Podcasts about religious liberties

A Christian camp is challenging a Colorado law that forces them to adopt gender ideology. The Supreme Court refuses to hear the case of a Massachusetts student who was sent home for wearing a t-shirt with a traditional message. And what should you watch and what should you avoid?   Recommendations Fidelity Month Sara Groves Art House North Segment 1 - Christian Camp Sues Colorado ADF: Camp IdRaHaJe Association v. Roy ADF: XX-XY Athletics sues Colorado for violating right to speak truth that men and women are different ADF: US Supreme Court declines to hear ‘There are only two genders' T-shirt case ADF: School Settles Lawsuit After Forcing Third-Grader to Remove ‘Jesus Loves Me' Mask Segment 2 - Boundaries in Entertainment Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business Segment 3 - Recommendations Fidelity Month Sara Groves Art House North Submit a question to Breakpoint here! __________ Help the Church be the Church by giving before June 30 at colsoncenter.org/may. Attend a Colson Fellows Informational Webinar at colsonfellows.org/webinar.

FAIR News Weekly | 5/30/25

The Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention is meeting soon, and the future of its public policy arm will likely be on the agenda. Plus the local news for May 27 and WNXP's Nashville Artist of the Month. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Rachel Iacovone, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

If your day of choosing between your faith and your job hasn't come yet, it may be just around the corner. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Is Religious Freedom an Excuse for Discrimination? ___________ Register for the 2025 Great Lakes Symposium: Truth, Love, and Humor: Faith Without Fear at colsoncenter.org/truth. 

*Be sure to listen to the program note at the end of the podcast as there is a very important update since the original recording.In this episode, Jamison and Matt look at the importance of religious liberty in our country and why its worth fighting for when it comes to federal school choice legislation in the, "big beautiful bill."

The Founders envisioned “a vibrant public square and human flourishing” where people “are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the government.” Constitutional expert, lawyer, author, pastor, and founder of Liberty Counsel Mat Staver discusses the important topics of the day with co-hosts and guests that impact life, liberty, and family. To stay informed and get involved, visit LC.org.

A new MP3 sermon from VCY America is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Escalating Crackdown on Religious Liberty Subtitle: Crosstalk America Speaker: Jim Schneider Broadcaster: VCY America Event: Current Events Date: 5/14/2025 Length: 53 min.

Many believers in the United States are totally oblivious to religious persecution taking place around the world and really have little concept as to what is taking place. Most believers in the U.S. will get up in the morning, go through their daily activities: work, meals, appointments, leisure and go to bed at night without even a hint of a thought to believers in Christ that are being persecuted. Did you know religious persecution has been escalating in countries around the world? As a matter of fact, many are paying with their very lives on account of their faith. Executions alone in 2024 had a 32% increase compared to 2023. One of the leading persecutors is the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party. This Crosstalk seeks to increase your awareness as to what is going on with believers in China, but also in other countries around the world as well. Jeff King is president of International Christian Concern, an organization that has served the global persecuted church since 1995. Jeff is a leading expert on the matter of religious persecution. He's traveled to more than 70 countries thus gaining extensive knowledge of what is happening to religious freedom. He has a passion for the persecuted. He is author of Islam Uncensored and Last Words of the Martyrs.Concerning China, Jeff noted that leader Xi Jinping is currently in a crackdown phase. This phase includes knocking churches down, tearing down crosses, constant pressure to have churches come under state control, secret arrests, torture, abuse and murder. In spite of all this, the Marxist leaders there simply don't understand that the more you try to stamp out the church, the more it grows.

Many believers in the United States are totally oblivious to religious persecution taking place around the world and really have little concept as to what is taking place. Most believers in the U.S. will get up in the morning, go through their daily activities: work, meals, appointments, leisure and go to bed at night without even a hint of a thought to believers in Christ that are being persecuted. Did you know religious persecution has been escalating in countries around the world? As a matter of fact, many are paying with their very lives on account of their faith. Executions alone in 2024 had a 32% increase compared to 2023. One of the leading persecutors is the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party. This Crosstalk seeks to increase your awareness as to what is going on with believers in China, but also in other countries around the world as well. Jeff King is president of International Christian Concern, an organization that has served the global persecuted church since 1995. Jeff is a leading expert on the matter of religious persecution. He's traveled to more than 70 countries thus gaining extensive knowledge of what is happening to religious freedom. He has a passion for the persecuted. He is author of Islam Uncensored and Last Words of the Martyrs.Concerning China, Jeff noted that leader Xi Jinping is currently in a crackdown phase. This phase includes knocking churches down, tearing down crosses, constant pressure to have churches come under state control, secret arrests, torture, abuse and murder. In spite of all this, the Marxist leaders there simply don't understand that the more you try to stamp out the church, the more it grows.

Christians should get there first.  ___________ Learn more about the impact of the Colson Fellows program at colsonfellows.org. 

