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.
The Supreme Court’s Peace Cross: Here’s the Important Backstory
What is striking about the Peace Cross case before the Supreme Court is what it reveals about our country’s religious transformation since the war memorial was erected in 1925.
Kavanaugh Questions Restrictions on Churches Using Preservation Grants
Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote in a statement, along with Justices Gorsuch and Alito, that the court should protect the ability of churches and other religious organization to receive historic preservation funds from local governments.
Lawyer Says Missouri Bill Targeting Atheist Plaintiffs Could Get Them Killed
During a public hearing on a proposed bill in Missouri that would require anyone filing a church/state separation lawsuit to use their real names in court documents and public hearings, a lawyer testified that the bill could put individuals in danger.
A Missouri Bill Would Target Atheists Who File Church/State Separation Lawsuits
Missouri State Rep. Hardy Billington, a Baptist who recently said his goal in office was to “stand up for Christian values,” recently filed a bill, HB 728, that would single out adult plaintiffs in cases involving church/state separation to use their real names.
Religion or Remembrance? Supreme Court to Mull Cross-Shaped War Memorial
Erected just outside Washington, D.C., by the American Legion more than 90 years ago, the cross — also known as the "Bladensburg Cross" — is the center of a lawsuit the association filed in 2012, arguing the cross' location is unconstitutional. On Wednesday (Feb. 27),
Bible Classes in Public Schools? Why Christian Lawmakers Are Pushing a Wave of New Bills
A wave of “Bible literacy” bills emerging in state legislatures would allow more students in public high schools to study the Old and New Testaments.
Church-State Stories to Watch in 2019
As the new year starts, the Baptist Joint Committee Don Byrd suggest five church-state stories that bear watching in 2019, including prayer, a memorial cross, state legislation, religious exemption from nondiscrimination laws and foster care discrimination. Read full story
Churches Receiving Taxpayer Money in Aftermath of Missouri Case
As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last year in the case Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, In. v. Comer, Missouri taxpayers are footing the bill for new playground surfaces at churches and Christian schools — and that likely means some public schools
Cautionary Tales About Church-State Romance
For 21 years, I’ve pastored a church within three blocks of our state Capitol. I’ve seen Republicans and Democrats come and go. I’ve prayed with and argued with governors and legislators from both parties. Have I handled every situation correctly? Not a chance.