Religious News
The Daily Signal reports on faith and religion in America, covering Christian, Jewish, and other faith communities, with analysis and commentary on cultural trends, religious liberty, and moral issues that influence public life.
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- Opinion
Christian Bakers’ Victory at UK Supreme Court Keeps Free Speech Alive
Earlier this year, Christian cake artist Jack Phillips won a resounding 7-2 victory at the Supreme Court against those who tried to force him to custom design a cake for a same-sex wedding, against his religious beliefs. A similar case has just played out across the pond, and the victory for religious liberty is equally…Jay Hobbs -
- News
Promoting Religious Liberty Affirms ‘Human Dignity,’ Pompeo Tells Values Voter Summit
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed Friday that the Trump administration is committed to religious liberty, both at home and abroad. Speaking at the conservative Values Voter Summit in Washington, Pompeo said that more than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries that place significant limitations on religious freedom. He singled out Iran…Fred Lucas -
- News
Colorado Baker Talks About New Religious Freedom Struggle With State
Jack Phillips, owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop, is confronting yet another struggle with the state of Colorado. This time, the state is investigating the Christian baker for declining to bake a gender transition cake that is pink on the inside and blue on the outside. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which lost in a 7-2…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Christian Cake Baker Turns the Tables, Sues Colorado for Anti-Religious Bias
Jack Phillips owns Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, and is himself a master baker. He’s in trouble with the state of Colorado for declining to create a custom cake for an event because doing so would violate his religious beliefs. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Phillips has already taken a similar case all the…Thomas Jipping -
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Colorado Targets Christian Baker Again Despite Supreme Court’s Cake Ruling
The Colorado Civil Rights Commission is going after Christian baker Jack Phillips again, although the Masterpiece Cakeshop owner won a resounding 7-2 decision in June before the U.S. Supreme Court. The state commission moved against Phillips after a lawyer asked him to design and bake a custom cake celebrating a gender transition, pink on the…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
How Religious Freedom Erodes, One Step at a Time
Last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the formation of a new Task Force on Religious Liberty at the Department of Justice. The action came on the heels of a ministerial summit on religious freedom, which explored how religious freedom is under attack around the globe. At the summit, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and…Emilie Kao -
- Opinion
Major US Initiative Could Spark New Era of Expanding Religious Freedom
Last week may have marked an inflection point for international religious freedom. Historically, governments that strongly protect religious freedom have been a rarity. It is no small thing, then, that essentially all countries are now willing at least to pay lip service to the idea, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that religious…Kelsey Zorzi -
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What Jeff Sessions’ New Task Force Will Do to Defend Religious Freedom
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a task force on religious liberty Monday to build on President Donald Trump’s earlier executive action to provide protections for what some call Americans’ “first freedom” under the First Amendment. “A dangerous movement, undetected by many, is now challenging and eroding our great tradition of religious freedom,” Sessions said in…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Podcast: The Importance of Religious Freedom Around the World
Aaron Rhodes, president of the Forum for Religious Freedom Europe and author of “The Debasement of Human Rights: How Politics Sabotage the Ideal of Freedom,” joins us to talk about religious freedom around the world. Plus: San Francisco is considering effectively banning tech companies from providing free lunches.Katrina Trinko -
- News
7 Big Moments From Pence Address on Religious Freedom
Vice President Mike Pence called out Turkey for imprisoning a Christian pastor and criticized Nicaragua for its attacks on the Catholic Church in a speech Thursday, where he also announced the Trump administration’s agenda to protect religious freedom. “A stunning 83 percent of the world’s population live in nations where religious freedom is either threatened…Fred Lucas -
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These 6 Cases Show How Brett Kavanaugh Might Rule on Religious Freedom
While serving on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., Judge Brett Kavanaugh heard cases touching on religious liberty that could indicate how he could rule on such issues that go before the high court if he’s confirmed. Kavanaugh also advocated on behalf of religious freedom while in private law practice. “Overall, he…Fred Lucas -
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Amendment to Protect Religious Freedom of Adoption Providers Attached to Appropriations Bill in House
An amendment to protect the religious freedom of adoption providers was passed by the House Appropriations Committee to be part of the fiscal year 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill in a vote Wednesday. “What occurred today is a milestone,” Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said in a statement provided to The…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
In a Win for Free Speech, Supreme Court Says California Can’t Force Pro-Life Centers to Promote Abortion
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favor of free speech in NIFLA v. Becerra, a case regarding California’s attempt to force pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise the state’s free or low-cost abortion program. The court rightly held that the California law in question, the Reproductive FACT Act, “likely violates the First Amendment” and “unduly burdens…Elizabeth Slattery -
- Opinion
The Flawed Red Hen Analogy Shows Liberals Still Don’t Understand Christian Baker Case
After a Lexington, Virginia, restaurant, the Red Hen, refused service to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday, commentators on the left immediately seized upon a false analogy. They likened that incident to the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, the case of the Christian baker in Colorado who refused to craft a custom cake for…Monica Burke -
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Abortion Activists and University Staff Wash Away ‘Provocative’ Pro-Life Messages
Abortion activists at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, erased a number of pro-life chalk etchings, alleging that they are hurtful and could cause harm to others. A number of students erased the pro-life messages on June 7 because they didn’t like that other students were leaving pro-life content on the university campus, according to a Students…Grace Carr -
- Opinion
I Represent Christian Baker Jack Phillips. Believe Me, He’s a Good Man.
They say to walk a mile in someone’s shoes before judging them. When it comes to cake artist Jack Phillips, the man at the center of the wedding cake case that the Supreme Court just decided, you’re better off spending a day in his shop. Phillips’ case—Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—asked the high…Jim Campbell -
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Pro-Life Student Group Sues Ball State University for Denying Funds
A pro-life student group sued Ball State University on Wednesday, alleging political discrimination after being denied funding that other groups received. Christian nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom will represent Students for Life of America in the lawsuit against the Indiana school, according to a press release. “While Ball State University pledges to ‘respect and learn from differences in…Rob Shimshock -
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California University Refuses to Speak With Pro-Life Group About Free Abortion Drugs
A pro-life group has sought without success to speak with California State University at Long Beach about its stance on an abortion bill that soon may take effect at all California public universities. Students for Life of America, which aims to abolish abortion on college campuses, launched a #RUSerious campaign to protest a proposal to give…Grace Carr -
- Opinion
Why the Supreme Court’s Ruling for a Christian Baker Was Not ‘Narrow’
It’s always tempting to minimize the hurt of a loss by trying to downplay its scope. That’s what the left has been doing since last week’s Supreme Court decision in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, which was decided 7-2 in favor of Jack Phillips, the Christian owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop. Mainstream media outlets like The New…Emilie Kao -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Ruling for Christian Baker Upholds First Amendment as the Founders Intended
In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Supreme Court upheld Jack Phillips’ constitutional—and natural—right to freely exercise his faith. This important 7-2 decision dealt a blow to the inquisitorial and intolerant secularism that targeted the Constitution’s free exercise clause for radical redefinition. As I argued in a 20-state brief to the court, the…Ken Paxton