President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission has been assailed from the beginning as a front for advancing evangelical grievances, and now a coalition has sued to stop a forthcoming report from the body. The lawsuit, Interfaith Alliance, et al. v….
Now a Jewish public charter school is proposed in Oklahoma
Fresh on the heels of debating a proposed Catholic charter school with state funding, the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board has received a request for a proposed Jewish public charter school. That is cause for concern at Americans United for…
The push is on for evangelical time-release programs
LifeWise Academy is leading the charge to increase the number of schools nationwide required to allow off-site Bible instruction during school hours, constitutional advocates said during a webinar hosted by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The $35…
Two lawsuits target Texas Ten Commandments law
Two Texas Baptists — including a BNG staff member — are among 16 multifaith and nonreligious Texas families who filed suit in federal court today to oppose the state’s new Ten Commandments law. This is the second lawsuit filed against the…
Arkansas parents say, ‘Thou shall not’ to Ten Commandments law
A group of Arkansas parents has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms. Seven families with students in public schools filed the litigation June 11 in the U.S….
What I learned at CBF’s Advocacy in Action
I got to tag along with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship on its Advocacy in Action trip to Washington, D.C., last week. Having participated in several similar advocacy trainings and trips with various groups, I thought I knew what to expect. The…
Swift responses follow Trump’s promised executive orders
Just as quickly as President Donald Trump set in motion his controversial agenda for a new administration, leaders in the faith and civil rights communities began reacting. Within minutes of Trump’s fiery inaugural address, groups from Focus on the Family…
Faith leaders want Missouri Supreme Court to overturn abortion ban
More than a dozen faith leaders are urging the Missouri Supreme Court to strike down the state’s near-total abortion ban as a violation of church-state separation. The plaintiffs in Rev. Traci Blackmon v. State of Missouri recently filed a notice…
Baptists oppose Louisiana Ten Commandments bill
Scores of Louisiana churchgoers and pastors, including dozens of Baptists, are pleading with Gov. Jeff Landry to veto a bill requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all state-funded classrooms. “We do not need to turn public schools into…
Indiana court cites religious freedom as reason to override abortion ban
Religion won on the opposite side of an abortion case than usual April 4, part of a trend of those who favor access to abortion declaring they have a religious right to the procedure. That counters the more common narrative…
Oklahoma’s OK for nation’s first religious charter school to be challenged in court
Legal, political and faith-based opposition is mounting against Oklahoma’s action clearing the way for the nation’s first religious charter school. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State announced preparations are under way for legal action after the Oklahoma…
U.S. Department of Education issues guidance on religious expression in schools
“Although a government may not promote or favor religion or coerce the consciences of students, schools also may not discriminate against private religious expression by students, teachers or other employees,” according to new guidance issued by the U.S. Department of…