religious freedom
3 reasons Christians should back religious freedom for all (COMMENTARY)
By Ed Stetzer — December 30, 2015
(RNS) What Americans, especially Christian Americans, must understand is this: Religious freedom for some is not religious freedom for long.
Americans prize religious freedom for Christians — less for Muslims or atheists
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 30, 2015
(RNS) A new survey shows "religious freedom is now in the eye of the beholder," said Charles Haynes, of the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute.
Eritrean gospel singer Helen Berhane was tortured for her beliefs. Now she’s speaking up.
By Rosie Scammell — December 29, 2015
ROME (RNS) Berhane spoke recently at a Rome conference on Christian persecution in the hopes others might learn of the grievous human rights violations in her native land.
Lawsuit by ex-Atlanta fire chief critical of homosexuality to proceed
By Reuters — December 17, 2015
ATLANTA (Reuters) A federal judge will hear a high-profile discrimination lawsuit brought by Kelvin Cochran, a Baptist who claims he was fired for his religious beliefs after publishing a book critical of homosexuality.
Bigotry? Hatred? Christians say they’re tired of being made into the bad guys
By Stephanie Wang — November 23, 2015
INDIANAPOLIS - “We’re the ones who need a special protected-class status, because we’re the ones that are being attacked by everybody,” says Rev. Ron Johnson Jr. of the Indiana Pastors Alliance.
Religious freedom advocates need to speak out on Bangladesh killings (COMMENTARY)
By Paul Fidalgo — November 12, 2015
(RNS) We have heard little to nothing from many of the major American conservative religious organizations that claim to care so deeply about religious freedom. And make no mistake, these murders are as ferocious an assault on religious freedom as one can find.
Here’s why the Little Sisters will lose (COMMENTARY)
By Mark Silk — November 10, 2015
(RNS) The Supreme Court will uphold the requirement that religious nonprofits sign a waiver to avoid paying for contraceptive services.
Ohio judge ends push to force chemotherapy on Amish girl
By Reuters — October 11, 2015
CLEVELAND (Reuters) The girl's parents, who defied a hospital over her treatment for leukemia, believed that the will of God would triumph.
Religion scholar boycotts BYU conference to protest university policy
By Jana Riess — October 7, 2015
(RNS) Under the policy, students who enter the university as Mormons but then undergo a faith transition can be expelled, evicted from student housing and fired from on-campus jobs.
Kardashian pope * Kim Davis * Beef party : September’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — October 2, 2015
Celebrity Pope Francis photobombed selfies on his U.S. album launch tour. Conservative “It Girl” Kim Davis sat in jail and won awards for not doing her job. And India threw a “beef party” to celebrate religious tolerance and protest new meat bans.
Pope Francis hails America’s freedoms, but saves strongest praise for the nation’s immigrants
By David Gibson — September 26, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) The pontiff had a chance to endorse the U.S. bishops' religious liberty battles against gay rights and the contraception mandate. But he passed.
Kim Davis, Kentucky clerk in gay marriage dispute, switches to Republican Party
By Reuters — September 26, 2015
(Reuters) "We came to the conclusion that the Democratic Party left us a long time ago, so why were we hanging on?" she said.
Pope Francis visits US nuns involved in Obamacare contraception lawsuit
By Reuters — September 24, 2015
(Reuters) The pope made an unscheduled stop Wednesday to visit the Little Sisters of the Poor and show his support for the nuns' lawsuit against President Obama's health care law.
Pope at White House: Fight global warming, protect religious freedom
By David Gibson — September 23, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) In his first remarks on American soil, Pope Francis told President Obama and a huge crowd at the White House that the U.S. must safeguard religious freedom and stressed the “urgency” of battling global warming.
Kim Davis’ indefensible position puts traditionalists on the spot (COMMENTARY)
By Jacob Lupfer — September 11, 2015
(RNS) Kentucky clerk Kim Davis has hindered the public debate about religious liberty for traditionalist believers at a time when it needs serious arguments, not circus-tent theatrics.