Katy Faust of Them Before Us A Winning Cultural Argument Pro-Child Politics: Why Every Cultural, Economic, and National Issue Is a Matter of Justice for Children Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City Them Before Us Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children's Rights Movement The post Religious Liberty, Child Protection, and the LGBTQ Agenda – Katy Faust, 5/12/25 (1322) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

LEARN MORE at http://teach4theheart.com/345  Do you ever wonder what you can legally say about faith and religion as a teacher in a public school? How can you be an ambassador for the kingdom and honor the authorities God has put over you? Listen as Linda talks with Heather Kohnen from Christian Educators about your rights and how God can use you in a public school. Resources/Links Mentioned: Pray + Plan Planner by Teach 4 The Heart: http://teach4theheart.com/planner  Christian Educators: https://christianeducators.org/teach4theheart/  Religious Liberties in Public Schools: https://christianeducators.org/resourcecenter/religious-liberties-in-public-schools/  Awake: http://christianeducators.org/awake  Don't Get Fired...Thrive: https://christianeducators.org/resourcecenter/dont-get-fired-thrive/     

Robert Prevost has been elected Pope Leo XIV. What should we be looking for in the new leader? A new law in Washington calls religious freedom into question in cases of reporting abuse. AI-fueled spiritual fantasies and psychosis are destroying families and lives. John and Maria offer a framework on discerning truth from heresy in different religions and denominations.   Recommendations TIME: How Hard is Chess?  What Would You Say? Video Series Segment 1 - New Pope Elected and State Shenanigans  CNN: May 8, 2025 Leo XIV elected as first American pope CBS News: Feds call child abuse confession law for priests "anti-Catholic" as church vows to excommunicate those who comply WORLD: Maine court removes mother's right to bring child to church Segment 2 - AI-Fueled Psychosis Rolling Stone: People are Losing Loves Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies Breakpoint: Richard Dawkins, a “Cultural Christian” Resources from Sherry Turkle Breakpoint: Leave Loud, Blaming Churches TIME: How Hard is Chess?  Segment 3 - Mormonism and Denominational Differences Colorado's fourth Latter-day Saints temple to reflect new mountain home in Colorado Springs Segment 4 - Listener Questions Submit a question to Breakpoint here! 60 Minutes: Egg freezing popularity increasing among young women to preserve their fertility Breakpoint: Messing with Imago Dei __________ Sign up for the FREE video series Why Life? at colsoncenter.org/whylife. Sign up for the Colson Educator Course: Navigating Cancel Culture at colsoneducators.org.  

What body in the afterlife? How to interpret inter-religious tolerance? A Pope from the Right or the Left? This and more in today's Open Line Wednesday with Fr. Mitch Pacwa.

What body in the afterlife? How to interpret inter-religious tolerance? A Pope from the Right or the Left? This and more in today's Open Line Wednesday with Fr. Mitch Pacwa.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comIn an era of rising polarization, what does religious liberty really mean—and why does it matter today? Dr. Owen Anderson, professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University, joins Will and Josh to unpack the philosophical roots of religious freedom, natural theology, and the moral principles that shaped the American founding. Together, they explore tough questions: How do we define religious liberty in a pluralistic society? Are the ideals in the Declaration of Independence grounded in Protestant theology? What does it mean to protect religious freedom without weaponizing faith for political gain? The conversation also touches on hot-button issues like Christian nationalism, DEI programs, transgender rights, and the complex relationship between church and state. Whether you're curious about the faith of the Founders or wrestling with modern debates about freedom of conscience, this episode offers thoughtful insight into the intersection of faith, philosophy, and democracy.Guest Bio:Dr. Owen Anderson is a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University and the pastor of Christ the King Church in Phoenix. His work focuses on natural theology, constitutional principles, and moral philosophy, with a particular interest in how religious liberty and moral truth shape democratic societies. He is the author of several books, including Reason, Faith and Faithfulness, The Declaration of God, and a philosophical commentary on the Book of Job.Resources & Links:Dr. Owen Anderson's Website: https://drowenanderson.comThe Declaration of God by Owen Anderson: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781107459045 Support the show

Today, on the Voxology podcast, hosts Mike Erre and Tim Stafford discuss Jesus' example of cruciformity on the cross in forgiving his enemies. Tim and Mike explore various themes surrounding the life and death of Jesus, drawing parallels to contemporary issues and cultural narratives. They discuss the significance of the cross, the nature of betrayal and denial, and how Jesus responded to suffering with love and forgiveness. Further, they touch on the anti-empire narrative present in the Bible and the importance of curiosity and imagination in understanding faith today. But first, Mike and Tim discuss the intersection of faith and politics, particularly in light of recent developments regarding religious liberty and the role of the church in society. They explore the implications of political leaders invoking Christianity, the importance of prophetic voices in challenging the status quo, and the need for active resistance against injustice. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community engagement and the church's responsibility to embody justice and love in a polarized world. Gombis quote: “My job is to study the Bible and to think critically about how to attend to it most faithfully. I have come to see that this involves relentlessly excavating the self-deceptions that are necessary for me to feel comfortable in this world. My main challenge is that I inhabit an evangelical culture in America that will fight to the death to maintain its self-deceptions and its pursuit of comfort in this world." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Voxology Podcast 01:00 Religious Liberty and Political Influence 05:56 The Role of the Church in Society 11:58 Prophetic Voices and Resistance 18:02 Navigating Faith in a Polarized World 24:01 The Importance of Community Engagement 28:11 Marvelous Conversations: Movies and Metaphors 29:42 The Cross as a Way of Life 30:54 The Last Week of Jesus: A Slow Narrative 32:14 Betrayal and Denial: The Human Experience 34:01 Mockery and Humiliation: Jesus' Suffering 39:37 Cruciformity: Responding to Evil with Good 46:32 The Kingdom Comes: A New Creation 51:27 Resisting Power: The Anti-Empire Narrative 56:44 Curiosity and Imagination: Reframing Our Understanding As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

