PA Court flushes Amish free exercise claim after 8-year sewer battle
An eight-year conflict has left a Pennsylvania family struggling to practice their faith against a sewage ordinance in Sugar Grove Township, Pennsylvania. Joseph and Barbara…
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Category: Legal Issues
Court orders parties to brief Establishment Clause issue in travel ban case
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Trump v. Hawaii (Docket No. 17-965) and directed the parties to prepare briefs and arguments on the issue…
Proposed New York guidelines could permit public school districts to regulate private schools
The state of New York is considering guidelines that could dramatically change the relationship between public and private schools.
10th Cir. reverses summary judgment in Title VII Sabbath accommodation case
On January 17, 2018, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a lower court improperly granted summary judgment against plaintiffs in a holy day…
When Not to Tell the Story: The Ethics of Announcing a Religious Conversion
Churches like nothing more than to have a wonderful and exciting conversion story to proclaim to the world. What happens if proclaiming such a story…
Supreme Court declines Establishment Clause challenge to Mississippi LGBT law
On Monday, January 8, 2018, the United States Supreme Court declined to review both Barber v. Bryant and Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant, two suits filed…
Why Congress dropped the Johnson Amendment repeal from tax reform
As part of the final push to enact tax reform before the end of the year, a proposed tax code change that would permit churches…
CA governor vetoes religious employee reproductive privacy bill
California Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed legislation that would have prohibited religiously affiliated institutions from taking employment action against non-ministerial employees for their reproductive health…
Tax-exemption of clergy housing violates Establishment Clause rules Federal judge
Last Friday a federal judge in Wisconsin issued a ruling that a federal statute that exempts housing for members of the clergy from taxation violates…
Federal Judge rules Pennsylvania county seal violates Establishment Clause
A Federal judge has ruled that a Pennsylvania county seal and flag that prominently feature a cross violates the Establishment Clause.