Church-state separationists lambasted a June 21 decision of the United States Supreme Court that granted parents in Maine access to taxpayer-funded vouchers to send their children to private religious schools. Meanwhile, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a scathing dissent from the…
Do No Harm Act seeks to rein in RFRA claims
Some who 23 years ago worked for passage of a law ensuring broad protection of religious freedom say now the Religious Freedom Restoration Act needs tweaking so it can’t be used to discriminate against others. Groups including Americans United for…
Legislation would bar religious discrimination in immigration
The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty joined 30 other religious and religious-liberty organizations in a broad coalition urging passage of legislation making it illegal for Donald Trump, if elected president, to bar Muslim immigration. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) unveiled the…
Interfaith leader cites religious liberty threat
By Bob Allen After championing religious freedom for most of his ministry career, former Interfaith Alliance head Welton Gaddy says he does not think the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution would pass if it were being proposed today. Accepting…
Gaddy retiring as head of Interfaith Alliance
By Bob Allen Welton Gaddy, an ordained Baptist minister and pastor for preaching and worship at Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, La., announced May 8 he will retire as president of the Interfaith Alliance at the end of 2014. Since…
Groups want probe of NYPD surveillance
By Bob Allen The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty joined more than 120 national, state and local organizations in an open letter Oct. 24 urging the Department of Justice to investigate post 9/11 surveillance practices in New York City…
Faith leaders oppose religious profiling
By Bob Allen As the Senate opened formal debate on a proposal for comprehensive immigration reform, a group of religious organizations called on senators to include a ban on religious profiling in the final package. An 844-page legislative plan developed…
Faith leader criticizes Romney ad
By Bob Allen An interfaith leader and Baptist minister sent a letter Aug. 16 to presidential candidate Mitt Romney criticizing him for a campaign ad accusing President Obama of declaring “war on religion” by “forcing religious institutions to go against…
Faith leader criticizes Romney ad
By Bob Allen An interfaith leader and Baptist minister sent a letter Aug. 16 criticizing presidential candidate Mitt Romney for a campaign ad accusing President Obama of declaring “war on religion” by “forcing religious institutions to go against their faith.”…