Becket

The Latest

Two religious sisters in Sisters of Life embrace.

New York must stop demanding private info from Sisters of Life after court order

Nov 10, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Sisters of Life sued state officials over a law that allowed the Department of Health to demand pro-life centers turn... Read more

Bella Health + Wellness in Englewood, Colorado.

Judge halts Colorado’s abortion-pill reversal ban while Catholic nurses’ lawsuit proceeds

Oct 23, 2023

By Kate Cavanaugh

A Denver-area clinic can continue to help women reverse unwanted chemical abortions despite a state ban after a judge issued... Read more

Health care professionals at the Colorado-based, pro-life Bella Health and Wellness healthcare clinic

Catholic nurses sue Colorado to continue abortion-reversal ministry

Oct 19, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The nurses argue that a new Colorado law banning abortion pill reversal impedes the First Amendment rights of their clients... Read more

CNA

Court rules California district can’t bar Christian athletic club from schools

Sep 14, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

According to the ruling, the San Jose Unified School District engaged in a “double standard” when it penalized the group... Read more

Debra Vitagliano.

States and pro-life groups urge Supreme Court to end abortion ‘bubble’ zones 

Aug 28, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

In all, 18 different amicus briefs were filed in support of pro-life free speech in a case involving Debra Vitagliano,... Read more

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California Jewish families fight for equal rights in education of disabled children

Aug 15, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

After a judge dismissed their case, the families are continuing their suit against a law that allows families with disabled... Read more

Classroom in a Catholic school.

New Jersey court rules Catholic school can require teachers to follow Catholic teaching

Aug 15, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously upheld a Catholic school’s ability to enforce an employee code of conduct in line... Read more

Michael and Catherine Burke of Southampton, Massachusetts, were denied approval to become foster parents and are suing the state on the grounds that they were discriminated against because of their Catholic faith and beliefs.

Massachusetts wrongly rejected Catholic foster parent applicants, lawsuit charges

Aug 9, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The lawsuit contends that a couple was denied approval to become foster parents because they hold to Catholic teaching on... Read more

About 200 Orthodox Jewish families and individuals showed up for a rally outside a California court building on Friday, July 21, 2023, to express their support for religious liberty for disabled students.

California Jewish families sue state for discriminating against religious disabled children

Jul 26, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Under a California law, religious students with special needs are not allowed to access special funding if they attend religious... Read more

Photo of the main entrance of Roncalli High School in Indiana.

Appeals court rules Catholic school allowed to hold employees to moral religious standards

Jul 14, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Roncalli High School in Indiana refused to renew the contract of a guidance counselor because she entered into a homosexual... Read more

Medical team preparing equipment for surgery in operation room. Via Shutterstock

No ‘transgender mandate’ for Catholic doctors as Biden admin declines to defend further

Jun 21, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic plaintiffs filed the legal challenge to the Biden administration’s mandate arguing the mandate violated their religious freedom. Read more

Parental and religious freedom rights advocates, including a group of Muslim parents, on June 6, 2023, protest a Maryland school system policy that removes parents’ authority to opt their children out of homosexual and transgender coursework.

Muslim-led parents’ group protests LGBT curriculum mandate in Maryland school system

Jun 8, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Muslim parents protested a Maryland school system’s policy that removes parents’ authority to opt their children out of LGBT coursework. Read more

An inspector had deemed the Catholic chapel’s sanctuary candle a fire hazard.

UPDATE: Feds back off demand that Catholic hospital extinguish chapel candle

May 5, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Federal government regulators backed off their demands that a Catholic hospital extinguish its chapel candle. Read more

HHS has ordered the Catholic hospital to extinguish the tabernacle candle (pictured) and its chapel.

HHS orders Catholic hospital to snuff out chapel candle or lose its accreditation

May 4, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

A Catholic hospital system in Oklahoma is contesting federal officials’ demand that it must extinguish an enclosed tabernacle candle in... Read more

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Biden’s transgender mandate suffers second big loss in appellate court

Dec 9, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

The Biden administration may not force Catholic organizations and medical professionals to perform gender-transition surgeries or provide insurance coverage for... Read more

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Americans overwhelmingly support right to practice religion, new survey says

Dec 9, 2022

By Peter Pinedo

Becket’s “2022 Religious Freedom Index,” released Dec. 7, showed a substantial increase in support for “religious pluralism.”  Read more

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Major win for Catholic doctors fighting Biden’s transgender mandate after appeal deadline passes

Nov 29, 2022

By Edie Heipel

The proposal was strongly opposed by religious doctors, medical organizations, and the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. Read more

Captain Sukhbir Toor, who with three other Sikhs sued the U.S. Marine Corps April 11, 2022.

Sikhs sue US Marines over beard, turban restrictions on religious liberty grounds

Apr 13, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A group of four Sikh men are seeking a religious exemption from the Marine Corps allowing them to keep the... Read more

CNA

Condemned man wins case seeking pastor’s touch and prayer during execution

Mar 24, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of an inmate who requested that his pastor pray aloud and “lay hands” on... Read more

Joseph Kennedy, a former high school football coach, says he lost his job for refusing to stop praying on the 50-yard line after his team's games. 

Catholic bishops support praying football coach in Supreme Court case

Mar 3, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) submitted an amicus brief Wednesday in support of Joseph Kennedy, a Christian... Read more