Carson v. Makin
A state cannot exclude religious schools from a tuition assistance program based on the state's establishment clause concerns.
Chronological & Subject Repository
Topic: Church & State
February 2026
United Methodist Rio Texas Conference v. Disaffiliating Churches
Civil courts cannot enforce internal church governance rules or interpret denominational discipline provisions as doing so would constitute unconstitutional entanglement with ecclesiastical matters under…
Bill 21 Ruling (Quebec)
Bill 21 harmed minority groups but the override clause prevented the court from striking it down.
Calvary Chapel San Jose v. State of California
Church seeks Supreme Court review of $1.2 million fines for holding worship services during COVID restrictions despite exemptions for comparable secular activities.
Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church v. EEOC
The ministerial exception doctrine prohibits secular courts from reviewing employment claims brought by members of the clergy.
McRaney v. North American Mission Board
The ministerial exception applies to shield church employment decisions from secular scrutiny.
Obienu v. Archdiocese of New Orleans
All employment discrimination and retaliation claims against the church were barred under the ministerial exception doctrine as a matter of constitutional law.
Johnson v. M’Intosh
The Supreme Court relied on the Doctrine of Discovery to deny land ownership rights to Indigenous people.
Borough of Paramus v. American Dream Mall
The Borough of Paramus sued the American Dream Mall for violating Bergen County blue laws by operating more than 120 retail stores on Sundays.
McGowan v. Maryland
The Court upheld blue laws designating Sunday as a day of rest based on secular purposes, which the Heritage Foundation report relies upon to…