Constitution
My high school’s Muslim prayer room was a lesson in religious freedom
By Hiba Siddiqi — April 17, 2017
(RNS) The Muslim prayer room at Hiba Siddiqi's public Texas high school was not only tolerated by her fellow students, it was a tangible lesson in religious tolerance.
The ‘Splainer: Does Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ flout the law?
By Lauren Markoe — February 2, 2017
(RNS) Plaintiffs argue that the president's executive order amounts to religious discrimination. But whether they'll be able to convince the courts is an open question.
King’s birthday is not the only thing worth celebrating on Jan. 16
By Frederick Clarkson — January 12, 2017
(RNS) The Virginia Statute, authored by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and shepherded through the Legislature by James Madison in 1786, made the state the first in history to ensure complete religious freedom and equality.
Children on Christian or Secular swings?
By Martin E. Marty — October 25, 2016
The Founders solved the religion problem by not solving the religious problem, which is why we still have to debate it each year.
Preserving the public middle ground on religious liberty, LGBT issues
By Jennifer A. Marshall — September 2, 2016
(RNS) Some say that when it comes to LGBT issues, there is no middle ground. Not true, says Jennifer A. Marshall: 'the United States was made for this.'
The First Amendment Defense Act is actually bad for religious freedom
By Barry Lynn — July 12, 2016
WASHINGTON (RNS) The FADA is just the latest example of a troubling pattern of corruption of the noble concept of the freedom of religion and belief.
Leaders urge Mexico’s Mormons to fight against same-sex marriage
By Yonat Shimron — June 2, 2016
SALT LAKE CITY — 'The family is ordained of God and marriage between man and woman is essential to his eternal plan,' said the letter, reaffirming the Mormons' longstanding stance against gay unions.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is discriminatory. Let’s fix it
By guest — May 18, 2016
(RNS) RFRA is being used as a vehicle for institutions and individuals to argue that their faith justifies myriad harms -- to equality, to dignity, to health and to core American values. This is wrong.
Help Wanted: President of the United States
By David P. Gushee — May 9, 2016
If interested, please make your candidacy known at the earliest possible moment.
Arkansas judge tells state to recognize hundreds of same-sex marriages
By Reuters — June 10, 2015
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) Arkansas must recognize as lawful some 500 same-sex marriages that were performed during a six-day window in May 2014, a state judge ruled on Tuesday.
Presbyterian Church (USA) approves same-sex marriage amendment
By Reuters — March 17, 2015
(Reuters) A majority of the 171 regional "presbyteries," or local leadership bodies of the church, have now voted to change the wording of the constitution to define marriage as a commitment "between two people, traditionally a man and a woman."
German Catholics petition Schleswig-Holstein state to reinstate God in constitution
By Luigi Serenelli — October 14, 2014
BERLIN (RNS) The Schleswig-Holstein parliament voted with a two-thirds majority to exclude mention of God from the new constitution, becoming the seventh of 16 German states to do so.
Five takeaways from the Hobby Lobby case
By Lauren Markoe — June 30, 2014
(RNS) Corporations can't pray, but they do have religious rights -- and other takeaways from the Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.
Tunisia takes on militants, pushes back against Shariah law
By Sarah Lynch — March 31, 2014
TUNIS, Tunisia (RNS) Militancy in the Arab world is often fueled by repressive political policies; many experts say Tunisia is wisely steering away from despotic edicts that have rocked Arab Spring movements in Egypt and Libya.
COMMENTARY: A parched patch of prejudice
By Tom Ehrich — March 4, 2014
(RNS) What's next? Disobeying traffic signs because a gay-friendly city government put them up? Drawing down on a policeman because he happens to be gay? Obeying only those laws that no gay person supports or benefits from?
