WASHINGTON (BP) – Same-sex marriage is now protected in federal law. President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) Tuesday (Dec. 13) and thereby finalized landmark legislation that redefines the world’s oldest institution. Five days after Congress completed passage, Biden enacted a bill that mandates federal and state recognition of any same-sex marriage considered legal in the jurisdiction where it took place. Although the new law does not require states to legalize gay … [Read more...]
House completes congressional approval of same-sex marriage
WASHINGTON (BP) – Congress has given final approval to enshrining same-sex marriage in the law. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 258-169 for the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) Thursday (Dec. 8), 10 days after the Senate approved the same legislation. With the votes, Congress has decided to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). While the measure does not require states to legalize same-sex marriage, it mandates federal and state recognition of any gay marriage considered … [Read more...]
Supreme Court debates website designer’s freedom of speech over same-sex marriage
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court debated with lawyers at length Monday (Dec. 5) whether a state has the right to compel speech in the latest case involving the intersection of religious freedom and same-sex marriage. The justices heard oral arguments for more than two hours in a designer’s challenge of a Colorado policy that requires her to create custom websites for same-sex weddings in violation of her religious beliefs. After two lower courts ruled in favor of the state, the … [Read more...]
Senate nixes religious liberty amendments, approves same-sex marriage
Missouri Sen. Blunt once again supports bill, Sen. Hawley opposes bill EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was updated at 12:50 p.m. with reporting from Pathway staff. WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Senate voted to enshrine same-sex marriage as the law Tuesday (Nov. 29) while rejecting efforts to strengthen religious freedom protections in the proposal. With 12 Republicans joining all Democrats present, the Senate voted 61-36 for the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) after defeating three … [Read more...]
First English Baptists share little known link with Mayflower’s passengers
LONDON, England – In 1612, eight years before the Pilgrims set sail for the New World to find a home where they could worship together in freedom, English Baptist pastor Thomas Helwys proclaimed a message that would transform Western civilization for centuries to come. Writing to King James I, Helwys published a tract called A Short Declaration of the Mistery of Iniquity, and in it he wrote the following inscription: “Hear, O king, and despise not the counsel of the poor, and let their … [Read more...]
Blunt votes ‘yes,’ Hawley ‘no,’ on same-sex marriage bill
MBC leaders opposed bill prior to vote, calling it an ‘intentional attack on religious freedom’ (EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was updated at 4:35 p.m., Nov. 16, adding additional coverage from Baptist Press below.) WASHINGTON – United States Senators from Missouri were divided, Nov. 16, about whether the lawmaking body should move forward with the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act." Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) voted against moving forward with the bill. But Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who … [Read more...]
‘Intentional attack on religious freedom’: MBC leaders oppose so-called ‘Respect for Marriage Act’
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read an update to this story here: "United States Senators have a last chance to block threats to religious liberty brought about by the so-called 'Respect for Marriage Act.' As such, faith-based policy experts are calling Christians to contact their senators and urge them to protect religious freedom." Read more at https://mbcpathway.com/2022/11/25/last-chance-remains-to-protect-religious-liberty-in-u-s-senate. JEFFERSON CITY – The so-called “Respect for Marriage Act” … [Read more...]
ERLC, Iowa Baptist convention urge court to protect parental rights
ST. LOUIS (BP) – A Southern Baptist Convention entity and a Baptist state convention have joined with other organizations in urging a federal appeals court to block a public school district transgender policy they contend prevents the rights of parents to care for their children. In defense of parental rights, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and the Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI) signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed Thursday (Nov. 10) with the Eighth … [Read more...]
FBC O’Fallon conference to confront sexual revolution with biblical truth
O’FALLON – With worldly views on sexuality and gender invading contemporary church life among several denominations, First Baptist O’Fallon is hosting a conference October 14-15 to explain the Bible’s perspectives on the topics. During the conference—Creation v. Revolution: How God’s Revelation Confronts the Sexual Revolution—speakers from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) will discuss current cultural and sexual attitudes and how Christians should respond; what the … [Read more...]
Americans believe religious liberty is declining
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While most Americans say religious liberty is on the decline in the country, even more believe Christians are increasingly confronted with intolerance in the U.S. But some say American Christians complain too much about how they are treated. Over half of Americans (54%) say religious liberty is on the decline in America, including 24% who strongly agree, according to a Lifeway Research survey of 1,005 Americans in September 2021. Nearly 1 in 3 disagree (32%), and 14% … [Read more...]
High school coach’s prayers constitutional, SCOTUS rules
WASHINGTON (BP) – The post-game, midfield prayer of a high school football coach did not violate the First Amendment’s ban on government establishment of religion, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision, June 27. The justices decided the Bremerton (Wash.) School District actually violated the First Amendment rights of Joseph Kennedy by removing him as a coach because of its concerns his practice infringed on the Establishment Clause. “[A] government entity sought to punish an … [Read more...]
SCOTUS: Maine can’t discriminate against parents who choose religious schools
WASHINGTON (Whitehead Law Legal Update) – In a major victory for parents seeking educational choice options, June 21, the United States Supreme Court said, by a 6-3 vote, that a state tuition aid program cannot discriminate against parents who choose private religious schools just because the schools teach religion. In doing so, the Court extended the principle of “equal access” to parents seeking school choice, a ruling which may encourage tuition aid programs across the country and may … [Read more...]
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