BJC: States Should Not Have to Fund Religious Schools
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, a case involving a state constitutional ban on government funding of religion.
Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Religious Education Funding
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court's conservative majority appeared ready Wednesday to reinvigorate a Montana scholarship program and make it easier to use public money to pay for religious schooling in many states.
Badly Blaming Blaine
As the U.S. Supreme Court today (Jan. 22) hears arguments in a critical church-state case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, one problematic phrase the justices will likely hear a lot is “Blaine amendments." The problem? The phrase tells an inaccurate story.
Stinky School Posters
Across the country, state lawmakers recently returned to their chambers to pass important matters like putting up little signs in schools to magically make our society better. We should post this phrase everywhere and watch the miraculous transformation!
Supreme Court Gets Its Logic Crossed
Last week, a majority of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court decided to flip to a calendar in their quest to discover truth. Well, they didn’t admit that, but that’s essentially what they did in the case of the 94-year-old cross in Bladensburg, Md.
Supreme Court Determines Cross on Maryland Highway Can Stay
WASHINGTON (RNS) — In a 7-2 decision, the high court determined June 20 that the World War I monument known as the Bladensburg Cross, erected by the American Legion in 1925, does not violate the Constitution’s establishment clause.
The Supreme Court Made the Bladensburg Cross a Special Case. Let’s Keep it That Way
(RNS) - For many court watchers, including BJC, it is difficult to reconcile the promise of religious liberty for all with the constitutionality of a massive Latin cross sponsored by the government. One takeaway from this case could be that an unconstitutional establishment can become
More Than Testimony
During the state legislative session in Missouri that ended in May, I found myself at the Capitol more than usual -- and I’ve learned a couple things about the impact of a Baptist minister showing up to speak out for those of minority faiths or
New Assaults on the Church-State Wall
One of the most fundamental tenets of American democracy, the separation of church and state, is facing new assaults on the public-school front in Missouri.
Missouri Proposal Would Require Church-State Plaintiffs to Reveal Name Publicly
Legislation submitted by a Missouri lawmaker could have a stifling effect on lawsuits claiming a violation of religious liberty.