On this episode, Bishop Burbidge:   Invites the faithful to pray for the cardinals as they enter the Conclave   Reacts to the “Pope Trump” meme posted by the White House over the weekend Applauds Governor Youngkin for vetoing dangerous legislation that threatened life, religious liberty, and parental rights while expressing deep concern over the governor's approval of HB 1609 (IVF & embryo banking) Supports the creation of the White House's Religious Liberty Commission and encourages collaboration   Condemns the new Washington state confession law requiring clergy to break the seal of confession and praises Bishop Daly's defense of the sacrament: “Even to the point of going to jail”   Have a story of hope you would like to share? Text your message or leave a voicemail: 703-778-9100  

What's up Theology Nerds! Today on the podcast I'm joined by my brilliant friend Diana Butler Bass for another edition of "Ruining Dinner" as we mark the first 100 days of Trump's second administration. We dive into some fascinating new data on religion and politics in America that just dropped, examining everything from unexpected consensus on religious liberty (a rare bright spot!) to disturbing trends in support for political violence among Christian nationalist adherents. Diana shares her recent adventures lighting the Old North Church green for Bill McKibben's "Sunday" climate initiative, while I update her on my site visit to St. Paul (not Minneapolis!) for Theology Beer Camp and my new life as a chicken dad. We explore how competing narratives of discrimination reveal deep divides in American Christianity, unpack the dangers of executive overreach, and discuss what Lindsey Graham's papal nomination trolling reveals about our political moment. This conversation was originally for our Substack members, but we're sharing a portion with all of you – join us at The Process This or The Cottage to catch future episodes live!  Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America's most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. The Interlocking Crises of Religion & Democracy Faith in a Toxic Public Square The Resurrection of Jesus 2024: The Sequel The Christology Ladder The Indictment Edition of Ruining Dinner American Saints in a Cynical Age Ruining Dinner… and Date Nights Welcome to the Post-Christian Century Ruining Christmas Dinner Ruining Election Night Dinner The Over-Rated Genie God Bad Blood, Civil War, and other Soothing Topics Shall the Fundies (Keep) Winning?, Abortion, and Black Holes Theology and Spirituality in a Time of Rupture White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus 20 Years of Religious Decline Jesus After Religion and Beyond Fear Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Evangelical Decline, the Supreme Court, and the Horizon of Possibility Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants Religion, Politics, & the Elephant in the Room  ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ⁠⁠ManyFacesOfChrist.com⁠⁠ for more details and to sign up! _____________________ ⁠⁠Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. ⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠ production. Follow ⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our⁠⁠ Substack - Process This!⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 45 classes at ⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Red State "Republican" Attorney General sues to stop school choice. Who needs enemies with friends like these? The Oklahoma AG is currently trying to prevent parents from having school choice and has taken it all the way to the Supreme Court.

Today in Current Events from a Christian Perspective:A giant Hindu statue that is 90 feet high now towers over a suburb of Houston, Texas.Why? Why did Christians think this was ok to allow?How do you feel about it now?Is this one big example of 'Religious Liberty?'Or is there more going on here from a theological perspective?Are we better together?Is diversity our strength?Do all roads lead to salvation?All this and more today on ChurchPublic!..---At Church Public we create compelling content to equip you to follow Jesus and engage in the public square including Current Events from a Christian Perspective.Thanks for watching! Thanks for listening!Support the Channel on Substackhttps://substack.com/@churchpublicListen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-public/id1520119356Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3cWx1g4WfSOVs8MX05cSvH?si=8ajf5wFVSjakXiYS7HkmhgListen on GooglePodcastshttps://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMTc2MjU0LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwiI_4eugrbwAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgFind Me:www.churchpublic.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchPublic/Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchpublicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchpublic/Support:on PAYPALwww.churchpublic.com/supportToday is a great day to start your own podcast. Whether you're looking for a new marketing channel, have a message you want to share with the world, or just think it would be fun to have your own talk show...podcasting is an easy, inexpensive, and fun way to expand your reach online.Following the link in the show notes let's Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show.https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1132064Support the show

Colorado and Oklahoma are two states debating the place of religion in public schools. A new study finds the risks of taking the abortion pill are drastically greater than we've been told. And new research debunks the supposed perils of marrying early.   Recommendations IFS: Marry Early And Flourish Together The Austin Institute: The Economics of Sex How to Think Like Socrates by Donald J. Robertson Socrates Meets Jesus by Peter Kreeft The Colson Fellows Program Segment 1 - Public Education and Religion FOX: Colorado parents unload on liberal lawmakers, prompting changes to controversial gender bill Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond Oral Argument Clergy in the Classroom by David Noebel, J.F. Baldwin, and Kevin Bywater Segment 2 - Bombshell Abortion Pill Study The Abortion Pill Harms Women: Insurance Data Reveals One in Ten Patients Experiences a Serious Adverse Event Breakpoint: New Report: The Abortion Pill Harms Women What Would You Say?: Is the ‘Abortion Pill' as Safe as Tylenol? Segment 3 - The Benefits of Marrying Early IFS: Marry Early And Flourish Together The Metropolitan Review: Would You Rather Have Married Young? The Colson Fellows Program Segment 4 - Listener Questions Send in a question for Breakpoint at Breakpoint.org American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists  Christian Dental Association The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity National Review: HHS Report Exposes the Risks of Gender Experimentation on Children __________ Get access to the FREE course Hope Always: How to Be a Force for Life in a Culture of Suicide at colsoneducators.org. Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone Monthly Partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly.

