The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case by Kim Davis, a former Kentucky clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds, thereby upholding the 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The decision affirms that the constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples remains protected, despite ongoing efforts by some to overturn it.
Justice Samuel Alito warned in Rome that religious liberty is under global threat, highlighting issues in countries like Nigeria, China, and Iraq, and discussed the compatibility of his Catholic faith with his role as a Supreme Court justice.
President Donald Trump called on Americans to gather in groups of 10 for weekly prayers in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the United States, raising discussions about the separation of church and state.
President Trump announced that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance to protect the right to prayer in public schools, emphasizing religious liberty and citing past incidents where students faced restrictions on prayer.
President Trump announced plans to direct the Education Department to support and promote prayer and religious expression in public schools, aiming to strengthen religious liberty and Judeo-Christian principles, despite existing legal restrictions on state-sponsored prayer.
Oklahoma has initiated a program to place Bibles in classrooms, led by State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who argues that the Bible is a foundational document in American history. This move has sparked controversy, with critics, including some conservatives and the Church of Satan, opposing the integration of religious texts in public education. Some school districts have stated they will not comply with the mandate, highlighting the divisive nature of the initiative.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters has instructed school districts to show a video to students and parents, in which he criticizes the "radical left" and "woke teachers unions" for attacking religious liberty, and invites students to join him in a prayer for President-elect Donald Trump. The video is part of a new initiative by the Department of Religious Liberty and Patriotism. Some school leaders have refused to comply, and questions about the video's legality and potential political indoctrination remain unanswered by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Walters has mandated that schools show a video inviting students to pray for former President Donald Trump, as part of a new initiative. The video, which must also be sent to parents, criticizes the "radical left" for attacking religious liberty and patriotism in schools. Walters encourages students to pray for leaders and for schools to teach love of country. The legality of this mandate by the State Department of Education is unclear, as the attorney general's office has not commented.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court will consider whether the state can fund a Catholic charter school, testing the constitutional limits of taxpayer funding for religious education. Opponents argue that the proposed school violates state and federal constitutions, while supporters believe it is a matter of religious liberty and school choice. If the school prevails, it could lead to a significant change in funding for religious education, with potential implications beyond Oklahoma.
Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2015, has been ordered by a federal judge to pay $260,000 in attorneys' fees and expenses, in addition to the $100,000 in damages previously awarded to the couple she denied. The ruling reaffirms that the plaintiffs are the prevailing party and entitled to the fees after Davis was found to have violated their constitutional rights. Davis's representation, Liberty Counsel, plans to seek a reversal of the jury's verdict or appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals if necessary. Davis lost her reelection bid in 2018.
Alabama plans to execute a prisoner using nitrogen hypoxia, a method that has never been used before, raising concerns about potential harm to witnesses and violation of religious liberties. The prisoner's spiritual adviser was required to sign a waiver acknowledging the risk of exposure to the deadly gas and to stay at least three feet away from the prisoner, which may impede their ability to perform their spiritual duties. Critics argue that Alabama has not adequately prepared for the execution, and the use of nitrogen gas could pose serious threats to those nearby. The state's lack of transparency and safety precautions has raised concerns about the potential risks involved.
A judge has found Southwest Airlines in contempt for twisting his words and disregarding his order in the case of a flight attendant who claimed she was fired for expressing her opposition to abortion. The judge ordered Southwest to pay the flight attendant's legal costs, provide a statement to employees, and have three company lawyers undergo religious-liberty training. The sanctions stem from an $800,000 judgment against the airline and the flight attendant's union for violating her right to religious speech.
The Supreme Court declined to hear a case that could have had significant implications for the charter school industry. The case involved a charter school dress code that required girls to wear skirts, which was struck down by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appellate court's ruling will stand, including its determination that North Carolina charter schools are "state actors" that work on behalf of the government. The legal fight has now extended beyond dress codes to entangle public religious charter schools and constitutional limits between church and state.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a well-funded right-wing legal organization, has been at the forefront of a nationwide effort to limit the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people in the US, all in the name of Christianity. ADF aims to overturn same-sex marriage, enact a total ban on abortion, and strip away the already minimal rights that trans people are afforded in the US. The organization is engaged in “a very strong campaign to put a certain type of religious view at the center of American life”.
A well-funded campaign to promote Christian nationalism in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District in Texas has divided the community and raised concerns among religious liberty advocates. The race has split the community into three groups, with a slate of school board candidates backed by a far-right Christian cellphone company, another group supported by a political action committee and local nonprofit opposed to religious indoctrination in schools, and a third slate of moderate conservatives. The fight over faith and politics in Grapevine-Colleyville can be traced back to a year ago when Patriot Mobile Action, a political action committee bankrolled by a far-right Christian cellphone company, spent $600,000 backing a slate of 11 school board candidates across North Texas, winning every race and gaining majority control of four area school boards, including GCISD.
