First Amendment
Martin Gugino committed to struggle, despite grand jury dismissal
By Yonat Shimron — February 12, 2021
(RNS) — 'There’s a great deal of work that needs to be done,' said the 76-year-old Catholic peace activist on hearing that assault charges were dropped against two Buffalo police officers. 'It’s one more setback.'
Twitter’s ‘cancelation’ of free speech isn’t a legal question, it’s a moral one
By Avi Shafran — January 15, 2021
(RNS) — In the Talmud, the repository of Jewish wisdom, the operative principle is: 'Evil speech kills.'
Amy Coney Barrett’s religion isn’t the problem. It’s her record.
By Sabrina E. Dent — October 21, 2020
(RNS) — Defending the Supreme Court nominee’s right to believe what she wishes obscures the question of her fairness and her qualifications, and assigns Barrett’s faith a legal deference it does not deserve.
Buffalo Catholic peace activist Martin Gugino back on his feet, determined to protest
By Yonat Shimron — September 11, 2020
(RNS) — After being knocked to the ground by two Buffalo police officers in June, Gugino is eager to press his case for the right of citizens to protest the government.
John MacArthur believes the Bible trumps COVID-19 public health orders. Legal scholars say no
By Alejandra Molina — August 6, 2020
(RNS) — While the government can't tell people what to believe, it can restrict their actions. That includes restricting religious practices during a pandemic.
Justice Roberts swings away from unfettered religious liberty on church openings
By Mark Silk — June 8, 2020
(RNS) — Kavanaugh's dissent, on the other hand, is a good example of the spiritual libertarianism rampant on the right.
Defiant Louisiana pastor arrested over coronavirus protest
By Stacey Plaisance — April 21, 2020
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Spell already faces misdemeanor charges for holding in-person church services despite the ban on gatherings.
The Constitution and sacred texts agree: We must worship together from a distance
By Rachel K. Laser — April 10, 2020
(RNS) — Just as religious entities must abide by building codes, churches, mosques and synagogues must follow public health orders.
How the war on Christmas became the war on Easter
By Shane Claiborne — April 4, 2020
(RNS) — As states issue stay-at-home orders and bar gatherings, some evangelical Christians — those who believe they are a persecuted minority — have become convinced that religious freedom is under attack.
Why Roe v. Wade is a First Amendment fight
By Sheila Katz — January 22, 2020
(RNS) — For Jews who can become pregnant, our reproductive freedoms are our religious freedoms, guaranteed in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Cultivate common ground regarding faith in public life
By Melissa Rogers — October 15, 2019
(RNS) — Making lasting progress on the most difficult issues facing our country will require renewed efforts to bring diverse Americans of good faith together to listen to one another.
Arizona Supreme Court gives Christian artists a lot less than they asked for
By Mark Silk — September 23, 2019
(RNS) — Two graphic artists claim that the ruling means that Phoenix's anti-discrimination law "cannot compel us to imagine and create custom artwork that violates our beliefs." Actually, that's not the case.
Arizona artists win suit over same-sex wedding invitations
By Jacques Billeaud and Jonathan J. Cooper — September 17, 2019
(AP) — Though the state Supreme Court said its ruling is limited to custom wedding invitations, the justices addressed a larger question of religious freedom and LGBT rights than the Colorado wedding cake case.
What it means to ‘get’ religion in 2020
By Charles C. Camosy — September 6, 2019
(RNS) — The media sees religion as the 'frosting' rather than the 'cake' of the people they cover. The real substance of a person lies, say, in economic concerns — not the superficial fact of where they go to church.
New law requires professors in Washington to accommodate religious holidays
By Bob Smietana — April 30, 2019
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) — A new state law makes it easier for college students to take time off for religious holidays. Backed by Jewish and Muslim leaders, the law requires professors to accommodate religious holidays.
