Religion Clause posts this: Court Decides It Can Adjudicate Church’s Factional Dispute
This is a very interesting decision based on the absence of religious arguments in the parties’ dispute.
Reuters: Record-high Church Foreclosures
Here’s the Reuters story: Banks foreclosing on churches in record numbers
Scientology Church-arbitration Clause Upheld
Religion Clause posts about a very interesting case upholding an arbitration clause requiring disputes be decided by a panel of three church members. Court Upholds Scientology Church Arbitration Clause
NYC church’s access to public schools extended
How Appealing collects two articles covering the Second Circuit’s refusal to prevent churches meeting in public schools from continuing to do so while the courts consider the question. “Court extends NYC church access to public schools”
Personal Property Follows Real Estate
Religion Clause has the following post about a Virginia court ruling that Episcopal congregations that left the denomination cannot take their personal or real property with them. Break-Away Churches Want Court To Reconsider Personal Property Ruling
Slate: A Shunning in Seattle
Slate magazine has a thoughtful story about a former member of Seattle megachurch Mars Hill who instead of submitting to church discipline left. Church discipline, including shunning, is commonly litigated in the courts through defamation and similar claims. It is also an important issue for church leaders to deal with apart from the legal implications. This story gives a window into how Mars Hill handles these issues.
Read the story here: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/faithbased/2012/02/mars_hill_pastor_mark_driscoll_faces_backlash_over_church_discipline_case_.single.html
Catholic Bishops Speak up against Healthcare Law
Leaders of the Roman Catholic church have taken a very strong stance against a rule written under the new Affordable Car Act, including recently reading a letter in many congregations. The rule requires all employers, including religiously run hospitals, to provide insurance for contraception. The rule’s exemption for religious employers does not apply if the organization employs a certain number of people of different faiths. Continue reading “Catholic Bishops Speak up against Healthcare Law”
SCOTUS holds Hosanna-Tabor teacher is a minister who cannot sue church school.
Here is an excerpt from the official syllabus: Because Perich was a minister within the meaning of the ministerial exception, the First Amendment requires dismissal of this employment discrimination suit against her religious employer.
Here is the link to the opinion: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/10-553.pdf
Photographs and the Internet
Most churches nowadays have a website if not a Facebook page. Many congregations want to give outsiders a window into church life, and one way they attempt to do that is by posting photographs of church events on the Internet. There are many questions that arise when someone wants to post an individual’s picture, especially when that individual is a minor. Continue reading “Photographs and the Internet”
Legal Resources for Church Leaders
For my first substantive post, I’m going to focus on resources for religious leaders who face legal issues. Some of these resources are specific to churches, even specific denominations, but others are more general and can help anyone with legal questions, including those faced by churches. Continue reading “Legal Resources for Church Leaders”