FRANKFORT, Ky. (BP) – Religious freedom advocates commended a Kentucky Supreme Court decision Oct. 31 in support of a business owner who declined to print T-shirts for a gay pride festival. The state high court ruled unanimously the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization (GLSO) did not have "statutory standing" under a local ordinance to bring the challenge against Hands On Originals, giving the Lexington shop and managing owner Blaine Adamson their third legal victory. Two lower courts … [Read more...]
Michigan adoption agency wins in court
LANSING, Mich. (BP) – Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies seeking to practice their religious beliefs gained an important victory Thursday (Sept. 26) in Michigan. Federal Judge Robert Jonker issued a preliminary injunction blocking Michigan from canceling the state-approved contract of St. Vincent Catholic Charities to provide foster care and adoption services. St. Vincent will be able to continue partnering with the state while the court case continues. The Catholic agency … [Read more...]
Abortion continues to ebb, the reasons for decline debated
WASHINGTON (BP) – After a record low in the U.S. abortion rate, pro-life advocates and an abortion rights research organization have offered differing explanations. The Guttmacher Institute announced, Sept. 18, the abortion rate was 13.5 abortions per 1,000 women age 15 to 44 in 2017, the latest year for which it has statistics. That rate marked an 8 percent drop from the previous figure of 14.6 in 2014. Guttmacher was a Planned Parenthood affiliate from 1977 to 2007, when the abortion … [Read more...]
‘Analytical tool’ or ‘Marxist ideology’? – Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality resolution debated at SBC annual meeting
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes additional reporting from Pathway associate editor Benjamin Hawkins, in the section about the resolution on critical race theory and intersectionality. BIRMINGHAM (BP) – Messengers to the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention advocated for the vulnerable against abortion, sexual abuse and religious persecution in approving 13 resolutions, June 12. The resolutions also addressed a variety of other noteworthy issues in the convention and the world, including … [Read more...]
Supreme Court issues major religious liberty win
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 20 a 40-foot cross on public land that serves as a memorial to World War I soldiers does not violate the First Amendment's prohibition against a government establishment of religion. In a 7-2 decision, the justices reversed the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals' opinion that a Latin cross in Bladensburg, Md., violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment under a nearly 50-year-old test by promoting Christianity. The American … [Read more...]
High court upholds only part of Indiana pro-life law
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court upheld May 28 an Indiana law that requires the humane disposal of aborted babies but refused to weigh in on the same state's ban on abortions based solely on ethnicity, sex or disability. The high court's refusal to review Indiana's appeal regarding its 2016 prohibition on abortions of certain classes of unborn children left standing a Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision that invalidated the measure. The action also rejected requests by some … [Read more...]
Democrats’ top candidates offer no option on abortion
WASHINGTON (BP) – Democrats have plenty of choices for a presidential nominee in 2020 but not when it comes to the abortion issue. As of March 4, 195 candidates had filed with the Federal Election Commission for the Democratic nomination for president, according to Ballotpedia. They are seeking to be the nominee of a party committed to abortion rights. In fact, 8 of these 12 candidates are so devoted to assuring a dead child is the result of every abortion attempt that they have opposed … [Read more...]
Christian artists defended in ERLC filing
PHOENIX (BP) – The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has urged the Arizona Supreme Court to protect the freedom of two artists to operate their business in keeping with their Christian beliefs. The ERLC, joined by eight other parties, filed a friend-of-the-court brief Dec. 20 requesting the state’s justices reverse a lower court’s support for a Phoenix ordinance requiring Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski to use their painting and calligraphy business for same-sex … [Read more...]
High Court upholds Tenn. pro-life constitution change
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Tennessee's Amendment 1, Oct. 1, by refusing to review a decision upholding the pro-life measure. On the first day of its new term, the high court announced it would not review a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that sided with the state in a lawsuit against the amendment, which removed a right to abortion and a requirement for abortion funding from the Tennessee constitution. Opponents challenged the 2014 initiative … [Read more...]
ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project places ultrasound machine in Mo. pregnancy resource center
KANSAS CITY (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s Psalm 139 Project has placed an ultrasound machine at the Liberty Women’s Clinic in Liberty, Missouri, Russell Moore announced Monday at the For the Church Conference at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “I am honored to be partnering with Liberty Women’s Clinic to provide this ultrasound machine.” said Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “This gift is on behalf of Southern Baptists … [Read more...]
S.C. church plant sues town for rental ban
CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) – A Southern Baptist church plant in South Carolina has sued the town of Edisto Beach for prohibiting it from use of its civic center. Redeemer Fellowship of Edisto Island filed suit Aug. 27 in federal court in Charleston, S.C., because of a policy it says violates its free speech and religion rights guaranteed in the First Amendment. Redeemer Fellowship had twice met for corporate worship in the Edisto Beach Civic Center when the town council changed its policy to … [Read more...]
Administration gains high marks on religious liberty
WASHINGTON (BP) – The Trump administration is receiving high marks so far for its religious liberty record from many advocates for the First Amendment freedom. The July 30 announcement of a religious liberty task force in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Aug. 10 release of a Department of Labor policy directive to protect religious free exercise are the latest in a series of administration actions applauded by defenders of freedom of belief and practice. Yet, some advocates also … [Read more...]
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