Judge Rules Against Tribes in Oregon Burial-Site Case
State pays $300K to magistrate who quit over gay marriage
Iowa lawsuit pits gay rights against religious freedom
Tribes seek reparations over destroyed Oregon site
Appeals court: Florida must provide prisoners kosher food
July 14, 2016, The Associated Press
Supporters of the kosher program praised the ruling, which was released only two days after the judges heard oral arguments.
“This is a huge win, and it perfectly shows how protecting religious liberty for any Americans ultimately protects it for all Americans,” said Daniel Blomberg, legal counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit law firm that filed a friend-of-court brief in the case. “Allowing prisoners to practice their faith is better for them, better for prisons, and better for society.”
4th Supreme Court Go-Round for 5-Year-Old Obama Health Law
Nov 6, 2015, Associated Press
The faith-based groups “can’t help the government with its contraceptive delivery system,” said Mark Rienzi, a lawyer who represents the groups. Among the challengers are Bishop David Zubik, head of the Catholic Diocese in Pittsburgh, the Little Sisters of the Poor, nuns who run more than two dozen nursing homes for impoverished seniors, and evangelical and Catholic colleges in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, D.C.
Appeals court upholds Jesus statue on Montana mountain
Colorado Nuns Appeal Birth Control Ruling to Supreme Court
Court: New Health Law Doesn’t Infringe on Religious Freedom
Injunction granted in Okla. birth control lawsuit
Associated Press, December 20, 2013
“This is an overwhelming victory for GuideStone and the nearly 200 plaintiffs in this class-action lawsuit,” attorney Adele Keim said in a statement. “Today’s ruling will allow hundreds of Baptist ministries to continue preaching the gospel and serving the poor this Christmas, without laboring under the threat of massive fines.”
New Obama Birth Control Fixes for Religious Groups
AP August 22, 2014
“We will be studying the new rule with our clients, but if today’s announcement is just a different way for the government to hijack the health plans of religious ministries, it is unlikely to end the litigation,” said Mark Rienzi, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. The fund has represented both Hobby Lobby and Wheaton College, an evangelical school whose case also made its way to the Supreme Court.
Read the full article here.
Why New Jersey atheists don’t want Pledge of Allegiance in school
Associated Press, April 22, 2014
Proponents of the pledge have argued that the solution is to allow students to opt out of the pledge. Jehovah’s Witnesses, who believe the pledge constitutes idolatry, have been sitting out the pledge for a very long time, notes Eric Rassbach of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, one of two defense attorneys in the Massachusetts case.
Colorado nuns file challenge on birth control
Associated Press, February 24, 2014
The nuns’ appeal, spearheaded by attorneys for the Becket Fund
for Religious Liberty, says that still violates their beliefs.
Religion News in Brief
Associated Press, February 12, 2014
Kyle Duncan of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty says Hobby Lobby’s brief has now been filed at the Supreme Court. The justices will hear arguments March 25 involving challenges to the mandate by Hobby Lobby and Mennonite-owned Conestoga Wood Specialties.
Court gives nuns a compromise on health care issue
Associated Press, January 24, 2014
Their nuns’ lawyer, Mark Rienzi of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said they were delighted to hear about the court’s decision. “It made no sense for the Little Sisters to be singled out for fines and punishment before they could even finish their suit,” he said.
Iowa business defends denial of same-sex wedding
Associated Press, October 8, 2013
There is no specific punitive action in the case, said the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is defending the Odgaards. But the suit said the Odgaards “may be exposed to financial punishment and other forms of official coercion” by the commission.
Mass. court hears Pledge of Allegiance challenge
Associated Press, September 4, 2013
Eric Rassbach, deputy general counsel for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, told the justices that the phrase “under God” has a long history as an expression of a “political philosophy” and is not a religious declaration.
Churches changing bylaws after gay marriage ruling
Associated Press, August 24, 2013
Eric Rassbach with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said it is unlikely the government would try to force a pastor to perform a same-sex marriage, but churches that rent out their facilities to the general public could face problems if they refuse to rent to gay couples.
Court rules Hobby Lobby can challenge health law, won’t have to pay fines
Associated Press, June 27, 2013
In a health care decision giving hope to opponents of the federal birth-control coverage mandate, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hobby Lobby stores won’t have to start paying millions of dollars in fines next week for not complying with the requirement.
Judge: Jesus Statue Can Stay on Montana Mountain
Associated Press, June 25, 2013
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which defended the monument in court, applauded the “commonsense” decision. It argued the statue is a far cry from creating a state religion and not every religious statue runs afoul of the Constitution.
Birth control coverage up for federal appeal
The Associated Press, May 23, 2013
“They ought to be able — just like a church, just like a charity — to have the right to opt out of a provision that infringes on their religious beliefs,” said Kyle Duncan, who will argue before the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the Green family, the founders of Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. and a sister company, Christian booksellers Mardel Inc.
Other companies besides Hobby Lobby challenging health law’s contraception mandate
The Associated Press, May 23, 2013
Thirty-one private companies have sued to overturn the regulation on similar grounds. Their cases are pending. Hobby Lobby is the best-known; most of the others are smaller, family-run and privately held, so they do not have to run legal strategy by shareholders like larger, publicly traded firms do.
Hobby Lobby takes birth-control mandate fight to federal appeals court
The Associated Press, May 23, 2013
Hobby Lobby’s lawyer argued that the Greens shouldn’t face fines for not complying with mandatory contraceptive coverage simply because their business makes a profit. The stores are a “profit-making company, yes, but also a ministry,” Kyle Duncan argued.
Court reinstates Fla. inmate kosher meals lawsuit
The Associated Press, May 14, 2013
“Prisoners surrender many of their physical rights at the jailhouse door, but they do not surrender the fundamental right of conscience,” said Goodrich, who is deputy general counsel at the Washington-based Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. “Bureaucratic stubbornness should not prevent a handful of prisoners from peacefully following the centuries-old commands of Judaism.”
Obama offers faith groups new birth control rule
Hobby Lobby asks federal judge to block portion of Obamacare; says it violates religious freedom
Federal judge allows mosque opponents to intervene
Muslim man sues over having to remove cap
Appeals court upholds off-campus religious classes
Feds: Religious employers must cover the pill
“The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a powerhouse law firm based in Washington that tackles religious freedom issues, predicted in a statement that religious groups “will never pay for abortion drugs in violation of their religious beliefs.”” – Associated Press Continue reading “Feds: Religious employers must cover the pill”