX Prayer Settlement Responds to Criticism

Written by Don Byrd
You may remember recent reference to Fred Biery, a District Court Judge in Texas who has been vilified by presidential candidate Newt Gingrich over his rulings in a graduation prayer dispute. His method of enforcing church-state separation so offended Gingrich that he used Biery as Exhibit A in his plan to have judges arrested and brought before Congress to explain themselves for such rulings.