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When jurors are selected for trial in Federal court, they are asked to adopt the phrase "so help me God." What happens when they take that oath too seriously?
The United States (U.S.) Supreme Court agreed to hear a case, Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue, concerning a Montana state legislative program that allowed individuals to receive up to a $150.00 tax credit for money that they could donate to one of several K-12 scholarship funds.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of a 4th Circuit decision involving a Maryland cross-shaped WWI memorial. In 2017, the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals held 2-1 that the structure, erected in 1925, “has the primary effect of excessively endorsing religion and excessively entangles the government in religion.”
Setting the Constitutional separation of church and state issue aside, Alabama's 10 Commandments referendum still creates theological confusion for Christians by promoting the law without the corresponding remedy of grace.
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.
Over the last few decades, a religious movement has gained widespread political power with the stated intent of turning back the clock by dismantling the Establishment Clause, which requires separation of church and state.
The President’s threat that the November election will be a “referendum on your religion” is troubling because it assumes that the success of Christianity is dependent on the result of a political vote. The fact that some very influential Christian leaders are buying into this argument is even more disturbing.
To be fair, perhaps Jeff Sessions did not mean to act against years of religious liberty and separation of church and state. Perhaps, they felt cornered, or even pressed by the media, or as Christians serving in higher office to defend their own faith because of what people were saying about their current immigration policy[20], but as gracious as I can be about the motivations of their actions, I cannot excuse the great danger in which they have placed all of America.
All this fight over prayer should give Christians pause for thought. Have we misused prayer in our zeal to bring America back to God? Whether intended or not, many have viewed the forceful efforts of Christians to preserve public prayer as motivated by the desire to exploit it for purposes of proselytizing, promoting Christianity, or disparaging other religions.
The state of New York is considering guidelines that could dramatically change the relationship between public and private schools.