Creative Commons Having been raised Baptist and then Methodist, I understand how important religion, especially Christianity, can be to many people. Furthermore, I have been in the public school system for 14 years, starting in kindergarten and continuing through college. I can absolutely understand why many parents choose to send…
The Civics Project: Constitutional ‘wall’ between church and state forever being tested in courts
WASHINGTON — Tom Alexander holds a cross Wednesday outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in on Wednesday as he prays prior to key rulings involving religion. [Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press] Patrick Semansky Hide caption Remember civics class … and not paying attention? These days, we need that civics lesson more…
Letters to the Editor: Discrimination is ungodly — yet religious freedom protects it?
The Supreme Court ruled that St. James Catholic School in Torrance cannot be sued for discrimination after it dismissed a teacher who needed to go on medical leave. To the editor: Society should not have the right to impose its values upon religious groups and institutions in the internal conduct…
GREG HARTON: Court guards religion as central to U.S. freedoms
Growing up, I had heard about Al Capone, the high-profile, Chicago-based crime boss who violently capitalized on bootlegging during Prohibition. When I became a reporter in Hot Springs, I became aware of a certain tourist-town pride that "Big Al" once owned a suite in the still-renowned Arlington Hotel. He enjoyed,…
Counterpoint: Religious Liberty Scores a Win at the Supreme Court
Three religious freedom cases provide constitutionalists with some hope. In a year beset by disappointing decisions from the Supreme Court, a trio of religious liberty cases decided this term provides constitutionalists with some hope. Let’s review: Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania The Little Sisters of the Poor need…
Why Supreme Court liberals joined conservatives on religion, by Noah Feldman
The Supreme Court has decided, 7-2, that teachers in Catholic elementary schools are not covered by employment discrimination law. This is a highly important expansion of religious exemptions from government regulation. The Supreme Court had already given religious institutions an exemption for so-called “ministerial” employees. It has now gone substantially…
The Civics Project: Constitutional ’wall’ between church and state forever being tested | Opinion
The Civics Project Question: The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on state funding for religious schools confuses me. What does the Constitution actually say about religion? Answer: The U.S. Constitution does not say much directly. Article 6: Clause 3 states that “…No religious test shall ever be required as a…
The Civics Project: Constitutional ’wall’ between church and state forever being tested | Opinion
Question: The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on state funding for religious schools confuses me. What does the Constitution actually say about religion? Answer: The U.S. Constitution does not say much directly. Article 6: Clause 3 states that “…No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any…
Commentary: Why Supreme Court liberals joined conservatives on religion
The Supreme Court has decided, 7-2, that teachers in Catholic elementary schools are not covered by employment discrimination law. This is a highly important expansion of religious exemptions from government regulation. The Supreme Court had already given religious institutions an exemption for so-called “ministerial” employees. It has now gone substantially…
Has 35 Years Of Deterioration Of Establishment Clause Protection Finally Given The Theocrats Their Victory?
In a 5-4 decision in Espinoza v. Montana , the U.S. Supreme Court held that Montana could not exclude religious schools from a government subsidy program for private education. The Court’s reasoning in Espinoza is that denying government aid to religious schools because of their “religious character” violates the First…
High court sparks new battle over church-state separation
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen Tuesday, June 30, 2020 in Washington. The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains to be seen. In…
Legal experts foresee end of anti-Catholic state laws following Supreme Court school-choice ruling
Could facilitate the growth of government-religion interaction Laws motivated by anti-Catholic bigotry across the country are in the cross hairs following a Supreme Court ruling against Montana last month, civil and religious liberties lawyers told The College Fix in interviews. In a 5-4 tally with three concurring opinions and three…
U.S. Supreme Court: Excluding Religious Schools from a Scholarship Program Is Unconstitutional
Highlights In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue , the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Montana could not exclude religious schools from a tax credit scholarship program on the grounds that the state "no aid" or Blaine amendment required it. The decision reiterates that disqualifying otherwise eligible recipients from…
High court sparks new battle over church-state separation
By DAVID CRARY and ELANA SCHOR, Associated Press The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains to be seen. In Espinoza v. Montana Department…
High court sparks new battle over church-state separation
By DAVID CRARY and ELANA SCHOR, Associated Press The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains to be seen. In Espinoza v. Montana Department…
High court sparks new battle over church-state separation
The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains to be seen. In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the high court ruled 5-4 that…
IDEAS: What is religious freedom?
Note from Community Impact Editor Amelia Robinson: this commentary is set to appear on the Dayton Daily News Ideas and Voices page Sunday, July 5. This week’s guest columnists were asked to reflect on the notions of freedom and/or patriotism. Other columns to be featured on the page are embedded.…
Esbeck on the Establishment Clause after Espinoza v. Montana
Carl H. Esbeck (University of Missouri School of Law) has posted With the Supreme Court having Decided Espinoza v. Montana and Ordering the State to Fund Religious Schools: What’s Left of the Establishment Clause? on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Consistent with the Establishment Clause, the Supreme Court had permitted…
High court sparks new battle over church-state separation
By David Crary and Elana Schor – Associated Press The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains to be seen. In Espinoza v. Montana…
Court upholds abortion-related ruling against Catholic Church
ALBANY – A mid-level appeals court Thursday unanimously rejected the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany’s effort to challenge a state regulation that requires health insurers to cover medically necessary abortions. In a 5-0 decision, the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court’s Third Department upheld a January 2019 ruling by state…
Impact: Supreme Court ruling on Montana case sparks new battle over church-state separation
The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains to be seen. In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the high court ruled 5-4 that…
Victory: U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Discriminatory Law Preventing Students From Using Scholarships to Attend Religious Private Schools
Rejecting long-standing state laws that discriminate against religion, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Montana must allow scholarships it provides to be used by families for tuition at religious schools. The Court’s 5-4 decision in Espinoza v. Mont. Dept. of Revenue found that a state constitutional provision restricting aid…
High court sparks new battle over church-state separation
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen Tuesday, June 30, 2020 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains…
Court lays to rest age-old debate with Espinoza decision
After more than a century, the U.S. Supreme Court finally has determined that Blaine amendments, which were created in the late 19 th century under a wave of anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic bias, violate the U.S. Constitution’s Free Exercise clause. “A State need not subsidize private education. But once a State…
High court sparks new battle over church-state separation
This photo shows the U.S. Supreme Court building. (Source: CNN, File) (WJRT) (AP) – The Supreme Court elated religious freedom advocates and alarmed secular groups with its Tuesday ruling on public funding for religious education, a decision whose long-term effect on the separation of church and state remains to be…