Supreme Court sidesteps the free exercise claim and grants government agencies the power to determine whether to apply the ACA contraceptive mandates to employers.
Donald Trump
Federal Court: Trump’s “Conscience Act” exceeds authority but does not violate the Establishment Clause
In a 147-page ruling issued today, New York Federal Judge Paul Engelmayer found that the Trump administration’s “conscience act” exceeded the president’s authority but did not violate the Establishment Clause. Given its procedural defects, the rule was invalidated in its entirety.
Moves by both sides make citizen journalism an endangered species
Regulation of online speech is marching forward from both the left and the right, and it may only be a matter of time until free expression on the Internet becomes a thing of the past.
New Law – California will not participate in any federal religious registry
California Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law that will prevent state and local agencies and employees from disclosing information about a person’s religious beliefs to the federal government for use in creating a database for law enforcement or religious purposes.
Trump order essentially affirms Johnson Amendment
Last Thursday, President Donald Trump marked the National Day of Prayer with an executive order that at most expressed the administration’s desire that the Department of the Treasury should not unnecessarily threaten the tax-exempt status of religious non-profit organizations if they engage in political activity. Despite stating during the campaign that he would “destroy” the Johnson Amendment, the administration ultimately made a benign gesture affirming existing law while describing its parameters and limits.
Vetting the Veeps: Pence and Kaine on Religious Liberty
This week, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have chosen relatively centrist running mates who are not well known outside of their states. Both Trump and Clinton, who have been battling high disapproval ratings and facing a close election in November, have made “safe picks.” But how do the vice presidential candidates compare when it comes to religious liberty?
Trump promises to repeal ban on church campaigning in GOP acceptance speech
Contrary to Trump’s representation, the voices of individual church members, or even church employees, have not “been taken away.” Instead, they may independently advocate for or against any candidates of their choosing, but they cannot use their houses of worship as vehicles for doing so.
Why a candidate’s support for the free exercise clause matters
Whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will do more to defend the Free Exercise Clause is an important factor in deciding which candidate to support.
“I’m on your side,” Trump tells fawning evangelicals
Yesterday, in a typical, stream-of-consciousness, rant about his self-perceived greatness, Donald Trump told an assembly of over 900 evangelical leaders in New York that he supports them.
Federal bill introduced to prohibit religion-based denial of immigration
On May 12, Rep. Donald Beyer (D-Va) and 103 co-sponsors introduced legislation that would prohibit immigration authorities from refusing to admit aliens on the basis of religion or lack of religion.