Category: Religious Freedom

Worship at church

States Introduce ‘Religion is Essential’ Bills – Here’s How You Can Speak Up for Religious Freedom

States are working to protect religious organizations from discriminatory treatment and codify into law that religion is essential – even during a state of emergency....

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Church service

New Arkansas Law Declares Religious Organizations ‘Essential’ – Protects Churches During State of Emergency

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law a measure that “recognizes that churches are essential” and “helps protect churches and other religious organizations from being...

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Supreme Court

Supreme Court Ends California’s Worship Ban, Orders State to Permit Houses of Worship 25% Capacity

The Supreme Court ended California’s total ban on indoor worship in a late-night order on Friday. In a 6-3 decision, the court partially granted the...

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Nativity scene

Nativity Scene Legal Victory for Indiana Courthouse

A federal appeals court has upheld the constitutionality of a Nativity scene display on the lawn of an Indiana courthouse at Christmas, underscoring an increasingly...

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Church worship

Two Recent 9th Circuit Decisions Affirm Equal Treatment for Churches During COVID-19 Lockdowns

In a couple recent court cases involving restrictions on indoor worship attendance, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has acknowledged the irreparable harm caused...

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Sisters of Mercy

Religious Freedom Lawsuit: Court Strikes Down HHS ‘Transgender Mandate’ for Health Care

A U.S. District Court struck down a “transgender mandate” from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would have forced health care providers...

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Trinity Church

Appeals Court Tosses Governor Cuomo’s Church Restrictions, Rules They ‘Discriminate Against Religion’

A federal appeals court has ruled against Democrat New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 10- and 25-person capacity limit for houses of worship. The severity of...

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Church sanctuary

Los Angeles County Drops Capacity Restrictions on Houses of Worship in Time for Christmas

Just in time for Christmas, Los Angeles County has dropped all of its capacity restrictions on houses of worship to get in line with a...

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Calvary Chapel Dayton

ADF Wins at the Ninth Circuit and Provides Christmas Miracle for Churches in Nevada

Churches in Nevada have experienced a Christmas miracle, as the Ninth Circuit recently sided with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in the religious freedom case Calvary...

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Worship Service

D.C. Mayor Eases Worship Service Capacity Rules in Response to Lawsuit

Washington, D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser has apparently seen the First Amendment handwriting on the wall and revised her unequal capacity restrictions imposed on worship services...

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Religious Freedom

Nine Federal Agencies Issue Final Rule Protecting Faith-Based Federal Contractors

Nine federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security,...

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Church steeple

Supreme Court Sides with Colorado Church in Fight Over Capacity Limits on Worship

In a brief, one-page unsigned order on Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court sided with a Colorado church that is suing Democrat Governor Jared Polis over...

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Church steeple

Religious Freedom Wins for Churches in California over COVID Restrictions

In two court cases this week, churches were granted relief from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s onerous COVID-related orders that treat indoor worship services more harshly...

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James Faison

Raleigh HOA Tries to Force Family to Remove Christmas Cross, Stating it’s Not a Christmas Decoration

A family in Raleigh, North Carolina were shocked when their homeowner’s association (HOA) tried to force them to remove a six-foot Christmas cross that the...

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Calvary Chapel of Dayton Valley

Nevada Church Fights for the Right to Worship at the Ninth Circuit

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) went to the Ninth Circuit arguing on behalf of Calvary Chapel of Dayton Valley, a church in Nevada, for something that...

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Supreme Court

SCOTUS Comes to the Aid of California Church in Clash over COVID Lockdown Orders

In what looks like very promising news from the U.S. Supreme Court today for the nation’s churches hard-pressed by COVID closure orders, the justices today...

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Curt Cizek

Chaplain Drummed Out of the Air Force for Preaching on Sexual Immorality

Air Force Chaplain Curt Cizek preached a message in 2013 on adultery to a room full of military trainees at Lackland Air Force base. His...

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Harris Funeral Home

Supreme Court’s Redefinition of Sex Costs Christian Employer $250,000

A recent court settlement will cost a Christian businessman $250,000 for attempting to enforce a dress code for his male employees. The story reflects the...

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Supreme Court

Religious Freedom on the Docket as SCOTUS and 6th Circuit Issue COVID-Related Rulings Affecting Four States

Most Americans celebrated Thanksgiving under less than ideal conditions this year because of COVID. Family gatherings last week were smaller than usual in many places,...

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Closed because of COVID

Kentucky Attorney General and Christian School Sue Governor over COVID Closure Order

A new religious freedom lawsuit in Kentucky pits the state’s Republican Attorney General, Daniel Cameron, plus Danville Christian Academy (DCA) in Danville, Kentucky, against Democrat...

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Foothill Church

ADF Fights Against Mandate that Requires Churches in California to Cover Abortions

On Friday, November 20, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) argued in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of churches throughout California, which...

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Biden/Harris

LGBT Activists Send Christmas Wish List to Biden and Harris – Asking Them to Assault Religious Freedom

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBT-activist group, sent a post-election wish list to former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris....

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Discrimination

California Judge Grants Strip Clubs Constitutional Right to Reopen, Churches Remain Shuttered

A judge in California has granted two strip clubs the right to reopen their businesses after the two filed suit and alleged that the county...

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Justice Alito

Justice Alito Warns that Freedom of Religion is Becoming a Second-Class Right

One of the stalwarts on the conservative side of the U.S. Supreme Court is Justice Samuel Alito. Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006,...

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