Items included for this subject area come from a variety of sources. The perspectives conveyed may or may not express a Lutheran ethos. They can serve our instruction as discussion-starters, examples (positive and negative), and illustrations of intersections between God’s two kingdoms, intersections sometimes characterized by tension, sometimes by congruence. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Lawsuit: Former student ousted over gay couple counseling — A suit was filed in federal district court by a former student in the Masters in Counseling program at Missouri State University alleging that he was removed from the program because of his religious views on counseling same-sex couples on their relationships. The complaint (full text) in alleges […]
Marine discharged after refusing to remove a Bible verse taped near her cubicle has her day in court: A Marine discharged for failing to remove a Bible verse posted in her work area will have her case appealed in the military’s highest court. Her attorneys believe her case could have wide-ranging implications for how the military approaches religious freedoms.
Rutgers Removes Artwork of Jesus on Dartboard: Rutgers University at New Brunswick has removed from its art library a piece of art (at right) that depicts Jesus on a dartboard, with darts that have been thrown on to him. It remains unclear how the art was selected for the library.
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Condemns Recent State Religious Liberty Bills: the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued a statement (full text) condemning recent state enactments and proposals protecting religious liberty at the expense of equal treatment for the LGBT community. The Commission said that it will shortly release a new report on the issue of religious […]
Alliance Defending Freedom v. Internal Revenue Service: Alliance Defending Freedom has asked a federal district court to order the Internal Revenue Service to identify records it has withheld for nearly two years that are related to secret procedures for investigating churches. The existence of the secret procedures became known through the agency’s settlement of an atheist […]
Christian cross has no place on L.A. County seal, judge rules: Under threat of a lawsuit in 2004, the County redesigned its Seal replacing a cross that was on it with a depiction of the San Gabriel Mission. Subsequently the San Gabriel Mission added a cross on its building and the County Board voted to […]
What Apple’s Encryption Fight Has to Do with Religious Freedom: Apple’s case reminds us of the broad importance of protecting organizations—both secular and religious, for-profit and non-profit—from compulsion to act against their most foundational values. These cases give us a chance to consider the public good of providing institutions—whether companies, niche craft stores, or religious nonprofits—with enough […]
Bible Colleges Lose Challenge To State Regulation: An Illinois federal district court rejected constitutional challenges by a group of Bible Colleges to three Illinois statutes that regulate institutions of higher education in the state. The statutes generally require approval by the state Board of Higher Education to operate a degree-granting college or grant degrees or certificates […]
Catholic School Principal’s Title VII Suit Dismissed Under “Ministerial Exception”: a New York federal district court held that the “ministerial exception” prevents a lay principal of a Catholic elementary school from suing for employment discrimination. The principal alleged that her employment was terminated as a result of gender discrimination and retaliation. In relying on the ministerial […]
Here is Sojourners’ interview with the producer of The Story of God, the National Geographic six-week series hosted by Morgan Freeman. “The with this series was to go beyond the things that divide us and investigate the biggest questions — ones that unite the human experience.” The series dives deep into the big questions that cut […]
