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.
Chronological & Subject Repository
Category: Church and State
April 2021
November 2020
Court blocks New York Governor’s COVID Restrictions on Religious Congregations
In a major victory for religious congregations, delivered late on Thanksgiving Eve, the United States Supreme Court blocked the state of New York from…
September 2020
Church deserves trial on constitutionality of shutdown order rules judge
Contempt of court is a quasi-criminal act, and the court cannot punish someone for breaking a regulation if that regulation is not constitutional.
“I dissent!” A Survey of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Religion Clause Jurisprudence
Ginsburg wrote little on the religion clauses, but she frequently joined with those Justices who favored a strong separation of church and state.
August 2020
Two Southern California Judges Refuse to Shut Down Churches This Weekend
With outdoor temperatures expected to pass the 100-degree mark, two Los Angeles area judges have given local churches some comforting news.
Ventura County Sues to Stop Church from Meeting Indoors
On August 2, 2020, the church again met indoors and Pastor McCoy said he was "willing to go to jail" and "willing for them…
July 2020
Supreme Court: Religious schools immune from teachers’ discrimination claims
The ethical and moral onus is now on religious institutions as they decide whether to fire "ministerial" employees for reasons illegal in the secular…
Did the Supreme Court open the door to regulation of religious schools?
With the death of state Blaine Amendments this week, religious schools that welcome state money might find that they are now subject to regulation…
April 2020
COVID-19 aid package that does not exclude churches passes with bipartisan support
Although the Small Business Administration typically works with for-profit enterprises, the CARES Act does not exclude non-profit organizations from this funding, including churches. Banks…
January 2020
“So help me God” and the jury – 11th Circuit rules juror who claimed “divine revelation” properly dismissed
When jurors are selected for trial in Federal court, they are asked to adopt the phrase "so help me God." What happens when they…