U.S. Supreme Court
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.
Breakaway Anglican group that left Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth wins property fight
By Yonat Shimron — May 26, 2020
(RNS) — The Texas ruling may be the first time that a breakaway diocese has prevailed in a legal fight over church property.
Little Sisters of the Poor return to court to fight birth control mandate
By Thomas Reese — January 23, 2020
(RNS) — In a rerun of a 2016 case, the Supreme Court shouldn't be required to settle what the parties ought to have settled themselves.
The Supreme Court made the Bladensburg Cross a special case. Let’s keep it that way
By Amanda Tyler — June 24, 2019
(RNS) — In deciding to allow a Christian cross to stay on a Maryland highway, the court rejected some of the extreme arguments that may have had more far-reaching consequences for the Establishment Clause.
Are yoga and mindfulness in schools religious?
By Candy Gunther Brown — May 13, 2019
(The Conversation) — Yoga and mindfulness could become the fourth 'R' of public education. But up for debate is whether the 'R' in this case stands for relaxation or religion.
Prayer that mentioned Jesus 13 times sparks debate in Pennsylvania Legislature
By Bob Smietana — April 3, 2019
(RNS) — A prayer that mentioned Jesus 13 times — given just before the swearing-in of a Muslim state legislator — has caused controversy in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Death v. Religion at the Supreme Court
By Mark Silk — April 3, 2019
How the Establishment Clause failed to persuade the justices in one death penalty petition, and then succeeded in an almost identical one.
How outrage for a death row inmate may have flipped the justices for religious liberty
By Amanda Tyler — April 2, 2019
(RNS) — The traditional view has been that these nine jurists are insulated from pressure, but the response to a case of a Muslim denied the right to his imam at his execution may have proved the exception.
The end of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case comes with a whimper
By Mark Silk — March 13, 2019
(RNS) — The door is still open to a decision that would force bakers to provide cakes for same-sex nuptials if they want to stay in business.
Supreme Court seems inclined to retain cross on public land
By The Associated Press — February 28, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) — Even liberal justices Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer suggested that they could join a narrow ruling upholding this particular memorial.
Christians and Jews agree: The Bladensburg Cross is no secular symbol
By Holly Hollman — February 26, 2019
(RNS) — Claiming that a cross is a generic memorial to all the war dead ignores real differences in our religions' teachings about eternal life and violates the fundamental aspect of religious liberty.
Absent an imam, Domineque Ray’s execution by Alabama disenfranchises Muslims
By Megan Goodwin — February 13, 2019
(RNS) — The American legal system's anti-Islam problem might be more accurately seen as a pro-Christianity problem.
It’s time for a grand compromise on religious freedom and contraceptives
By Thomas Reese — December 5, 2018
(RNS) — While they can still negotiate from a position of power, the proponents of religious liberty should offer to negotiate a grand compromise on reproductive rights.
The Benedict Option for discrimination
By Mark Silk — October 26, 2018
The Trump Administration is making America more comfortable for conservative Christians.
After Senate clash, Kavanaugh nomination an occasion for prayer
By Jack Jenkins — September 28, 2018
(RNS) — 'We pause this day to recognize there are many among us here who have been wounded,' pastor says as both sides weigh the stakes of a Supreme Court nomination for their faith communities.
