Sportscaster Threatens Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Over Firing

Written by Don Byrd
Former Fox Sports analyst and U.S. Senate candidate Craig James believes he was fired for his religious views. In his campaign, he expressed his beliefs that, essentially, homosexuality is a sin. Fox deemed him a bad fit and ended his employment. He says a lawsuit is coming.

Abercrombie Settles Religious Accommodation Suits

Written by Don Byrd
Following a judicial ruling that the corporation is liable for failing to accommodate a Muslim employee’s need to wear a hijab, Abercrombie & Fitch has settled that case and another involving a Muslim employee.

BJC Urges Supreme Court to Reject Official Prayer at Local Government Meeting

Written by Don Byrd
The Baptist Joint Committee yesterday filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging the court to find unconstitutional official prayer at local government meetings. While the Supreme Court has previously found legislative prayer constitutional in the context of state legislatures, the BJC argues the dynamics of local government meetings are significantly different and should lead to a different outcome.

Here are some highlights from the brief…

Are Legislative Prayers at the Local Level Different?

Written by Don Byrd
In advance of the Supreme Court oral argument in the case of Town of Greece v. Galloway, the Baptist Joint Committee’s Nan Futrell explains why legislative prayer at the local level is different from congressional or state legislative prayer. The Supreme Court in Marsh upheld legislative prayers in certain conditions and settings. Do the unique elements of local government meetings warrant a different outcome?

Quote of the Day: Diversity and the Public Square

Written by Don Byrd
Christianity Today interviews author Os Guinness regarding his new book, “The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of World Safe for Diversity.” Here is a clip in which he explains what he means by diversity, and the role religious freedom plays in maintaining it.

House Legislation Tries to Insulate Religious Groups from Discrimination Charges

Written by Don Byrd
A bill proposed in the House of Representatives tries to protect nonprofit organizations, including religious groups from IRS or other government scrutiny for discriminating against same-sex spouses. The Supreme Court’s ruled this summer requiring the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages. The ramifications of that opinion for agency decisions across the federal government are not yet fully known.