Supreme Court sidesteps the free exercise claim and grants government agencies the power to determine whether to apply the ACA contraceptive mandates to employers.
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Supreme Court: Religious schools immune from teachers’ discrimination claims
The ethical and moral onus is now on religious institutions as they decide whether to fire “ministerial” employees for reasons illegal in the secular world, such as age or the need for cancer treatment. Institutions engaging in this kind of discriminatory tactic will still need to answer to a Higher Source who will not be impressed with their ability to obtain summary judgment. The way for religious institutions to “win” these cases is to avoid them in the first place by taking the lead in treating employees with the highest degree of care and concern.
Did the Supreme Court open the door to regulation of religious schools?
With the death of state Blaine Amendments this week, religious schools that welcome state money might find that they are now subject to regulation that may undermine their very reason for existence.
Soros-backed bid to eliminate anti-prostitution pledge loses at SCOTUS
The Supreme Court has ruled against George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and upheld a law requiring foreign NGOs receiving funds to sign an anti-prostitution pledge.
Court strikes down Louisiana law that abortion doctors must have admitting privileges at local hospital
This morning the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The issue in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, was whether this limit actually protected the health of pregnant women and wasn’t in place just to make it more difficult to have an abortion. This was very similar to the issue the Court last visited in 2016 (Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt) when it overturned a Texas abortion doctor admitting privileges requirement.
Federal Court rules church can be excluded from California city downtown area
A federal court in the San Francisco Bay Area has determined that churches do not contribute to a vibrant and fun atmosphere and therefore may be excluded from Salinas’ downtown area.
COVID-19 aid package that does not exclude churches passes with bipartisan support
Although the Small Business Administration typically works with for-profit enterprises, the CARES Act does not exclude non-profit organizations from this funding, including churches. Banks will distribute these loans to qualifying organizations on a first-come, first-served basis.
Op-Ed: The Charismatic Charlatans of COVID-19
It is more than fear. It is more than uncertainty. It is even more than mere misinformation. The Coronavirus has some people making suicide runs with religious fervor such as we have not seen since Jim Jones and his poison-spiked Kool-Aid.
Should churches “stay-at-home”? Martin Luther offers guidance
Although Luther wrote it nearly 500 years ago, his advice on how to handle an epidemic is still valid. Trust God and take precautions.
Op-Ed: How parents can navigate the culture of COVID-19 fear
It is greater and more defining than the shootings of JFK, Reagan or even 9/11 because it is, for the first time, a global marker in time; one of a shared moment of terror they all experienced together.