Written by Don ByrdJudge 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.
Written by Don ByrdOn 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.
Written by Don ByrdSitting en banc, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby, ordering the lower court to consider an injunction barring the government from enforcing the contraception mandate pending the outcome of their lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. Back in December, a panel of the 10th Circuit rejected Hobby Lobby’s request for an injunction after finding the corporation unlikely to succeed in its religious freedom claims. Yesterday’s ruling of the entire appeals court overturns that decision.
Written by Don ByrdIn an op-ed for CGNews, the Baptist Joint Committee’s Holly Hollman and Hoda Elshishtawy of the Muslim Public Affairs Council explain why religious liberty is essential to democracy and provides common ground between them.
Written by Don ByrdSometimes, proponents of religious monuments on government land should be careful what they wish for. As advocates like the Baptist Joint Committee have long warned, the separation of church and state is good for religion. When government gets behind a religious perspective, strings are attached, or worse….
In Montana, via Religion Clause, a lawsuit challenging the propriety of a statue of Jesus on federal land used as a ski resort was dismissed by a trial court Monday, using some disturbing reasoning. The Christ statue in question, the court found, is primarily a secular display.
Written by Don ByrdThe Pew Forum reports that religious freedom has not increased in the Middle East, despite hopes that the Arab Spring would lead to less religious oppression. A new study demonstrates continuing government hostility to religion and an alarming increase in social unrest along religious lines.
Faith.
Freedom.
For All.
The targeting of religious minorities.
The rise of Christian nationalism.
The politicization of houses of worship.
BJC brings people together to tackle today’s serious threats to religious liberty.
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Faith.
Freedom.
For All.
The targeting of religious minorities.
The rise of Christian nationalism.
The politicization of houses of worship.
BJC brings people together to tackle today’s serious threats to religious liberty.