WASHINGTON (RNS) — Like many on the political left, the leaders of secular-oriented advocacy organizations have celebrated early actions by President Joe Biden. It’s Biden’s words that have rankled many in the secularist community.
Word&Way Editor Brian Kaylor argues in this guest piece at Roll Call that the historic appointment of U.S. House Chaplain Margaret Kibben obscures need to abolish antiquated position. Read full piece
The Trump administration on Monday moved to loosen restrictions on religious organizations that receive federal money to provide social services. The administration said it was clearing barriers that it claimed make it difficult for religious groups to participate in federal programs.
The Supreme Court has yet to set clear parameters about how religious holidays can be celebrated in public schools and whether granting access to all faith traditions is either constitutionally necessary or acceptable.
As Rev. Raphael Warnock, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, campaigns for the U.S. Senate, it raises questions about religion in politics. Why do so few clergy serve in Congress? And what kind of effect might this have on the priorities and policies
Using prayer to cover up our own misdeeds or guilty inaction isn’t just upsetting but can also be dangerous. Consider the latest move to fight coronavirus undertaken by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. Instead of issuing a life-saving statewide mask mandate, he called for an official
With the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee starting its hearing Monday (Oct. 12) to consider the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett as a justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, a Baptist group that closely watches church-state cases sent a letter to the senators on the committee.
A secular advocacy group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a voter registration form in Alabama, arguing the state violates the constitutional rights of applications by requiring them to declare “so help me God” when signing up to vote.
The Supreme Court’s majority is transforming this onetime protection into a sword to strike down hard-fought advances in civil rights. Read full piece
Melissa Rogers, a Baptist expert in church-state issues who previously led White House faith-based efforts, says governments can impose mass gathering bans to temporarily restrict church gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.