Current Events

The 1990 Smith decision curtailed religious liberty claims, but later rulings have expanded the Free Exercise Clause beyond its original scope When the Supreme Court decided Employment Division v. Smith in 1990, it marked one of the sharpest contractions of […]

By Michael Peabody Don’t settle for stone when you’ve been given a Savior. The push to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom doesn’t come from a place of malice. It comes from people who care. I know some of

What a Trade Principle Is Doing in Church-State Law—and Why It’s Creating New Legal Tensions In recent years, a once-obscure idea has quietly reshaped the legal landscape of religious liberty. Known as the “most favored nation” (MFN) theory, this concept

Ruling cites “clear constitutional violation” as state plans further appeal In a decision issued August 4, 2025, a federal judge blocked enforcement of Arkansas Act 573, a new law requiring every public school classroom in the state to prominently display

Ruling denies dismissal motion and blocks state charges against entheogenic church leader On August 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jill N. Parrish ruled in favor of a Utah-based entheogenic church, denying state and city officials’ motion to dismiss and issuing

When a court issues a decision, the clock starts ticking. In the hours that follow, attorneys dissect the holdings, journalists race to publish interpretations, and advocacy groups seek to translate the legalese into public messaging. Yet the underlying task, understanding

Three-judge panel rules unanimously that customer service roles fall under “ministerial exception” to anti-discrimination laws A federal appeals court on August 5 ruled that World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, acted within its constitutional rights when it withdrew a job

The decision provides a legal roadmap for how disputes within religious nonprofits are handled under California law, sharply distinguishing between spiritual participation and corporate governance.

Judge rules Colorado’s SB 23-190 violates Free Exercise Clause in case brought by Catholic clinic Bella Health On August 1, 2025, a federal judge permanently barred Colorado officials from enforcing a state law that effectively prohibited “abortion pill reversal” treatment

California’s AB 495, billed as the “Family Preparedness Plan Act,” would let any adult with a “mentoring relationship” obtain legal authority over a child through a simple affidavit, bypassing court oversight and parental consent. Critics say the bill opens doors