The Affordable Care Act will continue to provide free preventative services and medications to millions of people who rely on that provision of the law, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 27. The 6-3 decision in Secretary of Health and…
Fight against federal school vouchers isn’t dead yet
Organized opposition to federal school vouchers in “the big beautiful bill” was so effective it nearly derailed the program altogether, an education advocate said after the U.S. Senate’s 51-50 passage of the legislation July 1. “Thousands of Americans took action…
Another lawsuit filed to stop Bible-based curriculum in Oklahoma
More than 30 religious leaders, teachers and parents filed a lawsuit July 1 to block Oklahoma’s plan to implement Scripture-based social studies standards for K-12 schools. Rev. Dr. Mitch Randall v. Ryan Walters urges the Oklahoma Supreme Court to grant…
Supreme Court sides with parents who object to LGBTQ-themed books
Parents have the right to keep their children from any instruction on LGBTQ themes in public schools, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 27. The 6-3 decision found the constitutional right to free exercise of religion was violated by a…
Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship: ‘Its bark is worse than its bite’
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to limit the extent of lower court injunctions issued to protect birthright citizenship and other constitutional rights. The June 27 decision in President of the United States v. CASA bars district court judges from…
‘Great white Christian freakout’ shifted America, Jones says
The U.S. was just beginning to come to terms with the effects of racial injustice when the “great white Christian freakout” ushered in the era of Donald Trump and empowered religious nationalism, said Robert P. Jones, president of Public Religion…
High court allows exclusion of Planned Parenthood as Medicaid provider
A South Carolina woman does not have the right to sue the state over its exclusion of Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 26. Writing for the conservative majority in a 6-3 decision, Justice…
Courage and dignity needed in fight for equality, Raushenbush says
The church must demonstrate courage, demand dignity and fight for equality as attacks against religious freedom and LGBTQ people spread throughout the nation, Interfaith Alliance President Paul Raushenbush said. “The root of the word ‘courage’ is ‘cor,’ or heart,” he…
Supreme Court clears way for third-country deportations
The Trump administration may deport undocumented immigrants to countries other than their own, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 23. The unsigned order reverses a lower court ruling granting unauthorized noncitizens an opportunity to demonstrate the risk of persecution, torture…
Abbott signs Texas Ten Commandments bill, setting up court fight
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms beginning Sept. 1 despite the threat of litigation from civil liberties groups. Abbott’s office said the governor signed the measure June 21 along with more…
Even Trump supporters are weary with his ‘disappearing’ immigrants
Americans who originally backed President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign are having a change of heart due to protests, military involvement and the targeting of immigrants without criminal histories, migrant advocates and new polling suggest. “It seems the deportation operations…
Appeals court stops Louisiana Ten Commandments law
A Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms was ruled unconstitutional by a unanimous federal appeals court June 20. “Parents and students challenge a statute requiring public schools to permanently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom…