Religious Liberty

“The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday in favor of a North Carolina religious liberty law protecting county magistrates. The law allows the public officials to recuse themselves from performing marriage ceremonies for or issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

“In its biggest religious freedom case of the year, the US Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of a conservative Lutheran congregation seeking a state grant for improving its playground. New Justice Neil Gorsuch sided with the majority in the 7–2 vote.” CT

“The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear an appeal from a Colorado baker with religious objections to same-sex marriage who had lost a discrimination case for refusing to create a cake to celebrate such a union.” NY Times

“The two Bible passages that sparked the dispute were 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5:19-21.” Blaze

“A judge for the US District Court of the Northern District of Florida ruled Monday that a large cross erected in a Pensacola park is in violation of the First Amendment…. The Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Legal Center filed the suit”

“Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an adoption bill into law on Thursday that allows adoption agencies receiving public funding to refuse to place children in adoptive families or foster homes that conflict with the agencies’ religious beliefs.” Jurist

“Unanimous victory for religiously affiliated health care groups will affect 100 lawsuits.”

“Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) signed Senate Bill 24 Friday, which prevents the state officials from issuing subpoenas demanding that pastors hand over their sermon messages for government inspection.” OneNewsNow

“A Baptist mother of two has filed religious discrimination and retaliation charges against a school system that threatened to fire her for privately telling a coworker she’d pray for him.”