Written by Don Byrd
Earlier this year, the U.S. Military revoked a license granted in 2003 allowing LifeWay Publishing to sell Bibles targeting military personnel with the official seal of each branch engraved on the front. It makes sense to discard this policy, right? The use of military seals to promote a particular religious text smacks of favoritism. At the very least, they would have to permit sacred text publishers of all faiths the same license. …
Written by Don Byrd
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today vetoed a bill that attempts to exempt any business from the requirement to provide contraception coverage in health insurance if the practice violated the employer’s religious beliefs. I say “attempts to” because …
Written by Don Byrd
Earlier this week, President Obama was asked his response to the view that health care mandates — specifically the contraception coverage requirement — conflict with religious liberty. Think Progress has the exchange with a New Orleans TV reporter:
Written by Don Byrd
Florida’s SB 98 became law with plenty of fanfare earlier this year, but school districts are not keen on putting lawmakers’ vision into place. The bill empowers school districts to allow students to deliver “inspirational messages” at school events, provided they are not led by faculty or staff. So far, though, the option is being ignored.
Written by Don Byrd
As Simon Brown reminds us over at AU’s Wall of Separation, among high school science teacher John Freshwater’s questionable decisions was to burn a cross into a student’s arm to demonstrate the properties of a Tesla coil. The State concluded that Freshwater had been teaching creationism and otherwise injecting his religious beliefs into his class, and fired him as a result of those findings. …
Written by Don Byrd
A smart piece in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel explores the role of faith in an increasingly polarized political society at election time. Discussing the issues of the day can divide and alienate a congregation. …
