The U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The case involves a Colorado cake baker who declined to make a cake for a gay couple’s wedding. When the Colorado Civil Rights Commission pursued the baker, he argued he was entitled to an exemption from Colorado’s civil-rights laws based on religious and free-speech grounds under the First Amendment. The links below include news coverage, relatively even-handed analysis, and analysis in support of and against the baker’s position that was posted before oral argument, which was scheduled for sometime in the October 2017 term. (This post has been regularly updated through the date of oral argument.) Continue reading “Coverage of Masterpiece Cakeshop before oral argument”
Category: religious exemptions
“The Christian Legal Army Behind ‘Masterpiece Cakeshop’ A special investigation into the rise of Alliance Defending Freedom.”
“The Christian Legal Army Behind ‘Masterpiece Cakeshop’ A special investigation into the rise of Alliance Defending Freedom.” Sarah Posner has this report in The Nation.
“Court Refuses To Dismiss Constitutional Challenges To City’s Civil Rights Law”
“Court Refuses To Dismiss Constitutional Challenges To City’s Civil Rights Law” Religion Clause reports here on Country Mill Farms v. City of East Lansing, (WD MI, Nov. 16, 2017).
“Sex, Drugs, and Eagle Feathers: An Empirical Study of Federal Religious Freedom Cases”
“Sex, Drugs, and Eagle Feathers: An Empirical Study of Federal Religious Freedom Cases” Luke Goodrich and Rachel Busick have written this article in an upcoming issue of the Seton Hall Law Review. The authors summarize their findings: Continue reading ““Sex, Drugs, and Eagle Feathers: An Empirical Study of Federal Religious Freedom Cases””
“Challenge To FEMA Policy On Disaster Aid To Churches Moves Ahead”
“Challenge To FEMA Policy On Disaster Aid To Churches Moves Ahead” Religion Clause has this update on Harvest Family Church v. Federal Emergency Management Agency, (S.D. Tex, Nov. 9, 2017) (order denying stay to provide FEMA time to reconsider policy).
“How Zoning Laws Are Used to Discriminate Against Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues”
“The Quiet Religious-Freedom Fight That Is Remaking America: A federal law was supposed to put an end to the use of local zoning laws as tools of discrimination. It hasn’t.” Emma Green of The Atlantic reports on the realities of RLUIPA challenges to zoning laws here.
“City’s Refusal to Permit Private Religious School in Business District Does Not Violate RLUIPA”
“City’s Refusal to Permit Private Religious School in Business District Does Not Violate RLUIPA” Evan Seeman of RLUIPA Defense reports here.
“Johnson Amendment Repeal Attempt Cites ‘Churches’ Only”
“Johnson Amendment Repeal Attempt Cites ‘Churches’ Only” The NonProfit Times has a post here.
“Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine Does Not Bar School Administrator’s Contract Claim”
“Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine Does Not Bar School Administrator’s Contract Claim” Religion Clause reports here on Saint Augustine School v. Cropper, (Ky., Nov. 2, 2017).
“Housing/Parsonage Pros and Cons”
“Housing/Parsonage Pros and Cons” Clergy Financial Resources has a brief comparison here.