Here are many of the items covering the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Trinity Lutheran holding that Missouri could not exclude the church from its playground-grant program.
Category: Establishment Clause
1722 The Freedom Center of Missouri
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5427187/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″]Josh talks with Dave Roland, the Director of Litigation and cofounder of the Freedom Center of Missouri about the center’s mission. The Freedom Center of Missouri is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and public-interest litigation in six key areas: freedom of expression, economic liberty (the right to earn a living), property rights, religious liberties, limited government, and government transparency.
1721 What is a Blaine Amendment?
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5362547/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer on April 19, 2017. The church is challenging Missouri’s exclusion of religious groups from the state’s grant program for playground surfaces, which is based on the state’s constitution. The relevant amendment is one of many often referred to as “Blaine Amendments.” Josh interviews Dave Roland, the Director of Litigation and cofounder of the Freedom Center of Missouri about the history behind these amendments and their ramifications for modern American law. Continue reading “1721 What is a Blaine Amendment?”
1720 Trinity Lutheran oral argument
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5361120/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer on April 19, 2017. The church is challenging Missouri’s exclusion of religious groups from the state’s grant program for playground surfaces. Josh speaks with Dave Roland of the Freedom Center of Missouri about the argument, the justices’ questions, and how the Court’s decision could affect religious organizations across the country.
Group challenges schools chartered by religious colleges
A nonprofit organization in Monroe County, Indiana, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana challenging a statute that authorizes religious colleges and universities to sponsor charter K–12 schools. The challenge is based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The suit asserts that permitting a faith-based institution to review a school’s proposed curriculum and decide whether to authorize a charter violates the federal constitutional principle of separation of church and state. Continue reading “Group challenges schools chartered by religious colleges”
5 Developments in Religion and Law since Law Meets Gospel started
Five years ago, I set out to try my hand at blogging about legal and related issues that religious groups face. I sought to help faith communities improve their grasp of the rules that govern them, organize themselves, and feel comfortable contacting a lawyer for help. The last five years have brought some very interesting developments at the intersection of law and religion, and the next five promise even more. I’ve enjoyed blogging, though I have not been as regular as I would like to be. I aim to change that in the coming months. I’ve also created some graphics to help you know right away that what you’re seeing is Law Meets Gospel. To mark the fifth birthday of this effort, below are five important developments in the law that affect faith communities. And then some other big news … .
Continue reading “5 Developments in Religion and Law since Law Meets Gospel started”
Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing
The Seventh Circuit unanimously rejected a challenge to the parsonage exemption brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, concluding that the Wisconsin-based, nontheistic group lacked the legal ability to challenge the statutory exception granted to “minister[s] of the gospel.” Because the Seventh Circuit concluded the plaintiffs did not have standing, it did not reach the question of whether the parsonage exemption runs afoul of the First Amendment. The opinion reverses a decision of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin that held the provision unconstitutional as violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (You can listen to the very interesting oral argument here.*)
Continue reading “Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing”
Indiana Town Asks Church to Remove Cross from Public Property
The Indianapolis Star is reporting that the Hoosier town of Dugger has asked Faith Community Church to remove a cross that says “Jesus Saves” after the town council received a letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The Dugger Town Council unanimously voted to ask the church to remove the cross. Apparently the council sought to avoid a legal battle, which the town could not afford. The church’s pastor, Shawn Farris, is considering options.
The Star included comments from Americans United’s Executive Director, Rev. Barry Lyn, who said the group is “trying to provide a voice for the minority.” The report does not mention anyone in the community for whom Americans United was specifically referring to or to any comments supporting the measure on anything but financial grounds.
Dugger is located about thirty miles south of Terre Haute.