Gabriel Olivier is a street preacher who sometimes preached on the sidewalks near an amphitheater in Brandon, Mississippi, where large crowds could often be found. In 2019, the city adopted an ordinance requiring all individuals or groups engaging in “protests” or “demonstrations” at around the time events were scheduled to stay within a “designated protest […]
A federal judge found that the state of California failed to offer the plaintiff a religious accommodation in an unusual but important dispute. Bolden-Hardge, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, was offered a job by the California State Comptroller’s office, which requires the job holder to take an oath before starting. Bolden-Hardge asked to substitute her own […]
Not since the 1990s has CLS’s Center for Law & Religious Freedom united diverse organizations including the ACLU, Alliance Defending Freedom, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, the Religious Freedom Institute, the Coalition of Virtue, Prison Fellowship, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Center for Public Justice, and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. […]
This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on whether crisis pregnancy centers can be free from state harassment. The New Jersey Attorney General (Platkin) served First Choice Women’s Resources Center with a subpoena demanding it identify—by name—the donors behind nearly 5,000 donations and produce more than 10 years’ worth of documents containing information about […]
Biblical manhood curricula can be found just about anywhere—churches, small groups, and even prisons. For years, Anthony Schmitt taught a Quest course to inmates within the Minnesota Department of Corrections, until an MDOC official “objected to Schmitt’s religious viewpoint” and banned any further teaching. As the Eighth Circuit opinion noted, the MDOC did not oppose […]
In a decisive opinion, a panel of three Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals justices—all Democrat-appointed—overturned a lower court’s ruling, thereby restoring World Vision’s right to control the conduct of its employees. Center Director Steve McFarland noted for the San Francisco Chronicle that the result confirms “the commonsense idea that religious ministries can expect their staff […]
While protections for religious conscience related to participating in same-sex “marriages” have held firm in the non-commercial space (churches, religious institutions), the matter has continued to be contested for those in public spaces—like government employees. Judge Umphress’ case is now heading to the Texas Supreme Court after he refused to officiate such ceremonies for reasons […]
Center Director Steve McFarland and special guest Reed Smith with the Tennessee Attorney General’s office present insights into the holdings and significance of United States v. Skrmetti and Mahmoud v. Taylor decisions impacting minors and parents’ rights. If you missed the live session, please click here to view the replay at your convenience. For those […]
In 2020, Louisiana state prison guards handcuffed a Rastafarian prisoner, held him down, and then shaved his lifelong growth of hair even though the inmate (Landor) had religious beliefs and prior accommodations. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals condemned the guards’ actions but followed circuit precedent saying that damages are not available to Landor. The […]
Catholic Charities Bureau (CCB) won a decisive victory over Wisconsin at the U.S. Supreme Court after being denied a religious exemption from unemployment tax. The dispute began in 2016 when CCB applied for but was denied Wisconsin’s religious exemption because the state argued the services CCB offered were secular in nature (CCB’s mission to serve and […]
Christian Legal Society offers legal assistance for those in need through CLS’ network of Christian Legal Aid clinics and Christian Attorneys’ directory. CLS’ Center for Law & Religious Freedom is also available to address issues related to the infringement of religious freedom.