Two major stories about what power the government has to control what happens inside a person’s body are making headlines this week. The Courts are Unlikely to Require Religious Accommodation When it Comes to Avoiding the COVID-19 Vaccine The Delta variant of COVID-19 has been wreaking havoc around the world – and part of the […]
Why the “Shouting Fire in a Crowded Theater” trope should be retired
How the Supreme Court abandoned the “shouting fire in a crowded theater” trope and what it means in the Age of the Pandemic
Biden administration and Klobuchar bill to restrict freedom of speech online
Citing health and safety concerns, Minnesota Senator (and erstwhile presidential candidate) Amy Klobuchar introduced a bill on Thursday, July 22, 2021, dubbed “The Health Misinformation Act of 2021” that would hold tech companies responsible for allowing misinformation about vaccines and other health issues to spread online. In other words, if you say something about COVID-19 or vaccines or anything else that could be seen as “incorrect,” big tech would now have an obligation to censor you.
California agrees to stop enforcing restrictions on churches and to pay church attorney fees
After a year of litigation, the state of California is ordered to back down and pay the attorney fees of a church that had to defend its civil right to meet.
California lifts location and attendance limits on churches following Supreme Court ruling
Following Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, California has lifted restrictions on the number of attendees and location of religious services.
US Supreme Court overturns California restrictions on in-home Bible studies
In a decision released Friday night, April 9, 2021, the United States Supreme Court has blocked California’s COVID-19 restrictions on in-home religious gatherings.
9th Circuit Refuses to Block California’s In-home Bible Study Restrictions
A 9th Circuit 3-judge panel has refused to block a California COVID-19 in-home Bible study restriction imposed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
LGBTQ+ Students Sue to Eliminate Title IX Religious Exemption
A group of current and former LGBTQ+ students have sued the U.S. Department of Education to either force their colleges, universities, and seminaries to change their policies or to stop providing federal financial assistance.
Supreme Court: Calif. restrictions on indoor church meetings unconstitutional
The Supreme Court slams California restrictions on indoor church services while finding that capacity and singing limitations can stand.
Court unanimously finds RFRA plaintiffs can sue FBI agents for money damages
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that plaintiffs whose religious rights were violated can sue government employees individually for monetary damages.