Michael O'Brian of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty The post A Supreme Court Case Involving Elementary School Students Forced to Read Books Promoting Transgender Ideology – Michael O'Brian, 5/2/25 (1222) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

History shows that our nation was to continue the "reformation" struggle in England between religious liberty and religious tolerance that had ended with restoration of the monarchy and the Church of England's primacy. But, recent First Amendment religious liberty arguments made to the U.S. Supreme Court show that we have forgotten that history and God' purpose for our nation. Today, David will demonstrate that esteemed early Justice Joseph Story wrote about it, picking up language used by John Owen and contained in the 1658 Savoy Declaration. He'll show the U.S. Supreme Court once understood it, too. This week shows that it is time for the Church to get back to the mission given it pertaining to harmonious reconciliation of religious liberty and righteous and just civil law.

History shows that the purpose of the First Amendment's religion clauses was to continue the reformation between religious liberty and religious toleration that ended in England with the restoration of the monarchy and the Church of England's primacy. Recent arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court on religious liberty show that Christians in America have forgotten that purpose and providentially given mission. That failure has put Christians under the thumb of the godless. It is time that Church re-vive this stillborn reformation to reconcile religious liberty with righteous and just civil laws.Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 20, 2023, the Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board for signing a contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, claiming that St. Isidore cannot participate in the charter school program because it is a religious school. The Oklahoma Supreme Court agreed, holding that the contract violated the Establishment Clause.The United States Supreme Court is hearing this case to address 1) if the teaching decisions of a private school are considered state action when the school contracts with the state to provide free education and 2) if a state is prohibited from excluding a religious school from its charter school program because of the Free Exercise Clause or if it can justify the exclusion under the Establishment Clause. Arguments are scheduled for April 30.Featuring:Philip A. Sechler, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom(Moderator) Prof. Michael P. Moreland, University Professor of Law and Religion and Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

History shows that our nation was to continue the "reformation" struggle in England between religious liberty and religious tolerance that had ended with restoration of the monarchy and the Church of England's primacy. But, recent First Amendment religious liberty arguments made to the U.S. Supreme Court show that we have forgotten that history and God' purpose for our nation. Today, David will demonstrate that esteemed early Justice Joseph Story wrote about it, picking up language used by John Owen and contained in the 1658 Savoy Declaration. He'll show the U.S. Supreme Court once understood it, too. This week shows that it is time for the Church to get back to the mission given it pertaining to harmonious reconciliation of religious liberty and righteous and just civil law.

What if marching for women's rights meant for the persecuted instead of for abortion?  ______________ Learn more about the Colson Fellows Program by registering for one of our upcoming webinars at colsonfellows.org/webinar. 

There were oral arguments today for a massive religious liberty case at the Supreme Court that isn’t getting much coverage. // Big Local: An Irish woman living the United States has been detained in Tacoma’s ICE detention center. The Pierce County Council passed a resolution limiting federal law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. WSU did not sign onto a letter with other universities condemning the Trump administration. :46 – You Pick the Topic: California’s state legislature passed a law that would keep male sex offenders in women’s prisons.

Everyone is commenting on the Canadian elections, but what most on the Right are missing is that we are on our way to becoming like Canada in the sense that we can't elect conservatives even in culturally conservative parts of the nation. I raise concerns about Greg Abbott's comments that Trump will endorse Texas RINOs. Next, we're joined by Nathan Dahm, director of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus, who briefs us on a Supreme Court case stemming from liberal Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond suing the state school board for approving charter school status for a Catholic school. What's worse is that the state supreme court sided with him! Dahm explains why Oklahoma's institutions continue to be liberal despite the state's voting patterns. The Freedom Caucus is battling entrenched RINOs who are blocking judicial reform and education reform and are also trying to gum up the primaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Supreme Court will decide whether parents have the right to be notified and opt their children out of classroom lessons on gender and sexuality that violate their religious beliefs.In 2022, the Montgomery County, Maryland, School Board introduced storybooks for pre-K through fifth-grade classrooms covering topics like gender transitions and pride parades. Maryland law and the Board’s own policies provide parents the right to receive notice and opt their kids out of books that violate their religious beliefs. However, when parents attempted to exercise this right, the School Board eliminated notice and opt-outs altogether. In response, a diverse coalition of religious parents, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, sued the School Board in federal court. The parents argue that storybooks are age-inappropriate, spiritually and emotionally damaging for their kids, and inconsistent with their beliefs.Last year, the Fourth Circuit upheld the School Board’s policy, ruling that the removal of notice and opt-outs does not impose a legally cognizable burden on parents’ religious exercise. The parents appealed, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari in January 2025, and arguments are scheduled for April 22nd.The question before the court is: Do public schools burden parents’ religious exercise when they compel elementary school children to participate in instruction on gender and sexuality against their parents’ religious convictions and without notice or opportunity to opt-out?Featuring:Eric Baxter, Vice President and Senior Counsel, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty(Moderator) Prof. Teresa Stanton Collett, Professor and Director, Prolife Center, University of St. Thomas School of Law

A meeting at the White House this week looked at several examples of anti-Christian bias in bureaucracy and beyond. The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case originating in Maryland that puts school officials over parents. And John and Maria discuss the legacy of Pope Francis. Segment 1 - Anti Christian Bias, SCOTUS Hearing on Parental Rights Attorney General Pamela Bondi Hosts First Task Force Meeting to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias in the Federal Government CSPAN: Mahmoud v. Taylor Oral Argument Segment 2 - Death and Legacy of the Pope Breakpoint: The Passing of Pope Francis and the Future of the Roman Church First Things: Pope Francis, My Worst Protestant Nightmare by Carl Trueman Segment 3 - Falling Birth Rate New York Times: Birthrates Languish in Record Lows, C.D.C. Reports CNN: US fertility rate hovers near record low as Trump administration pushes for a baby boom Emma Waters on Falling Birth Rates In Pursuit Conference: What do Marriage and Motherhood have to do with the Happiness of Women Segment 4 - Answering Listener Questions Breakpoint: The Cornerstone of a Legacy The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright __________ Download the free e-book: Being the Church in a Post-Christian Culture by S. Michael Craven at colsoncenter.org/church.  Get access to the free video series: “Why Life? Courageous Faith in a Culture of Death” at colsoncenter.org/whylife. 

