Do Polling Places in Church Affect Voting Behavior?

Written by Don Byrd
Via Religion Clause , a new study published by the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion (who knew there was such a thing?) concludes that in the presence of church buildings, respondents are more likely to indicate a politically and socially conservative viewpoint, than when in sight of a government building, where they are less likely to do so.

7th Circuit Allows Prison Dreadlocks Case to Go Forward

Written by Don Byrd
I’m a little late to this, but on Friday the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a suit in which a prisoner claimed the requirement that he cut his dreadlocks violated his religious freedom rights. Prison officials determined that Omar Grayson’s religion, African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, does not in fact prohibit hair-cutting, but the Appeals Court said the prison’s policy is inappropriate

Judge Affirms Indiana’s School Voucher Program

Written by Don Byrd
An Indiana judge has rejected the argument that the state’s school voucher system improperly violates the separation of church and state by sending taxpayer funds to religious schools.

Kentucky Court Jails Amish Offenders

Written by Don Byrd
The Graves County District Court in Western Kentucky sentenced the first of a group Amish men convicted of violating state safety statutes to 10 days in jail yesterday. The men have refused to pay a fine for the infraction.