Freedom of religion
The Latest
Iowa governor signs Religious Freedom Restoration Act
More than half of U.S. states have passed Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRA) since the federal government passed its version... Read more
Court rules that religious schools’ tax-exempt status does not make them subject to Title IX
A lower court had previously ruled against the school, arguing that the school’s tax-exempt status in and of itself constituted... Read more
Governors in West Virginia, Utah, Idaho sign religious freedom bills
The new laws protect student organizations at public universities and protects religious rights for faith-based adoption centers and foster care... Read more
Amid arrests of Indian priests and nun, bishop calls for ‘storming of heaven’
Eleven out of India’s 28 states have passed laws to criminalize forced conversions but, in practice, they have been used... Read more
Freedom of religion is ‘deteriorating’ in Hong Kong, new report says
The Chinese government is now tightening its grip on the region of more than 7 million residents, a Jan. 30... Read more
Victims of persecution testify at International Religious Freedom Summit
The two-day annual event includes speakers who faced religious persecution and government officials who work to promote religious freedom globally. Read more
Exonerated Finnish politician and bishop to return to court over biblical ‘hate speech’
The allegations stem from a 2004 pamphlet about the Lutheran teaching on sexuality, including the prohibition on homosexual activities. Read more
Americans of faith feel less accepted by society, new survey finds
Only half of people of faith in the U.S. feel their faith is “completely” accepted or accepted “a good amount,”... Read more
U.S. religious freedom watchdog urges White House to list India as country of concern
The USCIRF said it was “alarmed by India’s increased transnational targeting of religious minorities and those advocating on their behalf.” Read more
Iowa Satanic Temple display not protected by First Amendment, Catholic legal expert says
A legal analyst for EWTN said the display installed at the request of a prominent atheist group is not religious... Read more
When an Oregon town told a church to limit its meals to the homeless the DOJ stepped in
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Brookings, Oregon, has for years regularly provided meals for homeless people in the area up... Read more
Christian school sues Vermont after ban from sports league over transgender policy
The lawsuit, filed by Mid Vermont Christian School, a K–12 school in the town of Quechee, argues that the ban... Read more
Jewish, Muslim groups call for religious liberty protections in Catholic school lawsuit
The suit is challenging a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected categories under a... Read more
Are these the best and worst states for religious freedom?
First Liberty Institute released its analysis Wednesday ranking all 50 states based on how free its residents are to practice... Read more
Florida judge slams ‘transgender ideology’ in defense of teacher fired over pronouns
The judge said the Miami-Dade school district had imposed “transgender ideology” on the teacher, calling it a secular “state-sponsored religion.” Read more
Judge’s ruling forces Wichita Diocese to cancel ‘Mass for Life’ in front of abortion clinic
Sedgwick County Chief Judge Jeffery Goering signed a temporary restraining order on Oct. 6, which, in effect, prohibited the Mass... Read more
Supreme Court preview: Religious freedom cases on the docket
Court watchers are keeping an eye on several cases that could have an impact on religious liberty and free speech... Read more
Family who fled Germany to home-school their kids faces deportation from the U.S.
The Romeikes fled Germany in 2009 over the country’s severe compulsory education laws and now face deportation from the U.S. Read more
Court rules California district can’t bar Christian athletic club from schools
According to the ruling, the San Jose Unified School District engaged in a “double standard” when it penalized the group... Read more
Michigan township can’t ban Catholic group’s Stations of the Cross, court rules
A three-judge panel on Monday sided with Catholic Healthcare International and barred Genoa Township from obstructing CHI’s religious displays. Read more
