A brief outline of America’s top religious liberty issues in 2017.
Archives for 2017
Why Congress dropped the Johnson Amendment repeal from tax reform
As part of the final push to enact tax reform before the end of the year, a proposed tax code change that would permit churches and other non-profit organizations to engage in partisan political campaigning has been dropped from the House and Senate reconciliation version of 2017 tax bill. Although the House version of the bill had included a repeal of the controversial Johnson Amendment, the Senate version kept it intact. Proponents of the repeal have argued for the right of pastors to speak freely about candidates from the pulpit, and opponents claim it would provide a “dark money” tax-exempt way to launder otherwise non-tax deductible campaign donations.
Is Trump’s Jerusalem Declaration a Prophecy Fulfilled?
Whatever position one takes in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the issue is personal and not mandated by any Scripture except in that we are admonished to be peacemakers.
Johnson Amendment remains in Senate version of tax bill
Early Saturday morning, the U.S. Senate passed its version of a major tax bill. Although there are a number of indirect ramifications for religious institutions, the Senate bill keeps the Johnson Amendment intact.
Potential Outcomes in Supreme Court Wedding Cake Case
Next Tuesday, December 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a difficult case that pits the free exercise of religion and free speech rights of a wedding cake maker against the anti-discrimination rights of a same-sex couple. The couple demands the cake; the baker refuses because he thinks he will be sinning. The question is – can the state of Colorado make him bake the cake?
Pregnancy center case is Supreme Court’s third forced-speech case this term
In its third case on the issue of state-required speech this term, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a California case involving whether the state can compel pro-life pregnancy counseling centers to post notices about the existence of publicly-funded abortion and contraceptive services, and requires disclosures if the centers or personnel are unlicensed.
Canada’s high court to decide whether courts can hear church membership cases
Last week the Canadian Supreme Court heard arguments over whether civil courts can review churches’ internal membership decisions.
Eric Youngberg: Luther Was Willing to Pay Ultimate Price for His Beliefs
John 15:13 comes to mind when I contemplate the courage that Martin Luther exhibited the day he nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg door. It reads, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Martin’s personal freedom of conscience was directly tied to helping others understand and obtain Biblical freedom of thought, […]
C. Norman Farley: Luther and the Grassroots of Freedom
History enlightens us that freedom is a difficult state to achieve and equally difficult to retain. Our current Political/social and Religious struggles remind us of this fact. While there are many in varying religious organizations who shudder at the name Martin Luther, there are also millions who celebrate. The reason I celebrate is because Luther is one of the extreme […]
Barry Bussey: Martin Luther – Christianity’s most dangerous man
Historians and theologians will debate Luther until the end of time. He remains controversial – think only of his views on the Jewish people or his justification of the brutal treatment of the peasants’ uprising. But make no mistake his posting of the Theses set off a chain of events that continue to affect us. […]