The Johnson Amendment prohibits 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates. While it aims to preserve the integrity of charitable organizations, the amendment has sparked ongoing debates about its impact on free speech and political advocacy.
While the spotlight has been on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling regarding continued access to mifepristone, an abortion-inducing medication, the unanimous verdict is a significant victory for the liberty of conscience for medical practitioners.
Churches should consider whether a flag enhances or detracts from their mission to glorify God and foster unity.
The legal battle between California churches and COVID-19 restrictions continues in 2024, raising crucial questions about public health and religious freedom.
Project 2025, launched by the Heritage Foundation, aims to reshape American governance with a conservative agenda. It proposes sweeping changes to federal policies, emphasizing deregulation, civil service reform, and conservative social policies.
On March 1, 2024, the European Sunday Alliance issued a new manifesto reaffirming its commitment to a work-free Sunday.
West Virginia’s new law, Senate Bill 280, signed on March 22, 2024, by Governor Jim Justice, allows public school teachers to discuss intelligent design. Advocated by Senator Amy Grady, this legislation aims to promote academic freedom by addressing questions about life’s origins.
The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, dismissing a lawsuit by 44 Methodist churches seeking to disaffiliate over doctrinal disputes about human sexuality while retaining their properties. The court’s decision, based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, underscores the limitations of civil courts in resolving ecclesiastical issues, leaving the churches to navigate the UMC’s internal processes for resolution.
The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of four anti-abortion protesters for resisting arrest, disturbing the peace, and trespassing at the Women’s Health Clinic in Flint. The defendants, who staged a “red rose rescue” protest, argued their actions were protected by their religious beliefs. However, the court ruled that passive resistance constitutes obstruction under Michigan law and maintained that the law was applied neutrally. The protesters were sentenced to 45 days in jail, highlighting the judiciary’s stance on the limits of religious and protest activities within legal boundaries.
In Louisiana, controversy brews as the state considers mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Critics warn of the dangers to church-state separation.