A lawsuit challenging a new Louisiana law requiring posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is premature because the measure has yet to be implemented, state Attorney General Liz Murrill said. Signed into law June 19, the legislation mandates…
Oklahoma Supreme Court says Catholic charter school unconstitutional
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a decision by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to grant a charter school license to a sectarian Catholic school. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would have been the nation’s first sectarian…
Gov. Landry gets his wish: Louisiana Ten Commandments law to be challenged in court
The ink was barely dry on Louisiana’s brand new Ten Commandments law before four major civil and religious rights groups declared their intent to sue to prevent the state from posting the Decalogue in public classrooms by the fall of…
Four groups warn Texas schools against new chaplaincy scheme
Four church-state separationist groups have sent a letter to Texas school superintendents and school boards warning them a law enacted by the Texas Legislature this year is unconstitutional and they should not take the bait. Not said explicitly in the…
BJC offers free downloadable report explaining January 6 in light of Christian nationalism
A new 63-page report takes a deep dive into the role of Christian nationalism in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and the ongoing, once-underground movement to overturn constitutional democracy in favor of government for and by…
Secularist group raises red flag over Baptist seminary inside Arkansas prison
A secular group opposed to excessive entanglement of church and state says a new prison seminary program set to begin this fall in Arkansas may be unconstitutional.
‘Counting heads’ on Supreme Court, group drops challenge to clergy housing allowance
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has dropped its latest lawsuit claiming that a law granting a tax benefit to ministers of the gospel is unconstitutional.
For second time, federal judge strikes down tax break for clergy
A federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled for the second time as unconstitutional an Internal Revenue Service provision which exempts clergy from paying taxes on portions of their income designated for housing.
Are state constitutions’ prohibitions on aid to churches legal?
A recent U.S. Supreme Court case may put such restrictions on shaky ground, say some legal observers.