Religious liberty ‘cannot be quarantined’ says new study
High School tennis player sues league for religious discrimination
Texas inmate petitions Supreme Court, seeks Buddhist minister hours before execution
New Jersey Supreme Court rules churches ineligible for renovation grants
Christian group makes Wayne State Univ. blink; lawsuit prompts reinstatement
Christian group sues after university discrimination ruling derails 75-year run
Congress’ budget deal affirms church access to FEMA disaster aid
Congress passes law protecting churches from one of FEMA’s dumbest decisions ever
Judge orders University of Iowa to reinstate Christian group
University of Iowa ousts Christian student group for requiring leaders to follow Christian teaching
Federal court strikes down tax benefit for faith leaders
Justice Gorsuch may quickly make mark on Supreme Court rulings
In Gorsuch hearings, religious freedom important to Dems, Republicans
Sweat lodge decision shows Gorsuch’s attention to religious liberty
No war on Christmas: In many communities, officials opt to surrender
December 21, 2015, The Washington Times
As the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty put it, “Just as the government doesn’t have to include a pacifist memorial next to every war memorial, it doesn’t have to include mockery of religion next to every creche or Christmas tree.”
Since 2000, the Becket Fund has fought government capitulation on religious displays with its annual Ebenezer Awards.
“I think in general, the American public is happy to accommodate everyone else’s religion, and most of us are happy to hear ‘Happy Hanukkah’ from someone,” said Becket senior counsel Eric Baxter. “But there are certainly some government bureaucrats who feel like they have to suppress religion, which is really unnecessary.”
Playground spat looms as key church-state separation case
Final score for Big Mountain Jesus: A 61-year-old war memorial to remain on Montana ski slope
February 23, 2016, The Washington Times
Championed by the Knights of Columbus, the 61-year-old statue honors soldiers – many from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division – who fought the Nazis in the Italian Alps. The Becket Fund defended the memorial in a five-year battle against The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based secular group that demanded the statue be removed, claiming that its mere presence violated the First Amendment.
U.S. religious freedom to be honored
January 14, 2016, The Washington Times
These federal and state laws — which protect people against substantial burdens on their religious freedom — play “an essential role in protecting the religious minorities of our time,” said Hannah Smith, senior counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. The organization has created an online educational source for information on the laws called RFRA Central.
Defending religious freedom: Seamus Hasson
Indiana religious freedom act criticized by officials in states with similar laws
Nuns battling the Obama admin. make it official: Tweaks to birth control rule ‘change nothing’
Washington Times, September 9, 2014
“Merely offering the Little Sisters a different way to violate their religion does not ease their conscience,” said Adele Keim, counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the Little Sisters. “Adding another layer of paperwork is a solution that only a bureaucrat could love.”
Question of beard and religious freedom unites groups who’ve been opponents
Washington Post August 31, 2014
Religious groups and some civil libertarians were often at odds during the last Supreme Court term, but they have found common ground on a religious freedom case that the justices will take up as one of their first orders of business in October.
Read the full article here.
Religious freedom cases to fill Supreme Court docket
Hobby Lobby stunner: Supreme Court issues long-awaited ruling in birth-control dispute
June 30, 2014 – The Washington Times
“The administration cannot force closely held private corporations to pay for contraception in their health insurance plans if it violates their religious beliefs, a divided Supreme Court ruled Monday, dealing a political and logistical setback to President Obama’s signature law.”
Groups push military for more religious liberty
Washington Times, May 28, 2014
“The bottom line is that we do have more to do,” said Daniel Blomberg, legal counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. “We have seen a series of problems in the military that have given rise to a number of concerns and direct congressional action. Congress has twice passed statutes that require the military to be more accommodating to religious beliefs and practices.”
FEULNER: Honoring Hobby Lobby, Conestoga Wood Specialties for living their faith
Washington Times, March 31, 2014
The Becket Fund (representing the Green family) notes that tens of millions have been excluded from this mandate for other reasons.
STRANGE: Defending faith from federal bullies
Washington Times, February 14, 2014
To make sure that liberty isn’t crushed, the lawyers at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty stepped in. As Attorney General of Alabama, I am proud to see our state, along with 20 other states, stand shoulder to shoulder with the Becket Fund in opposing the Department of Health and Human Services mandate.
What Obamacare means to Little Sisters of the Poor
Washington Times, October 10, 2013
So now these humble sisters have been forced to enter into a legal battle with the administration to try to preserve their religious freedom and continue to serve the elderly poor without government intrusion. The Becket Fund
for Religious Liberty has brought suit on their behalf in federal district court in Denver.
Second court backs Obama birth control mandate
Washington Times, September 17, 2013
“This just sets it up for Supreme Court review,” said Kyle Duncan, general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing some of the employers who object to the mandate.
Resolution on contraceptive coverage getting closer for religious employers
Washington Times, July 22, 2013
As it stands, nonprofit objectors have “only got a few months to either comply or get a court victory to protect them,” said Lori Windham, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
Appeals courts mull ‘Obamacare’ contraception mandate
Washington Times, May 26, 2013
Adele Keim, a lawyer at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, attended the Denver arguments while her colleague, Kyle Duncan, delivered arguments on behalf of the Green family, which owns Hobby Lobby. She said it was clear that the eight judges — it was an “en banc” hearing, so all of the circuit judges attended instead of only three — were taking the matter seriously.
George: How hostile to religion must the state be?
The Washington Times, April 18, 2013
Every winter, the federal courts host a spate of lawsuits over local Christmas and Hanukkah displays. We now face a similar prospect every spring, as school districts will be sued over field trips and graduation venues. Let’s hope the Supreme Court takes the Elmbrook case and spares us and our school districts and students unnecessary expenses.
Blackwell: The illiberalism of assailing traditional marriage
The Washington Times, April 6, 2013
As the recent, large batch of cases against the Department of Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate demonstrates, America has a diverse and principled religious population of citizens willing to fight for the right to express their faith in all aspects of life.
Obamacare and birth control: Religious ties split coverage
‘Obamacare’ contraception mandate hits legal hurdles
Furor on dictate over contraception coverage intensifying
The Washington Times: Faith groups call for greater efforts to promote tolerance
Tina Ramirez, Becket Fund Director of International and Government Relations, comments on religious persecution at a conference held at the Washington Times. Continue reading “The Washington Times: Faith groups call for greater efforts to promote tolerance”