Legislation
Iowa lawmakers address immigration, religious freedom and taxes in 2024 session
By Hannah Fingerhut — April 23, 2024
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-led General Assembly also waded into issues like immigration and religious freedom, which have proven core to the party's 2024 campaign message.
Conservative faith leaders praise Johnson for House’s approval of foreign aid
By Adelle M. Banks and Jack Jenkins — April 22, 2024
Conservative Christians praise Trump’s anti-abortion record but say he’s stopped short of the goal
By Holly Meyer and Tiffany Stanley — April 9, 2024
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Some state lawmakers want school chaplains as part of a ‘rescue mission’ for public education
By Hannah Fingerhut — April 1, 2024
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Many chaplains and interfaith organizations oppose the chaplaincy campaign, calling the motivation offensive and describing the dangers of introducing a position of authority to children without clear standards or boundaries.
The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division
By Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui — March 15, 2024
LONDON (AP) — The move is in response to a surge in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech and what authorities call an increase in radicalization in Britain since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
A Wisconsin ruling on Catholic Charities raises the bar for religious tax exemptions
By Todd Richmond — March 14, 2024
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — U.S. religious institutions enjoy tax exemptions, most notably from property taxes. Debate has raged for decades over whether the exemptions are fair.
Indigenous people rejoice after city of Berkeley votes to return sacred Native land to Ohlone
By Janie Har and Olga R. Rodriguez — March 14, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Before Spanish colonizers arrived in the region, the area held a village and a massive shellmound with a height of 20 feet and the length and width of a football field that was a ceremonial and burial site.
Alabama’s IVF protection law redefines embryonic personhood
By Mark Silk — March 13, 2024
(RNS) — A process that is taking place across the country.
Florida public schools could make use of chaplains under bill going to DeSantis
By Brendan Farrington — March 11, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The only requirements of a chaplain participating in a school program would be a background check and having their name and religious affiliation listed on the school website.
What is a frozen embryo worth? Alabama’s IVF case reflects bigger questions over grieving and wrongful death laws
By Katherine Drabiak — March 11, 2024
(The Conversation) — Alabama’s case began when three couples sued an IVF clinic where their frozen embryos had accidentally been dropped.
Utah Legislature expands ability of clergy members to report child abuse
By Hannah Schoenbaum — March 1, 2024
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Religious leaders who report abuse still will not be required to testify.
Georgia Republicans say religious liberty needs protection, but Democrats warn of discrimination
By Jeff Amy — March 1, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — Opponents warn that people and private groups will use the law to do things like deny birth control coverage to their employees, and that the legislation could blow holes in local laws that ban discrimination.
Georgia GOP senators seek to ban sexually explicit books from school libraries, reduce sex education
By Jeff Amy — February 22, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — The measure passed by the Education Committee would ban distribution of any sexual materials to students in sixth grade and below and restrict them for seventh grade and above.
Churches and nonprofits ensnared in Georgia push to restrict bail funds
By R.j. Rico — February 22, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — Senate Bill 63, which passed the GOP-dominated Legislature earlier this month, would expand the number of charges that require cash bail, while restricting who can post that bail.
Greece just legalized same-sex marriage. Will other Orthodox countries join them any time soon?
By Dasha Litvinova and Peter Smith — February 16, 2024
Roughly 200 million Eastern Orthodox live primarily in Eastern Europe and neighboring Asian lands, with about half that total in Russia, while smaller numbers live across the world.
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