Knights of Columbus Brief decision that the district court in California made in this case is reversed, then it is certain that American’s principle rights will indeed be abolished. The fundamental rights of American individuals were indeed created by God, and no one, including any governmental authority, has the right…
Pray out loud before they play? Florida bill would give schools mic before high school games
State Rep. Webster Barnaby has filed a bill seeking to give high schools the right to say anything, including prayers , using the stadium microphone before high-school playoff games. The bill touches on the First Amendment rights to practice one’s faith and free speech and to be free from government-imposed…
Pray out loud before they play? Florida bill would give schools mic before high school games
State Rep. Webster Barnaby has filed a bill seeking to give high schools the right to say anything, including prayers , using the stadium microphone before high-school playoff games. The bill touches on the First Amendment rights to practice one’s faith and free speech and to be free from government-imposed…
Capitol riot shaman puts spotlight on religious diets for prisoners
Jacob Anthony Chansley is shown standing at the dais in the U.S. Senate chamber on January 6 during the riots at the U.S. Capitol. This image from Twitter is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s complaint. March 3 (UPI) — Special diets for prisoners based on their religious practices…
Supreme Court rules California churches may open despite the pandemic
The Supreme Court has lifted California’s ban on indoor church services, ruling that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s strict orders violate the Constitution’s protection of the free exercise of religion. WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has lifted California’s ban on indoor church services during the pandemic, ruling that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s strict…
Archdiocese of Chicago to court: Let parishes choose their staff
Catholic News Agency, February 10, 2021 Attorneys for the Archdiocese of Chicago argued before the Seventh Circuit on Tuesday that parishes should be free to choose church leaders without government interference. In the case of Demkovich v. St. Andrew the Apostle Parish , the former music director at St. Andrew’s…
When religion comes in conflict with the law
As a professor of Law since 1977, I always come across cases when the laws of the State collide with the teachings of the Church, and I always find refuge in many provisions of our Constitution on the separation between the Church and the State, as well as the freedom…
Considering a Common Phrase as a Trademark? Don’t Expect it to be Registrable.
There have been a number of recent Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) cases involving phrase marks. In all instances, the phrases have been refused registration not because of descriptiveness or misdescriptiveness of any kind, but because they fail to function as trademarks due to their informational characteristics and widespread…
The Law Q&A | Fired up about being fired
When has a fired employee suffered an illegal retaliatory discharge, and are there exceptions to such firing? If you’ve been fired by your employer, you might have a common law retaliatory discharge claim if you prove 1) you have, in fact, been actually fired; 2) in retaliation for your activities;…
Alabama’s Denial of Religious Support to Condemned Man Leads to Stay of Execution
The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday barred the State of Alabama from executing Willie Smith because it had refused to allow his pastor to be present with him in the execution chamber. An opinion from the Court stated that “Alabama has not carried its burden of showing that the exclusion of…
EEOC Updates Its Compliance Manual on Discrimination
Agency updates religious discrimination for first time in over a decade The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated the section of its Compliance Manual on religious discrimination in the workplace. The updated section on religious discrimination was published in January 2021 after a short review period and a 3-2…
Archdiocese of Chicago to court: Let parishes choose their staff
Washington D.C., Feb 10, 2021 / 04:00 am MT ( CNA ).- Attorneys for the Archdiocese of Chicago argued before the Seventh Circuit on Tuesday that parishes should be free to choose church leaders without government interference. In the case of Demkovich v. St. Andrew the Apostle Parish , the…
Chula Vista Church Wins Right To Worship Indoors Amid Pandemic
Above: South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista, May 20, 2020. A Chula Vista church was celebrating a legal victory Saturday after the U.S. Supreme Court granted a partial injunction against California’s prohibition against indoor worship services to help limit the spread of coronavirus. On a 6-3 vote late…
U.S. Supreme Court lifts California’s ban on indoor church services, keeps 25% capacity limit
A Peroni float rides by St.Peter and Paul Church during the Italian Heritage parade, in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. But by a 6-3 vote , the court ordered California to lift the prohibition on indoor worship that Newsom imposed on nearly all counties in the state.…
Chula Vista Church To Resume Indoor Worship Amid Pandemic
A Chula Vista church announced plans to resume indoor worship Sunday after winning a legal victory from the U.S. Supreme Court. On a 6-3 vote late Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court cited the Constitution’s protection of the free exercise of religion. (Renee Schiavone/Patch) SAN DIEGO, CA — A Chula Vista…
Judge dismisses Virginia church’s lawsuit against governor over COVID-19 restrictions
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam speaks during an unveiling ceremony for Rumors of War, a statue by artist Kehinde Wiley, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on December 10, 2019, in Richmond, Virginia. A judge has dismissed a lawsuit leveled by a church against Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam over previous…
Experts say decision on Rice Memorial High School student’s lawsuit shows federal courts’ favor of religious rights
Rice Memorial High School is seen at night. A recent federal appeals court decision regarding a case in Vermont shows the United States Supreme Court is shifting the goalposts of what the Constitution originally deemed precedent, law experts say. Former President Donald Trump appointed a record number of federal judges…
Courts still issuing pandemic rulings on abortion, religious liberty
In this May 3, 2020, file photo, the setting sun shines on the Supreme Court building in Washington. As coronavirus cases surge again nationwide, the Supreme Court late Wednesday, Nov. 25, temporarily barred New York from enforcing certain attendance limits at houses of worship in areas designated as hard hit…
Judge rejects Tony Spell’s request to quash criminal charges for defying COVID restrictions
Pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A judge in Louisiana has rejected a motion filed by controversial Pastor Tony Spell to quash six misdemeanor charges filed against him for holding church services in violation of the state’s pandemic restrictions. Judge Eboni Johnson-Rose of Louisiana’s 19th…
Judge lets criminal counts stand against Central pastor Tony Spell; rejects 1st Amendment challenge
Controversial Life Tabernacle Church pastor Tony Spell talks Wednesday, May 13, 2020, just outside the front door of his residence behind the church. Judge Eboni Johnson-Rose rejected Central pastor Tony Spell’s attempt to throw out on 1st Amendment grounds Monday criminal charges that he violated Gov. John Bel Edwards’ emergency…
small business
Washington D.C., Jan 21, 2021 / 02:34 pm ( CNA ).- A proposal made on the last day of the Trump administration would make religious businesses eligible to receive loans from the Small Business Administration, removing previous restrictions. The U.S. Small Business Administration published a proposal Jan 19. that would…
small businesses
Washington D.C., Jan 21, 2021 / 02:34 pm ( CNA ).- A proposal made on the last day of the Trump administration would make religious businesses eligible to receive loans from the Small Business Administration, removing previous restrictions. The U.S. Small Business Administration published a proposal Jan 19. that would…
Freedom of belief – our original American liberty
National Religious Freedom Day, observed every Jan. 16, is onlyobscurely observed although it officially commemorates the historic day in 1786 when the Virginia Religious Freedom Statute authored by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison separated Virginia and the Anglican Church. They mandated no one “…shall be compelled to frequent or support…
First Amendment 101
Libby Bakalar The events of this week have the First Amendment on top of everyone’s mind, so I thought I would do a VERY basic and quick review of some key questions about when and how it applies. First, here’s the full text, adopted in 1789: Congress shall make no…
Madhya Pradesh Governor Promulgates The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020
Anandiben Patel The Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Anandiben Patel has promulgated The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020. The ordinance has been published in the gazette notification (dated 09th January 2021). It may be noted that the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on 26 th December gave its nod to the…