Law & Court
Federal court dismisses LGBTQ students’ class-action discrimination lawsuit
By Kathryn Post and Bob Smietana — January 13, 2023
(RNS) — The lawsuit claimed that the US Department of Education failed to protect LGBTQ+ students at religious schools from discrimination.
Indiana judge backs a religious right to abort
By Mark Silk — December 7, 2022
(RNS) — And poses a serious challenge to the Supreme Court’s religious liberty jurisprudence.
Four Jehovah’s Witnesses charged with sexual abuse of 19 children across Pennsylvania
By Kathryn Post — October 27, 2022
(RNS) — ‘Most of these defendants used their faith and church to gain access to their victims,’ Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.
Will the Supreme Court recognize a religious right to abortion?
By Mark Silk — October 26, 2022
(RNS) — We’ll find out soon enough.
Watching the Parkland jury verdict was wrenching. Survivors need more agency.
By Beth Kissileff — October 19, 2022
(RNS) — I mostly felt profound grief and sadness at the haunted, broken, anguished faces of the families. I don’t think anyone else needs to experience this stress.
Judge gauges if Indiana abortion ban defies religious rights
By Arleigh Rodgers — October 17, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Residents who hold Jewish, Muslim and spiritual faiths argue that the state's abortion ban violates their religious rights.
3 Jewish women file suit against Kentucky abortion bans on religious grounds
By Yonat Shimron — October 7, 2022
(RNS) — It's the third such suit brought by Jewish organizations or individuals since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, claiming the state is imposing a Christian understanding of when life begins.
The Hasidic educational standard should meet the old Amish one
By Mark Silk — September 30, 2022
(RNS) — Rather than the current Supreme Court's.
Yeshiva University is forced to accept an LGBTQ club
By Mark Silk — September 15, 2022
(RNS) — But it’s unclear for how long.
Faculty, students sue Christian school over LGBTQ hiring ban
By David Crary — September 12, 2022
(AP) – A group of 16 students, faculty and staff at the Christian Seattle Pacific University sued the leaders of the school's board of trustees for an employment policy barring people in same-sex relationships from full-time jobs.
Indiana abortion ban challenged under religious freedom law
By Tom Davies — September 9, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A lawsuit filed on Thursday by the ACLU of Indiana argues that the abortion ban set to take effect next week violates a state religious-freedom law that was approved by Republican lawmakers in 2015.
Chaplain who sexually abused inmates gets 7 years in prison
By Michael R. Sisak and Michael Balsamo — September 1, 2022
(AP) – A chaplain at a California federal women's prison was sentenced to seven years in jail for "egregious" sexual abuse against inmates. He is one of the five workers at the prison charged in the last 14 months for the same crime.
Religious schools shun state funding despite Maine victory
By David Sharp — August 30, 2022
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Only one of the Maine religious high schools that stood to benefit from the most recent Supreme Court ruling on state tuition reimbursements has signed up to participate this fall.
Afghan refugee enters not guilty plea in Muslim slayings
By Susan Montoya Bryan — August 29, 2022
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Afghan refugee with a "violent history" pleaded not guilty on Friday for three counts of murder against Muslim men in New Mexico.
Turkish pop star jailed over joke about religious schools
By Associated Press — August 26, 2022
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish singer and songwriter Gulsen was arrested on Thursday on charges of “inciting hatred and enmity” for a joke she made at an Istanbul concert in April, sparking outrage on social media.
