For the second time in two months, the United States Supreme Court on Friday, April 9, issued a late-night, end-of-the-week ruling on a California church’s challenge to public health restrictions due to COVID-19. But there’s something different about the latest…
From Massachusetts to Missouri, faith-based schools seek to shield governance under religious exemptions
The highest court in Massachusetts ruled this month that a social work professor at a nondenominational Christian college is not a “minister,” meaning she may proceed with a discrimination suit against the college. Meanwhile, a Baptist university in Missouri claims…
Christian America’s betrayal of the kingdom of God
The storming of the American Capitol on Jan. 6 — with its profusion of Bibles, crosses and other Christian symbols — placed a gigantic exclamation point on the unease American Christians always have felt with the First Amendment to the…
New book recalls story of challenging mandatory chapel at U.S. military academies
David Vaught went to the U.S. Military Academy in 1965, war raging at home and abroad, to defend the Constitution. Fueling his patriotism was a deep-seated Baptist faith imbued with a passion for the First Amendment. But those values led…
The CARES Act may be a financial lifeline for churches; but at what cost to religious liberty?
I know the CARES Act represents a lifeline to churches that don’t know how they’ll keep their doors open without it. But I also know that my Baptist forbears endured imprisonment, public beatings and even exile to defend the principle of absolute religious liberty. Some principles are worth defending no matter what the cost.
The church in exile: How will we respond to the marginalization of Christianity in American society?
Assuming the posture of exile is difficult and lonely. But could it be that the church’s loss of standing in American society is an opportunity to trust in God rather than in our privileged position?
Paige Patterson claims First Amendment defense in abuse lawsuit
Former Southern Baptist statesman Paige Patterson claimed a religious liberty defense, while denying the bulk of allegations in a lawsuit over his handling of sex abuse claims, in an answer filed Aug. 26 in federal court.
Baptist leader promotes balanced view of religious liberty before Senate panel
A Baptist church-state specialist warned a Senate panel Oct. 2 against “a growing misunderstanding and sometimes willful distortion” of the constitutional right to free exercise of religion.
Pastor/judge repeats controversial death penalty protest
An Arkansas judge and pastor of a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church participated in an anti-death penalty demonstration this week, re-enacting symbolic speech that a year ago led to his being barred from hearing capital punishment cases.