Taking the eye off the prize.  Related Resource What Would You Say?: Doesn't Religious Liberty Protect Extremists? _____________ Register for an upcoming Colson Fellows Informational Webinar at colsonfellows.org/webinar. 

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 - 06:11)The Papal Advantage: Eyes are Drawn to a Spectacle – And This Was a Major Concern of the ReformationPart II (06:11 - 17:04)Should Parents Have an Opt Out for LGBTQ+ Books for Their Children in Public Schools? SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments on Religious Liberty and Parental RightsSupreme Court's conservatives are poised to strike down elementary school policy denying opt-outs for LGBTQ+ books by CNN (John Fritze)Part III (17:04 - 20:18)Gov. Youngkin Makes Another Bold School Proposal: Virginia's General Assembly Accepts Youngkin's Ban on Cell Phones in ClassroomsPart IV (20:18 - 25:26)From Idea to Story to Societal Change: The Washington Post Runs Major Story on ‘Marriage Sabbaticals' That Reveals How Moral Changes Happens in a SocietyWhat's a marriage sabbatical, and why are there so many books about it? by The Washington Post (Karen Heller)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

A staggering amount of Washington babies are testing positive for drugs. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on a case that has potentially significant implications for religious liberty. Elizabeth Warren had a very awkward exchange when a podcaster confronted her about past comments she made about Joe Biden’s mental state. // LongForm: GUEST: Former Washington Senate Candidate Tiffany Smiley on the State Supreme Court ruling in Spokane, trans athletes in girls sports, and Washington’s budget crisis. // Quick Hit: A left-wing prosecutor in Minnesota let an alleged Tesla vandal off the hook.  

