Category: schools

1721 What is a Blaine Amendment?

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James G. Blaine in the 1870s

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?” →

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” →

U.S. Supreme Court Denies German Homeschoolers’ Appeal

This post is being published on both Law Meets Gospel and Indiana Education Law Blog.


The United States Supreme Court has rejected a petition filed by a German family seeking asylum based on what they characterize as religious persecution in their home country. The Romeike family began homeschooling their children because they feared the public school’s curriculum would influence their children in a way that contradicted their Christian values. This violated a 1938 compulsory-attendance law in Germany that the Romeikes argued was originally driven by animus toward faith-based homeschoolers. Continue reading “U.S. Supreme Court Denies German Homeschoolers’ Appeal” →

Indiana Supreme Court considering homeschoolers’ appeal

This post is being published on both Law Meets Gospel and Indiana Education Law Blog.

On February  3, the Indiana Supreme Court heard arguments in Fishers Adolescent Catholic Enrichment Society, Inc. v. Bridgewater. (See earlier coverage here and here.) The case involves an organization formed by homeschooling Roman Catholic parents. The group’s purposes include providing students with Catholic educational, spiritual, and social enrichment. The Court will decide whether the group’s decisions about accommodating a student’s dietary needs and later expelling her for filing a complaint fall within state antidiscrimination laws and First Amendment protections for religious organizations. Continue reading “Indiana Supreme Court considering homeschoolers’ appeal” →