religious freedom
Baker’s High Court Win Not a License to Discriminate, Colorado Says
The U.S. Supreme Court did not give a Christian baker lifetime immunity from anti-discrimination enforcement, the Colorado Civil Rights Division said Thursday in a motion to dismiss the bakery’s lawsuit.
Read moreReligious Freedom
A Minnesota man filed a federal class action claiming he was forced to attend a religious lecture while he was an inmate in the Dakota County jail and faced punishment if he tried to “escape.”
Read moreThird Circuit Considers Cross in County Seal
A Pennsylvania county argued to the Third Circuit Friday afternoon that it should not have to remove a cross on its seal because it is historical, not religious.
Read moreMasterpiece Cakeshop Owner Says Colorado Is Still After Him
The Colorado baker who convinced the U.S. Supreme Court he was unfairly targeted by his state for declining business from gay customers sued Colorado’s civil rights commission Tuesday, claiming he’s still being persecuted for his beliefs.
Read moreIowa Christian Groups Challenge University’s Delisting
Two Christian student groups sued the University of Iowa for religious discrimination Monday after the Iowa City-based university stripped the organizations of their recognition as official student organizations because they require leaders to accept the groups’ beliefs.
Read moreOhio Cops Face Free-Speech Suit From Anti-Abortion Protesters
Two Midwestern Christians claim in court that they are not free to express their religious beliefs outside an Ohio abortion clinic without being threatened and arrested by police.
Read moreJudge Considers Whether Bullying Policy Is Religious Discrimination
A federal judge Tuesday considered whether an anti-Islamophobia bullying policy at one of the largest school districts in California violates the civil rights of students of other faiths.
Read moreUnveiling New Religion Policy, US Goes to Bat for Jewish Group
Announcing a new policy to protect religious groups from the biased application of municipal zoning and landmark laws, the Justice Department brought its first complaint under the initiative on behalf of a New Jersey congregation of Orthodox Jews.
Read moreCourt Upholds Phoenix LGBT Anti-Discrimination Law
The Arizona Court of Appeals denied a plea Thursday from two stationary designers who said their religious beliefs prohibited them from making invitations for gay weddings.
Read moreDenmark Joins Some European Nations in Banning Burqa, Niqab
Denmark joined some other European countries in deciding Thursday to ban garments that cover the face, including Islamic veils such as the niqab or burqa.
Read moreJudge Extends Abortion-Clinic Law to Falun Gong
Setting the stage for a two-month trial, a federal judge ruled Wednesday that the same law that bars the harassment of women seeking abortion services also applies to practitioners of the Chinese spiritual practice Falun Gong.
Read moreNew Mexico High Court Reconsiders Textbook-Loan Program
The New Mexico Supreme Court heard arguments Monday over whether the state’s program that lends textbooks to private and religious schools violates the doctrine of separation between church and state.
Read moreTribal Pastor Fights US on Eagle Feather Restrictions
A Native American feather dancer asked the U.S. government Thursday to end its restrictions on tribes using eagle feathers in religious ceremonies.
Read moreCourt Restores Damages Claim by Muslims on No-Fly List
The Second Circuit revived a suit Wednesday involving three Muslims whose refusal to become FBI informants landed them on the no-fly list.
Read moreBakery Appeals to UK Supreme Court in Gay-Rights Cake Case
A bakery owned by a Christian family is asking Britain’s Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that it discriminated against a gay customer for refusing to make a cake supporting same-sex marriage.
Read moreTrump and Nuns to Clash With State in Contraception Fight
The Third Circuit allowed an order of nuns to intervene on Tuesday in a lawsuit pitting Pennsylvania against the Trump administration’s rollback of the contraception mandate under the Affordable Care Act.
Read moreNJ Court Cracks Down on State Grants to Churches
After a dozen New Jersey churches received millions in taxpayer dollars to carry out repairs, the state’s highest court ruled Wednesday that such grants cannot happen again.
Read moreVeterans Claim Air Force Unlawfully Silenced Religious Speech
A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom claims in court the Air Force trampled on his free speech and other civil rights when it ejected him from a service retirement ceremony after deeming his prepared comments too religious.
Read moreJudge Allows Families to Join Fight Over Michigan Adoption Rule
A federal judge ruled Thursday that Christian foster families may intervene in same-sex couples’ challenge of a Michigan policy allowing state-funded private adoption agencies to turn away gay and lesbian prospective parents for religious reasons.
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