It's Wednesday, April 23rd, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Nigerian Muslims have killed 20,000 Christians since 2015 Nigerian Muslims have killed over 20,000 Christians since 2015, according to a report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law. The report accuses various jihadist groups of targeting Christian communities in the southeast part of the African nation. The group also blames local government leaders for doing nothing about the violence. The report called on the United States to reinstate Nigeria on its list of Countries of Particular Concern and to classify Fulani Muslim jihadist herdsmen as an Entity of Particular Concern.  Nigeria is ranked seventh on the Open Doors' World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.     Psalm 144:4-5 asks, “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and do not call on the LORD? They are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous.” Worldwide economic outlook looks more dim The International Monetary Fund released its latest World Economic Outlook yesterday. The report projects the world economy will grow 2.8% this year, down from a previous forecast of 3.3%.  Large economies like the U.S. and China are expected to weaken. U.S. economic growth is forecast to be 1.8% this year, down from a previous expectation of 2.7%.  The declining economic outlook comes during the uncertainty of what U.S. tariffs will look like.  Supreme Court likely to support parental opt-out right The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a religious freedom case yesterday. Public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland don't let children opt out of classes that include sexually perverted lifestyles in storybooks. Parents are challenging this. They come from various backgrounds including Muslim, Christian, Roman Catholic, and Ukrainian Orthodox.  The conservative majority on the Supreme Court appeared likely to support parents in the case during the hearings yesterday.  Eric Baxtor, Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, commented on the case, reports The Hill. BAXTOR: “Around 300 parents in Montgomery County, [Maryland] are just looking for the right to opt their children out of instruction that is highly controversial, tells kids that doctors guessed at their sex when they were born, and that they can choose for themselves who they are. “The board allowed opt-outs for an entire year and then overnight kind of withdrew them with no explanation. We're simply asking for that opt-out right to be returned.” Ephesians 6:4 says, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Maryland's physician-assisted suicide bills killed Speaking of Maryland, the state did not enact physician-assisted suicide bills during its most recent legislative session. This is the eighth time such deadly legislation has been introduced and the eighth time it has failed. Americans United for Life celebrated the defeat of the bills, crediting “numerous grassroots testimonies and thousands of letters speaking out.” Sadly, physician-assisted suicide is legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Secretary of State Rubio cuts staff by 15% U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to overhaul the State Department yesterday. The changes will cut staff in the U.S. by 15% and close or consolidate over 100 bureaus around the world. It's part of President Donald Trump's “America First” foreign policy. In a press statement, Rubio said, “The sprawling bureaucracy created a system more beholden to radical political ideology than advancing America's core national interests. That is why today I am announcing a comprehensive reorganization plan that will bring the Department into the 21st Century.” Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokeswoman, added this in a press conference yesterday. BRUCE: “This is a whole of government, every department looking at how they can make their department more efficient, less burdensome, less bureaucratic. This is the State Department's version of that.” Alabama schools to display Ten Commandments, ban drag shows Lawmakers in Alabama passed several conservative bills last Thursday. One bill would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments. Republican State Rep. Phillip Rigsby, the sponsor of the bill, shared his mindset. RIGSBY: “In no way is this establishing a religion in the schools.  I think it gives us a good, at a minimum, moral compass.” Another bill would ban schools from promoting sexually perverted lifestyles through instruction or homosexual pride flags. And a third bill would prohibit schools and libraries from hosting drag performances.  Appearing on WDHN, Republican State Rep. Mack Butler explained why he believes children should be protected from drag shows in schools and libraries. BUTLER: “I'm a dad, you know, and if you look at all these sponsors of the bill, same thing: just dads trying to protect children. I'm just trying to take a stand for our children. Let them have their innocence. Just protect them.” The measures have passed in the state's House of Representatives and are awaiting approval by the Alabama State Senate.  Louisville Univ. pays $1.6 million to fired Christian psychiatrist And finally, University of Louisville officials agreed to a nearly $1.6 million settlement in a free speech case recently. Dr. Allan Josephson worked for the university's Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology. The Christian psychiatrist spoke out against transgender drugs and surgeries. In response, the university demoted him, harassed him, and fired him. Travis Barham with Alliance Defending Freedom commented on the recent court victory for Josephson. He said, “After several years, free speech and common sense have scored a major victory on college campuses.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, April 23rd, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Each month, a panel of constitutional experts convenes to discuss the Court’s upcoming docket sitting by sitting. The cases covered in this preview are listed below.Kennedy v. Braidwood Management (April 21) - Appointments Clause; Issue(s): Whether the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit erred in holding that the structure of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force violates the Constitution's appointments clause and in declining to sever the statutory provision that it found to unduly insulate the task force from the Health & Human Services secretary’s supervision.Parrish v. United States (April 21) - Federal Civil Procedure; Issue(s): Whether a litigant who files a notice of appeal after the ordinary appeal period under 28 U.S.C. § 2107(a)-(b) expires must file a second, duplicative notice after the appeal period is reopened under subsection (c) of the statute and Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4.Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Zuch (April 22) - Taxes; Issue(s): Whether a proceeding under 26 U.S.C. § 6330 for a pre-deprivation determination about a levy proposed by the Internal Revenue Service to collect unpaid taxes becomes moot when there is no longer a live dispute over the proposed levy that gave rise to the proceeding.Mahmoud v. Taylor (April 22) - Religious Liberties, Education Law, Parental Rights; Issue(s): Whether public schools burden parents’ religious exercise when they compel elementary school children to participate in instruction on gender and sexuality against their parents’ religious convictions and without notice or opportunity to opt out.Diamond Alternative Energy LLC v. EPA (April 23) - Standing, Redressibility; Issue(s): (1) Whether a party may establish the redressability component of Article III standing by relying on the coercive and predictable effects of regulation on third parties.Soto v. United States (April 28) - Financial Procedure; Issue(s): Given the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s holding that a claim for compensation under 10 U.S.C. § 1413a is a claim “involving … retired pay” under 31 U.S.C. § 3702(a)(1)(A), does 10 U.S.C. § 1413a provide a settlement mechanism that displaces the default procedures and limitations set forth in the Barring Act?A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School District No. 279 (April 28) - ADA; Issue(s): Whether the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require children with disabilities to satisfy a uniquely stringent “bad faith or gross misjudgment” standard when seeking relief for discrimination relating to their education.Martin v. U.S. (April 29) - Supremacy Clause, Torts; Issue(s): (1) Whether the Constitution’s supremacy clause bars claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act when the negligent or wrongful acts of federal employees have some nexus with furthering federal policy and can reasonably be characterized as complying with the full range of federal law; and 2) whether the discretionary-function exception is categorically inapplicable to claims arising under the law enforcement proviso to the intentional torts exception.Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings v. Davis (April 29) - Civil Procedure; Issue(s): Whether a federal court may certify a class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3) when some members of the proposed class lack any Article III injury.Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond (April 30) Establishment Clause, Education Law, Federalism and Separation of Powers; Issue(s): (1) Whether the academic and pedagogical choices of a privately owned and run school constitute state action simply because it contracts with the state to offer a free educational option for interested students; and (2) whether a state violates the First Amendment's free exercise clause by excluding privately run religious schools from the state’s charter-school program solely because the schools are religious, or instead a state can justify such an exclusion by invoking anti-establishment interests that go further than the First Amendment's establishment clause requires. Featuring: Thomas A. Berry, Director, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato InstituteProf. Brian T. Fitzpatrick, Milton R. Underwood Chair in Free Enterprise, Vanderbilt University Law SchoolSarah Parshall Perry, Vice President & Legal Fellow, Defending EducationTim Rosenberger, Fellow, Manhattan InstituteProf. Gregory Sisk, Pio Cardinal Laghi Distinguished Chair in Law, Professor and Co-director of the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law, and Public Policy, University of St. Thomas School of LawFrancesca Ugolini, Former Chief, DOJ Tax Division, Appellate Section(Moderator) Elle Rogers, General Counsel, United States Senator Jim Banks

