Michael Peabody, Author at ReligiousLiberty.TV / Founders' First Freedom® - News and Updates on Religious Liberty and Freedom

Clergy Housing Tax Exemption Case Heard by Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

By Michael Peabody | October 25, 2018

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments this week in Gaylor v. Peecher, a case that challenges the constitutionality of tax-exempt housing for clergy. Under 25 U.S.C. § 107(2), a pastor may receive a payment separate from taxable salary to pay for housing-related expenses including rent, mortgages and utility services.

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Cake Wars Round II – Colorado baker files lawsuit to stop cake trolls

By Michael Peabody | August 17, 2018

Although his Supreme Court case was bolstered by a cake troll on the right, cake trolls on the left are making life miserable for Colorado baker Jack Phillips.

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US Senate strikes Johnson Amendment repeal from spending bill

By Michael Peabody | August 15, 2018

The Senate has stripped language from a House spending bill that would have stopped the Internal Revenue Service from revoking the tax-exempt status of non-profit organizations that engage in campaigning for political candidates.

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A quick look at Justice Kennedy’s Religion Clause jurisprudence

By Michael Peabody | July 2, 2018

Within the next week, it is expected that the President will nominate Kennedy’s replacement. The following is a brief inventory of Justice Kennedy’s positions on some key religion clause issues from his appointment in 1988 until his retirement in 2018.

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Supreme Court: Religious animus irrelevant in Trump travel ban case

By Michael Peabody | June 26, 2018

The Supreme Court rules that the President of the United States has broad discretion to impose travel restrictions, so long as they are related to a plausible governmental interest, and that a showing of Presidential animus toward a religious minority is not relevant to the analysis.

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Who really won the wedding cake case?

By Michael Peabody | June 8, 2018

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court surprised a lot of us and issued a ruling in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case that not only avoided making a real decision, but avoided it with great style.

Who really won the wedding cake case? Read More »

Florist asks Supreme Court for remand in wake of cake decision

By Michael Peabody | June 7, 2018

Attorneys for a Washington florist who refused to make a flower arrangement a same-sex wedding filed a supplemental brief in the wake of Monday’s Masterpiece Cakeshop decision which left the question of balance between free exercise of religion and non-discrimination statutes unanswered.

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Moves by both sides make citizen journalism an endangered species

By Michael Peabody | April 11, 2018

Regulation of online speech is marching forward from both the left and the right, and it may only be a matter of time until free expression on the Internet becomes a thing of the past.

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Court hears argument on whether pro-life centers must provide abortion information

By Michael Peabody | March 28, 2018

On March 20, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, a case challenging a California law that requires pro-life crisis pregnancy centers to advise pregnant women of the availability of publicly-funded family planning services, including contraception and abortion. Unlicensed clinics must also disclose that their personnel are unlicensed.

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Supreme Court hears public sector union compulsory speech case

By Michael Peabody | February 26, 2018

Today the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case involving whether it constitutional to require government employees who do not join their respective unions to still pay fees to the unions for the cost of negotiating and administering their employment contracts.

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