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.
State High School Athletic Association Sued Over Its Refusal To Allow Broadcast of Pre-Game Prayers: A Christian high school filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) which refused to allow the school to use the loudspeaker at a state football championship game for pre-game prayer.
The transgender rights debate is about more than just restrooms: This piece can serve as a brief intro and overview to the several transgender disputes currently at issue in the courts, legislatures, agencies, health care, and schools. The article includes several cases, litigants, and advocacy groups to track.
Where the Public Stands on Religious Liberty vs. Nondiscrimination: Two-thirds say employers should provide birth control in insurance plans despite the employer’s religious objections, but the public is split over same-sex wedding services and use of public bathrooms by transgender people.
IRS changes status of Billy Graham’s ministry: As requested by the Graham organization, the IRS changed its tax status from a nonprofit to an “association of churches.” The change means the 66-year-old Christian organization no longer has to file what the IRS calls Form 990, a public statement of its financial information.
Religion and Resistance at the New National Museum of African-American History and Culture: An interview with the chief curator about the goals of the center and the narrative of religion, race and resistance. Included in the collection are Nat Turner’s Bible, Harriet Tubman’s hymnal and antique pews from AME churches.
Gay Student Sues Catholic High School That Barred His Bringing Same-Sex Date To Homecoming: A former student at Memphis, TN, Christian Brothers High School filed suit seeking $1 million in damages, alleging that the Catholic boy’s school– which receives federal funds– violated Title IX when it prohibited him from bringing his same-sex date from another school […]
Many Americans Hear Politics From the Pulpit: About two-thirds (64%) say they heard clergy at their church or other place of worship speak about at least one of the six social and political issues mentioned in the survey, with nearly half (46%) indicating that religious leaders had spoken out on multiple issues. More say their clergy […]
In Discovery, Most Documents Fail Clergy-Penitent Privilege: an Ohio appeals court affirmed in part and reversed in part a trial court’s rejection of the clergy-penitent privilege as the basis for a Jehovah’s Witness congregation, finding that only four of 19 documents met the statutory criteria for the clergy-penitent privilege. Communications between bodies of church elders did […]
LGBT 2016 Presidential Election: This PRRI/Brookings survey report offers some results to some questions framed in some ways to provide views and attitudes of registered voters on a selection of LGBT and transgender issues. For example, Americans are also less likely today to see a conflict between same-sex marriage and their own religious beliefs. Today, only […]
Small town judge goes to court to defend her livelihood: The Wyoming Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Judge Ruth Neely, who faces an unprecedented lifetime ban from the judiciary and $40,000 in fines for merely stating that her Lutheran faith prevents her from personally performing same-sex marriages.
