Justice Parker sprinkled his legal opinion with a litany of religious sources, from classic Christian theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin, to a modern conservative Christian manifesto, the Manhattan Declaration, that opposes “anti-life” measures.
The pro-Kremlin Lukashenko last month signed into law a measure requiring all religious organizations in the country to reregister with authorities or face being outlawed if their loyalty to the state is in doubt.
Ken Paxton’s legal action appears to be part of a broader Republican push to target religious nonprofits serving migrants at the border amid an effort to make immigration a key 2024 election campaign issue.
Republican senators in Georgia also want to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms and allow religious chaplains to counsel teachers and students.
Judges across Europe are having a tough time deciding whether asylum-seekers claiming religious persecution are ‘genuine’ Christians.
The only requirements for a chaplain participating in a school program would be a background check and having their name and religious affiliation listed on the school website.
These bills are part of a broader Republican push nationwide to target a variety of culture issues in education, including diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and the type of books allowed in school libraries.
The action comes after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that the state must remove its Ten Commandments monument from Capitol grounds.
An attorney for Avell and the church, Jeremy Dys, said he thinks city leaders don't want the ministry in the middle of town, describing it as a “not in my backyard” issue and accusing officials of inventing problems.
Churches are often suspected of sympathy with opposition groups, even though they are more commonly used as places of refuge for civilians seeking to shelter from fighting.