It's Monday, April 21st, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus New law criminalizes praying with someone about gender, sexuality identity On April 4, the Australian state of New South Wales began enforcing a new law criminalizing anti-conversion therapy, which now includes praying with someone about their gender or sexual identity and even encouraging abstinence for homosexual Christians, reports International Christian Concern. On the website “Anti-Discrimination New South Wales,” a government body that administers and investigates anti-discrimination, they note that “praying with or over a person with the intent to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identify is unlawful … even if that person has asked you to pray for them to be able to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identity.”  The law – known as the New South Wales's Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 -- is part of a trend of laws that seek to outlaw so-called “conversion therapy,” the clinical practice of helping someone embrace their God-given sexuality and gender. What makes the law different is how broadly “conversion therapy” is defined beyond a traditional clinical setting.   In an interview with The Washington Stand, Arielle Del Turco, director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council, said, “This is a terrible new law in this Australian state, and they aren't even trying to hide it. According to the state government's own admission from their website, this law will prevent a pastor or any believer from praying with someone who is asking for prayer for freedom from gender identity issues.”  Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Italy's top court scraps ‘mother' and ‘father' on ID cards Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation has restored the use of “Parent 1” and “Parent 2” on Italian ID cards because it deemed that calling parents ‘father' and ‘mother' is discriminatory against homosexual couples, reports the European Conservative. To her credit, conservative Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had announced the return of the terms “father” and “mother” on identity documents back in 2023. Supreme Court blocks deportation of illegal Venezuelans On Saturday, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting an unspecified number of illegal Venezuelan men, currently in immigration custody, who are alleged to be members of a criminal gang, reports The Epoch Times. The order was issued after the American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency request on behalf of its Venezuelan clients late on April 18 asking the Supreme Court to immediately block the Trump administration from deporting the clients. On March 14th, President Donald Trump signed Proclamation 10903, in which he officially declared that Tren de Aragua, a designated foreign terrorist organization, “is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States.” The president invoked the Alien Enemies Act to authorize the “immediate apprehension, detention, and removal” of members of the group who are Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older and who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. Democrats want to visit El Salvador's prison housing deported illegals Democrats in both chambers of Congress are working to organize delegations to El Salvador to see the prison where President Trump is sending these violent illegal immigrants. Initially, El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele built the prison in 2022 as part of a response to surging gang violence in El Salvador, according to National Public Radio. Each cell can fit 65 to 70 prisoners, and the prison has a capacity of 40,000 inmates.  Trump asked Bukele to build five identically-sized prisons to receive more violent illegal immigrants from America. The deported Venezuelan illegals are living in the same conditions as convicted gangsters. Democrat Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) as well as Democrat Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) are the politicians who want to fly to El Salvador. However, House Homeland Security Committee chair Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, said he wouldn't grant their request, reports Axios. CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings explained that this kind of move by the Democrats is why they only have a 21% approval rating by the American public. JENNINGS: “First of all, I'm more than happy to hear the Congressman say they're all going to El Salvador. I think for Republicans, this just confirms what we have believed about the Democratic Party and why it currently has a 21% approval rating in Congress. “Look where the energy in the Democratic Party is. It's around retrieving illegal aliens from El Salvador. It's around fighting for these college campuses that have been rife with anti semitism. It's around biological males who want to play in girls' sports. “This is why they are losing to Donald Trump every day, because the energy that Democrats feel comes on all these issues that are fundamentally not where the American people are.” Rahm Emmanuel wants to run for President In the world of politics, Democrat Rahm Emanuel has done a lot. Not only did he serve as President Bill Clinton's Senior Advisor for policy and strategy and as U.S. Congressman from Illinois for three terms, but Emmauel was President Barack Obama's White House Chief of Staff, served as mayor of Chicago, and most recently was the United States ambassador to Japan. Now, Rahm Emmanuel wants to be president. In a recent speech, he said, “I am done with the discussion of locker rooms. I am done with the discussion of bathrooms. We better start having a conversation about the classroom,” drawing applause as he alluded to a new study showing more than two-thirds of eighth graders can't read at grade level. Texas House greenlights $210 million to support pregnant women To hear it from abortion activists, pro-life Americans don't care about women and children – especially after banning abortions. But in the state of Texas that notion is totally false, reports LifeNews. On April 11th, Texas lawmakers gave preliminary approval to $210 million in support for pregnant moms. Texas Right to Life explained, “The Texas House voted to fully fund life-saving nonprofits at $210 million in the Thriving Texas Families program. These providers help mothers choose Life by offering baby materials (like diapers and formula), counseling, and job skills training. This victory isn't about dollars. It's about the children and families rescued from abortion.” Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, April 21st, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Is the purpose of religious liberty to end religious oppression or is it to change, perhaps even eradicate, religion as it has been known across history? That question has been at the heart of America's debates about religious liberty since the founding era and it still plagues us today.Dr. Richard Samuelson, Associate Professor of Government at Hillsdale College, presented a study of this founding era debate to help us understand this important tension that has persisted across American history.Support the show

Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the United States, responsible for nearly 400,000 abortions annually. This Supreme Court term, there is an important case called Medina vs. Planned Parenthood that will determine whether individual Medicaid beneficiaries have the legal right to challenge a state's decision to exclude certain healthcare providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from Medicaid programs.On today's episode, you'll hear from Christopher Mills, founder of Spero Law in Charleston, S.C., who partnered with the ERLC to write an amicus brief that we submitted to the Supreme Court in the Medina case. Mills will discuss his work on the amicus brief and why this case matters to Southern Baptist churches and ministries across the nation. Mills previously served as a Constitutional Law Fellow at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas. He's currently an Adjunct Professor at Charleston School of Law. He has authored many briefs and motions in the Supreme Court. He graduated summa cum laude from Furman University in 2009 and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2012. You'll also hear from Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, about the ERLC's ongoing campaign to defund Planned Parenthood. Southern Baptists  affirm the sanctity of every human life and believe that Scripture testifies that all people are made in the image of God. It is from this belief that the ERLC has led this campaign calling on Congress to defund Planned Parenthood through the budget reconciliation process.

