Monday, August 31, 2026

Court Says No "Substantial Burden" On Religion When Impacted Belief Is Not Central to Plaintiff's Religion

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 In John v. Aviles-Ramos , (ED NY, Aug. 27, 2026), a New York federal district court rejected claims by a former special education teacher t...

Suit Challenges New Jersey School Policy on Social Transitioning

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Suit was filed last week in a New Jersey federal district court challenging a school board's policy on dealing with students who seek so...

Recent Articles of Interest

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From SSRN: Joshua McDaniel, Courts and Commanders: Regulating Religious Freedom in the Military , (August 24, 2026). John M. Breen & Le...
Friday, August 28, 2026

Justice Department Issues New Opinion on Federal Grants to Religious Organizations

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This week, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel issued a 39-page Opinion captioned:    Constitutionality of Religious Restricti...

Vagueness Challenge to South Carolina's Abortion Law Will Move to Trial

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In Bingham v. Wilson , (D SC, Aug. 25, 2026), a suit brought by ob-gyn physicians, a South Carolina federal district court held that there i...

USCIRF Urges Sanctions Against India During Visit of Hindutva Leader

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 As reported by The Hindu , India's Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh  (RSS) organization, arrive...
Thursday, August 27, 2026

Parents Seek State Funds for Catholic School Attendance Without Requirement to First Attend Failing Public School

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Suit was filed this week in a Georgia state trial court challenging on free exercise grounds the eligibility requirements for participating ...

9th Circuit: Futile Reassignment Process Did Not Reasonably Accommodate Religious Objections to Covid Vaccine

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In Cherry v. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ,  (9th Cir., Aug. 21, 2026), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the De...

Parents and Students Sue School District Over Field Trip to Mosque

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Earlier this month, a number of parents, students and community members filed suit against the Palo Alto school district contending that a 2...
Wednesday, August 26, 2026

DHS's Disqualification of Applicant Who Engages in Protected Religious Use of Psychedelics Supports Title VII Claim

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In Reis v. Noem ,  (SD FL, Aug. 24, 2026), a Florida federal district court refused to dismiss plaintiff's claims under Title VII allegi...

6th Circuit Questions Whether "Secular Purpose" Is Still Part of Establishment Clause Compliance

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 In Gordon v. City of Hamtramck ,  (6th Cir., Aug. 21, 2026), the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Free Speech, Establishment Clau...
Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Confrontation Between Jewish and Muslim High School Students Leads to Complex Court Decision

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Hiester v. School District of Philadelphia , (ED PA,   Aug. 21, 2026), is a 41-page opinion covering complex allegations of competing anti-M...

Dance Company's "Ministerial Exception" Defense to Trafficking Claims Rejected at Pleading Stage

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Chun-Ko Chang v. Shen Yun Performing Arts, Inc. , (SD NY, Aug. 18, 2026), is a class action suit brought by students who also are performers...

Defamation Action Should Be Dismissed on Ecclesiastical Abstention Grounds

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In In re Gateway Church ,  (TX App., Aug. 19, 2026), a Texas state appellate court held that a state trial court should have dismissed on ec...
Monday, August 24, 2026

Texas Governor Attacks Airports' Plans to Install Ablution Facilities for Muslim Prayer Preparation

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On August 14, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to the CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport accusing two Texas airports...

State Must Show Compelling Interest to Bar Child Sex Offender from Church Services

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In  Reeces Chapel Missionary Baptist Church v. Buck ,  (ED NC, Aug. 14, 2026), a North Carolina federal district court refused to dismiss a ...

Recent Articles of Interest

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Note to Readers : Recently, the number of articles being posted each week to the Social Science Research Network has grown dramatically. Thi...
Sunday, August 23, 2026

Anti-Abortion Advocates Urge EPA To Require Data Collection on Mifepristone in Water Systems

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Anti-abortion advocates are using a new strategy in their efforts to limit or ban the use of the abortion drug mifepristone. In July, the En...

Exorcist Priest's Defamation Suit May Move Ahead

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In Martins v. Romero ,  (ED MI, Aug. 21, 2026), a Michigan federal district court refused to dismiss a suit by a Catholic priest against a p...

Satanic Temple Sues Over Denial of Use of Iowa Capitol Rotunda for Holiday Events

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In Iowa, private organizations and individuals may request use of space on the Capitol Grounds, including the Capitol Rotunda, for events t...