On May 1, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2023 annual report. As the report mentions, USCIRF was created as a result of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). USCIRF “is an independent, bipartisan U.S. government advisory body, separate from the U.S. Department of State, that monitors religious …
Continue...The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 18 in Groff v. Dejoy, a case dealing with religious accommodations in the workplace. This case, which centers around a Christian postal worker who wishes to observe the Sabbath, puts before the court a question of what burden employers must meet before denying religious accommodations to their …
Continue...On this episode, Lindsay Nicolet talks with Hannah Daniel about the Tennessee governor’s Order of Protection proposal. They also discuss several important Supreme Court developments including the religious postal worker case and the abortion pill Content Tennessean: SBC public policy president, a Covenant parent, backs Lee’s gun law proposal Explainer: Tennessee governor’s Order of Protection …
Continue...On April 18, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Groff v. Dejoy, a case dealing with religious accommodations in the workplace. This case, which centers around a Christian postal worker who wishes to observe the Sabbath, puts before the court a question of what burden employers must meet before denying religious accommodations to …
Continue...The First Amendment is a fundamental protection granted in the U.S. Constitution. It secures the right to the free exercise of religion, and “it protects the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” In a recent court case called …
Continue...On this episode, Lindsay Nicolets talks with Hannah Daniel about Supreme Court opinions she’s anticipating this summer and what implications they will have for free speech and religious liberty. Related content 303 Creative: Explainer Groff v. Dejoy The “Lemon Test” Nathan Finn with 3 reasons Baptists should hold to religious liberty for all Connect with …
Continue...On Feb. 22, 2023, the Department of Education (ED) released a proposed rule related to the free exercise and free speech of faith-based organizations on college campuses. This new rule rescinds two provisions of the 2020 Trump-era “Free Inquiry Rule” which expanded First Amendment freedoms in ED higher education grant programs. On Friday, the ERLC …
Continue...On Jan. 13, 2023, nine agencies released a proposed rule related to the relationship between faith-based organizations and federal funds. This new rule, ostensibly set up to clarify the current regulations, would, among other things, weaken the protections for faith-based organizations which help to provide social services to those in need. On Tuesday, the ERLC …
Continue...Throughout its history, the Baptist commitment to religious liberty coalesced with an abiding and deep care for the broader political society. In other words, freedom of conscience as a core tenet of Baptist belief in no way diminished the importance of Baptists also advocating for laws rooted in biblical precepts and creation order. Indeed, during …
Continue...Public policy advocacy is one of the primary ways that the ERLC fulfills its ministry in the public square. We recently released our 2023 Public Policy Agenda, which outlines more than three dozen policy issues that will shape our work in Washington, D.C., this year. What will make advocacy challenging? The first session of the …
Continue...