A new project sponsored by a coalition of organizations seeks to track the various ways that federal and state programs discriminate against religious participants in a range of funding programs despite a series of Supreme Court cases holding such discriminatory treatment unconstitutional. The Religious Discrimination Tracker is a project of the EPIC Coalition (a multi-faith coalition that focuses on education), the Teach Coalition, the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Clinic, and the Notre Dame Educational Law Project. The site seeks to identify ways to ensure equal access to funding by religious participants, particularly in education. In this webinar, Professor Nicole Stelle Garnett (Notre Dame Law) will discuss this new project and expand on her argument in a November 2024 Wall Street Journal op-ed that a range of federal programs "reflect[] an outdated understanding of the First Amendment that assumes the Constitution requires the exclusion of religious expression from public life and programs."Featuring:Prof. Nicole Stelle Garnett, John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law and Associate Dean for External Engagement, University of Notre Dame Law SchoolProf. Michael A. Helfand, Brenden Mann Foundation Chair in Law and Religion and Co-Director of the Nootbaar Institute for Law, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law(Moderator) Prof. Michael P. Moreland, University Professor of Law and Religion and Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

When four Jewish girls needed to be protected from the Nazis, Fritz Niermann leaned into his faith.  __________ Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone Partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly. 

"He has Risen! He has Risen INDEED!" That's the message that came not from River City Community Church but from the White House! President Donald Trump not only recognized Holy Week, his statement basically shares the Gospel. Pastor Sean emphasizes the importance of religious liberty, and the exchange of ideas. The Freedom FROM Religion Foundation doesn't agree. Enjoy the conversation and see you at River City for Easter! 00:00 Introduction to Easter Celebration00:16 Invitation to Easter Services at River City01:06 Reaching for Real Life Podcast Begins02:27 Musical Inspirations and Easter Preparations03:28 Holy Week and Its Significance05:57 President Trump's Holy Week Message10:52 Discussion on Religious Liberty and Christian Nationalism12:18 Debunking the Separation of Church and State Myth13:07 Atheist in Foxhole Award and Its Implications13:35 Misinterpretations of the Constitution14:34 Christian Nationalism: A Misunderstood Concept16:35 The President's Faith and Its Public Perception17:36 Freedom of Religion vs. Freedom from Religion18:07 The Role of Faith in Presidential Leadership23:19 The President's Easter Message25:08 Invitation to Easter Services

"He has Risen! He has Risen INDEED!" That's the message that came not from River City Community Church but from the White House! President Donald Trump not only recognized Holy Week, his statement basically shares the Gospel. Pastor Sean emphasizes the importance of religious liberty, and the exchange of ideas. The Freedom FROM Religion Foundation doesn't agree. Enjoy the conversation and see you at River City for Easter! 00:00 Introduction to Easter Celebration00:16 Invitation to Easter Services at River City01:06 Reaching for Real Life Podcast Begins02:27 Musical Inspirations and Easter Preparations03:28 Holy Week and Its Significance05:57 President Trump's Holy Week Message10:52 Discussion on Religious Liberty and Christian Nationalism12:18 Debunking the Separation of Church and State Myth13:07 Atheist in Foxhole Award and Its Implications13:35 Misinterpretations of the Constitution14:34 Christian Nationalism: A Misunderstood Concept16:35 The President's Faith and Its Public Perception17:36 Freedom of Religion vs. Freedom from Religion18:07 The Role of Faith in Presidential Leadership23:19 The President's Easter Message25:08 Invitation to Easter Services

The Christian Outlook – April 12, 2025

On March 31, 2025, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission.Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance program provides financial assistance to those who have lost their job through no fault of their own. Under state law, certain nonprofit organizations can opt out of the program, including those operated primarily for religious purposes. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Superior—a religious ministry that serves people with disabilities, the elderly, and the impoverished—requested an exemption from the state’s program so that it could enroll in the Wisconsin Bishops’ Church Unemployment Pay Program (CUPP), which provides the same level of unemployment benefits.Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Catholic Charities could not receive an exemption because its charitable work was not “typical” religious activity. The court said that Catholic Charities could only qualify for an exemption if, for example, it limited its hiring to Catholics and tried to convert those it served. Catholic Charities appealed, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari in December 2024.Does a state violate the First Amendment’s Religion Clauses by denying a religious organization an otherwise-available tax exemption because the organization does not meet the state’s criteria for religious behavior?Featuring: Eric Rassbach, Vice President and Senior Counsel, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberties(Moderator) Hon. Ryan D. Nelson, Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

On today's encouraging episode, Pastor Jack and attorney Kelly Shackelford discuss exciting victories in America's court system and many successful outcomes within the Supreme Court. Kelly Shackelford is President and Chief Executive Officer of First Liberty Institute. Mr. Shackelford is a constitutional scholar who has argued before the United States Supreme Court, testified before the U.S. House and Senate, and has won numerous landmark First Amendment and religious liberty cases, including the landmark religious liberty victory in the U.S. Supreme Court, American Legion v. America Humanist Association.  CONNECT WITH FIRST LIBERTY:https://firstliberty.org/ (00:00) Religious Liberty Victories and Hope(11:24) Defending Religious Liberty and the Constitution(20:57) Empowering Hope for Religious LibertyCONNECT WITH PASTOR JACK:Website: https://jackhibbs.com/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2FCyXpO Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WZBWV0 YouTube:  https://bit.ly/437xMHn DAZE OF DECEPTION BOOK:https://jackhibbs.com/daze-of-deception/CALLED TO TAKE A BOLD STAND PRE-ORDER:https://tinyurl.com/33d5dpaj Did you know we have a Real Life Network? Sign up for free for more exclusive content:https://bit.ly/3CIP3M99

There are no borders when it comes to attacks on the Church and the call to pray and help.  ___________ Register your student for a Summit Minstires worldview conference and recieve a special discount at summit.org/breakpoint.