Posts tagged Separation of church and state
Title IX Lawsuit Against Hillsdale College Dismissed

Last October, one present and one former student of Hillsdale College filed a federal lawsuit alleging the institution failed to adequately investigate their claims of rape and misrepresented how safe they would be on campus. Hillsdale prevailed in getting the lawsuit dismissed by U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering last month.

Read More
Why A Tennessee Congregation Sold Its Building And Moved Into A School

The New Garden Church is not a traditional Church of Christ. Then again, it’s not trying to be. The church plant — which grew out of the Hermitage Church of Christ, a half-century-old congregation that closed in 2018 — seeks to reach a new generation with the Gospel.

Read More
MAGA Champion And Church Of Christ Member: Who Is Ryan Walters?

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, spoke recently inside the Board of Education conference room at the state Capitol complex in Oklahoma City. The interview came amid a national debate that every teacher in Oklahoma must be provided with physical copies of the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments.

Read More
Churches And Politics: What’s Allowed When It Comes To Candidates?

What political activities can churches and other religious nonprofit groups engage in legally? According to the Internal Revenue Service, “Section 501(c)(3) organizations are precluded from, and suffer loss of exemption for, engaging in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.”

Read More
🚸 To Understand The Wrangling Over Religion In Public Schools, Consider These 3 Questions 🔌

Like it or not, fights over religion in public schools seem unlikely to vanish any time soon. Look for such controversies to remain prominent in the news.

Read More
How Jefferson And Madison’s Friendship Shaped Separation Of Church And State

(ANALYSIS) Two of the Founding Fathers shaped American views on religious freedom and the separation of church and state more than any other: Jefferson and James Madison. Yet their views have also become lightning rods for controversy as the “wall” between church and state comes under scrutiny.

Read More
Louisiana Bill Mandating Biblical Displays Latest To Push Limits Of Religion In Public Schools

(ANALYSIS) Louisiana is not a stranger to controversy over religion in schools. In 2023, it joined almost 20 states that require or allow officials in public schools to post the national motto, “In God We Trust.” Now, the Bayou State could become the first in the nation to require the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms in public schools, colleges and universities.

Read More
What Might The Founding Fathers Say About Chaplains In Public Schools?

(OPINION) What did the Founding Fathers really believe about the role of religion in America? When Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison appeared, they were trying to figure out what they believed personally about God even as they debated religion’s role in a fledgling nation. These guys didn’t fit into our 21st century boxes.

Read More
Churches Face Fines For Providing Warming Shelters During Winter Months

Last week, much of the U.S. experienced dangerously cold temperatures. In these conditions, what happens to the unhoused? Many churches were stepping up to provide overnight warming shelters for those experiencing homelessness in their cities.

Read More
As Russia Ramps Up ‘Traditional Values’ Rhetoric, It’s Won Putin Far-Right Fans Abroad

(ANALYSIS) Traditional values have become a fixture in far-right movements around the world, some of which see Russia as a model of the future they desire. In Russia and beyond, many conservative Christians in these movements have focused on LGBTQ+ populations, whom they portray as threats to their vision for society — and are not deterred by antidemocratic politics, if its figures voice support for their social goals.

Read More
Why I Wish I’d Voted For Jimmy (And Rosalynn) Carter In ‘76

(OPINION) As an abundance of odes to Rosalynn have reminded me, the Carters proved themselves Christians in the truest sense of the word, unlike so many Bible thumping politicians today. Before they reached the White House, while in it and across their post-presidential decades, they never used their faith as a cudgel with which to bludgeon or belittle their adversaries, but as a motivation for their innumerable good works.

Read More
Texas Tests First Amendment With Chaplains In Public Schools

(ANALYSIS) Senate Bill 763, enacted in September 2023, allows school officials to hire unlicensed chaplains, either as staff members or volunteers. Those who can pass background checks will be allowed to perform duties typically provided by counselors, such as mental health support. Local boards have until March 1, 2024, to choose whether to allow chaplain programs in their schools.

Read More
Louisiana’s ‘In God We Trust’ Law Tests Limits Of Religion In Public Schools

(ANALYSIS) When Louisiana passed a law in August 2023 requiring public schools to post “In God We Trust” in every classroom — from elementary school to college — the author of the bill claimed to be following a long-held tradition of displaying the national motto, most notably on U.S. currency.

Read More
Wisconsin Court Shouldn’t Confine Religion Within Church Walls

(OPINION) Later this year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will take up the issue of whether a Catholic charity is “religious” enough to qualify for the legal benefits that apply to religious organizations. The major question that the justices will consider is whether the organizations are more “charitable” than “religious.”

Read More
A Modest Alternative To Posting The Ten Commandments In Public Schools

(OPINION) There’s no evidence that hanging the Ten Commandments on school walls curbs rowdy youthful hormones. As a tool for improving schoolkids’ behavior, that’s a zero. If you absolutely felt compelled to post something Christian, why wouldn’t you post something straight from the lips of Jesus himself?

Read More
🇺🇸 No Separation Of Church And State? New York City Mayor Sparks A Furor 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the controversy over New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ comments on the separation of church and state — or the lack thereof. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Read More
Vermont to Reimburse Families For Tuition To Private Religious Schools

In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled its Town Tuition program could not fund tuition to religious schools because “it forced taxpayer support of religious worship.” But in the wake of Carson v. Makin, the state will now apply its tuition benefit program to families who choose to send their children to religious schools.

Read More
School Choice For The Next Generation

(ANALYSIS) Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court released a decision clearly stating that religious schools cannot be excluded from state school choice programs. This means, in short, a major potential change for the future of private faith-based education.

Read More