Baptists were among 99 religious and denominational organizations April 4 urging members of Congress to maintain a law that prohibits churches and other tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The Alliance of Baptists, American Baptist Churches USA, Association…
Humanists oppose evangelical gift boxes in public schools
A public-interest law firm specializing in cases involving disputes about religious expression has selected a humanist group attempting to prevent Colorado schoolchildren from being asked to put together Christmas gift boxes sponsored by an evangelical charity as winner of a…
ERLC says taxpayer funding of recycled tires on church playground not an establishment of religion
Churches should be allowed to participate in government programs on equal footing with other civic organizations, the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy agency argued April 21. The SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission filed a brief in a case before the…
Okla. Supreme Court upholds school vouchers
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has upheld a program that sends scholarships to parents of students with disabilities for use at private schools, including religious schools, rejecting claims it violates a provision in the state constitution barring taxpayer aid to religion….
Judge OKs tax break for Ark park
By Bob Allen A federal judge has ruled that Kentucky officials were wrong to deny tax incentives worth $18 million to a Christian ministry building a theme park featuring a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van…
How do we balance religious liberty and rule of law?
If you could collect a dime every time U.S. media mention “religious liberty” between now and Election Day 2016, you could fund your own Super-PAC — or maybe even bankroll your own run for the White House. We’re going to…
School district says gridiron baptism violated policy
By Bob Allen A mass baptism on a high school football field violated policy but was done without malicious intent, according to an investigation by the county superintendent. Carroll County School Superintendent Scott Cowart said in a statement to the…
The Scopes Trial, then and now
By Bill Leonard “The parents have a right to say that no teacher paid by their money shall rob their children of faith in God and send them back to their homes skeptical, or infidels, or agnostics, or atheists.” — W.J….
Pastor defends mass baptism, with some regret
By Bob Allen The pastor of a Georgia Baptist church at the center of controversy over a mass baptism on a public high school football field says he regrets not informing the local school board in advance, but he believes…