High court delivers 2 religious liberty wins
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed in two 7-2 rulings Wednesday, July 8 that churches and religious organizations are free to make employment and health insurance decisions based on their convictions. In one ruling, the justices reiterated their support for a “ministerial exception” that enables churches and other religious bodies to hire and fire based on their beliefs. They had ruled unanimously in...
Gains, losses noted in report on human trafficking
WASHINGTON (BP)—A nearly equal number of countries received upgrades and downgrades regarding their efforts against human trafficking in the last year, the U.S. State Department said in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report. The State Department’s report, which was released June 25, graded 22 governments higher than the previous year but demoted 23 in its tier system of categorizing how 188 countries performed in preventing...
High court affirms religious access to state programs
WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court narrowly upheld June 30 a state tax credit scholarship program that includes religious schools, thereby maintaining its recent support of the right of faith groups to participate in government programs. The high court voted 5-4 to overturn a Montana Supreme Court decision that invalidated a state program that provides a tax credit of up to $150 for a donation to a Student Scholarship Organization...
Court disappoints pro-lifers with abortion ruling
WASHINGTON (BP)—Pro-life leaders expressed deep disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal Monday, June 29 to uphold a Louisiana law designed to protect the lives and health of women by requiring hospital admitting privileges for doctors who perform abortions. In a 5-4 decision, the high court ruled the law—which mandated a physician must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of a facility where he or...
ERLC commends Trump order on child welfare
WASHINGTON (BP)—The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) has commended President Trump’s new executive order to bolster the country’s child welfare system. The president issued the order June 24 for the purpose of enhancing the foster care and adoption system through reforms that include: —Pursuing strong partnerships between government agencies and faith-based, community, private and public...
