Wednesday, March 26, 2025

USCIRF Annual Report Recommends Designating Countries Restricting Religious Freedom

›
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom yesterday released its 2025 Annual Report ( full text ). The 96-page Report makes rec...

South Dakota Enacts Law Barring Transgender Individuals from Using State Restrooms Consistent with Their Gender

›
On March 20, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed  HB 1259 ( full text ).  The new law provides that public schools and buildings owned...
Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Diocese and Pregnancy Center Challenge Illinois Ban on Employment Discrimination Because of Reproductive Health Care Choices

›
Suit was filed last week in an Illinois federal district court by a Christian Pregnancy Care Center and a Catholic diocese challenging the r...
Monday, March 24, 2025

Kansas House Condemns Planned Satanic Black Mass at Statehouse

›
On March 20, the Kansas state House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 6016 ( full text ) denouncing a Black Mass planned by the Sa...

Recent Articles of Interest

›
From SSRN: Chad Flanders, Is Yoder v. Wisconsin Limited to Its Facts? ,  (Saint Louis U. Legal Studies Research Paper Series 2025-05). Josh ...
Friday, March 21, 2025

School's Gender Support Policy Did Not Violate Parent's Free Exercise or Due Process Rights

›
In  Vitsaxaki v. Skaneateles Central School District , (ND NY, March 20, 2025), a New York federal district court rejected free exercise and...

Covid Era Mask Mandate Did Not Violate Free Exercise

›
In Robol v. City of Columbus ,  (OH App., March 20, 2025), an Ohio state appellate court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff's claims th...
Thursday, March 20, 2025

Kentucky Legislature Authorizes Conversion Therapy for Minors

›
Last week, the Kentucky legislature gave final approval to House Bill 495 ( full text ) which invalidates Executive Order 2024-632  issued ...

EEOC Enjoined from Enforcing Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Against Christian Nonprofit Organization

›
In Stanley M. Herzog Foundation v. EEOC , (W.D. Mo. Oct 04, 2024), a Missouri federal district court issued a preliminary injunction barring...

Supreme Court Denies Execution Stay to Buddhist Who Says His RLUIPA Rights Will Be Violated

›
 In a 5-4 decision in Hoffman v. Westcott ,  (Sup. Ct., March 18, 2025), the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant a stay of execution to a Bu...

President Issues Nowruz Greetings

›
Today is  Nowruz ,   the Persian New Year.  Yesterday President Trump issued a Message ( full text ) sending wishes to those celebrating the...
Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Court Enjoins Implementation of Ban on Transgender Individuals Serving in the Military

›
In Talbott v. United States , (D DC, March 18, 2025), the United States federal district court for the District of Columbia issued a prelimi...

Court Upholds California's Repeal of Personal Belief Exemption from School Vaccination Mandate

›
 In Royce v. Pan ,  (SD CA, March 17, 2025), a California federal district court rejected a free exercise challenge to California's remo...

Most Challenges to Law Protecting Access to Abortion Clinics Are Rejected; One Section Violates 1st and 14th Amendments

›
In Hulinsky v. County of Westchester ,  (SD NY, March 14,2025), two women who have engaged in sidewalk counseling at abortion clinics challe...
Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Justice Department in Policy Change Files Amicus Brief Supporting Religious Charter School

›
 As previously reported , the U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari in Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board v. Drummond and the relate...

RLUIPA and Free Exercise Claims Rejected in Suit by Native American Who Held Religious Objections to Blood Alcohol Test

›
In Shash v. City of Pueblo ,  (D CO, March 14, 2025), plaintiff who was a leader in the southern Colorado Native American Community Church o...
Monday, March 17, 2025

Recent Articles of Interest

›
From SSRN: Sascha O. Becker, Amma Panin, Steven Pfaff & Jared Rubin, Religion and Economic Development: Past, Present, and Future ,  (CE...
Sunday, March 16, 2025

Syria Gets New Interim Constitution That Protects Freedom of Belief

›
AP reports that on March 13, Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, signed an Interim Constitutional Declaration ( full text ), wh...
Friday, March 14, 2025

Oklahoma Indicts Megachurch Pastor on Charges of Lewd Acts With a Minor

›
The Oklahoma Attorney General has announced that on Wednesday a Multi-County Grand indicted the founder of a Texas Megachurch on five counts...
Thursday, March 13, 2025

Petition Seeks to Stop Latest Effort to Get Bibles in Oklahoma School Classrooms

›
 As previously reported , the Oklahoma Supreme Court has issued an order staying any work by the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterpris...