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
Indiana Has Changed Its Religious Liberty Law. Here Is What That Means.
Editor's Note: The Indiana Legislature passed a bill Thursday after facing backlash over the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Gov. Mike Pence quickly signed the bill into law before leaving for a European vacation. Earlier Thursday, The Heritage Foundation's Ryan T. Anderson explained why the so-called "fix" is bad policy. — • — At a press conference in the Indiana Statehouse Thursday morning, Senate President…Ryan T. Anderson -
- News
Christian Groups Call for Boycott of Company That Opposes Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law
The American Family Association and Family Research Council want customers of Angie’s List to boycott the company in an act of support for religious freedom. Angie’s List recently announced that it has withdrawn a proposal to expand its Indianapolis headquarters because of the corporation’s disapproval of Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Angie’s List is an online…Kate Scanlon -
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Indiana Pizzeria Under Fire for Support of Religious Freedom Law
A pizzeria in Indiana has come under fire for supporting the state’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Memories Pizza is owned by the O’Connor family of Walkerton, Ind. Crystal O’Connor told Indiana’s WBND that the family business is “a Christian establishment.” “If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding,…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Facts vs. Spin: Here Is What the Indiana Religious Freedom Law Would Do
There is so much noise and hype surrounding the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act it’s hard to know what is real and what is spin. So I decided to seek out a real expert to get the facts. I asked Ryan Anderson, my colleague at The Heritage Foundation, to explain exactly what the law does—and…Genevieve Wood -
- Opinion
Does Dan Savage Support Religious Liberty for American Muslims?
Why is Dan Savage opposing a religious liberty bill that would protect all Americans—Muslims included? Savage sent out this tweet: “@Heritage says American Muslims should be free to discriminate based on Islamic teaching.” And he linked to this press release: “Heritage Foundation says American Muslims should be free to discriminate based on Islamic teaching” The…Ryan T. Anderson -
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Where the 2016 Hopefuls Stand on Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law
Eight Republican presidential hopefuls have offered their support to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as he scrambles to put out a political wildfire over a new state law designed to protect the religious freedom of Hoosiers. “It’s a fix of a bill that through confusion has come to be greatly misunderstood.” —@GovPenceIN Other than unannounced front-runner…Ken McIntyre -
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Religious Freedom Laws Are About Tolerance, Which Is Exactly Why the Left Doesn’t Like Them
Discrimination is going on all right but not against the groups many on the Left are claiming. Here’s the bottom line: many people who support abortion or who support same-sex marriage don’t just want those rights for themselves. They want society at large to approve of their actions. And they will fight any law or movement that…Genevieve Wood -
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These 19 States Have Religious Freedom Laws Similar to Indiana’s. Here’s What That Means.
Gov. Mike Pence gained national attention when he signed the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law last week. It caused the Twitter hashtag #BoycottIndiana to go viral and triggered Apple CEO Tim Cook to pen a Washington Post op-ed calling “pro-discrimination” laws “dangerous.” Yet, despite the uproar, Indiana isn’t alone in enacting legislation that…Kelsey Bolar -
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The ACLU’s Hypocritical Defense of Laws That Violate Religious Liberty
One of the great ironies of our politics is that the American Civil Liberties Union is now actually hostile to traditional American civil liberties. This is the conclusion one must draw from a letter the organization has sent to the House of Representatives, seeking to defend two District of Columbia laws that, under the guise…Carson Holloway -
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Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Wrong About Indiana Religious Freedom Law
Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken to The Washington Post to tell the nation that, in the words of the headline, “Pro-discrimination ‘religious freedom’ laws are dangerous.” Notice the scare quotes around “religious freedom.” But the reality is that the only person in favor of discrimination in this debate is Tim Cook. It is Tim…Ryan T. Anderson -
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How a Pastor Reacted to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law
On Thursday, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, creating a firestorm in the Hoosier State. The legislation allows residents to freely practice their religious beliefs while opponents believe it will allow businesses to discriminate against gay and lesbian patrons. >>> Read More: Mike Pence Signs Religious Freedom Bill In recent…Jamie Jackson -
- Opinion
The True Facts About Religious Freedom Laws
The mainstream media has launched an all-out blitz over a new law that protects the fundamental freedom of Indiana citizens from unnecessary and unreasonable government coercion. The media’s gross mischaracterizations of the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act ignore the truth: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts prevent government discrimination against religious free exercise and simply provide a…Sarah Torre -
- Opinion
Why Are Lawmakers Changing Their Minds on Religious Freedom Law?
When Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., took to Twitter last night to echo opposition and concern from the NCAA about Indiana’s new religious freedom law, some were puzzled—especially since Schumer had sponsored a national religious freedom law that closely matches Indiana’s new law. “.@NCAA if you’re looking for a new place to hold 2021 #FinalFour –…Marguerite Bowling -
- Opinion
Indiana Protects Religious Liberty. Why That’s Good Policy.
In a victory for religious freedom, earlier today Gov. Mike Pence, R-Ind., signed into law the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This is good policy that protects the fundamental freedom of Indiana citizens from unnecessary and unreasonable government coercion. The Indiana law is based on the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act—a law that has served…Ryan T. Anderson -
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Mike Pence Signs Religious Freedom Bill
A bill known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been signed into law by the governor. Supporters of Indiana Senate Bill 101 say that the law protects the free practice of religion, and opponents say the law will allow gay and lesbian individuals to be discriminated against. For example, the law could permit business owners…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Cruz, Lankford Move to Protect Religious Freedom of D.C. Private Schools, Organizations
On Wednesday, Senators Ted Cruz, R-Tex., and James Lankford, R-Okla., introduced resolutions of disapproval that, if passed by Congress and signed by the president, would effectively overturn two bad pieces of legislation passed by the D.C. council earlier this year. In January, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser signed two euphemistically titled bills: the “Reproductive…Ryan T. Anderson -
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Should Pro-Life Organizations Be Forced to Hire Pro-Choice Employees?
Conservatives are urging Congress to overrule two pieces of legislation that could force religious and pro-life employers in the nation’s capital to do business in ways that go against their beliefs. The first bill in question, called the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act (RHNDA), seeks to protect individuals from being discriminated against by an employer based…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Meet the 19th Century American Who Warned About Big Government, Religious Liberty Assaults
2015 marks a milestone in American history. One hundred and fifty years ago, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant and ended the Civil War. Shortly thereafter, Orestes Augustus Brownson (1803-1876), a prominent journalist and philosopher, published “The American Republic,” an erudite defense of the Federal Constitution. As noted in our…Robert Moffit -
- Opinion
Positive Response to Indian Leader Modi’s Speech on Religious Freedom
Indian Prime Minister Modi has received praise at home and abroad for a speech he gave on February 17 that took a firm stand against religious persecution and violence and pledged equal treatment for all religions in India. His remarks were made to an audience of 1,200 Christians who had gathered to mark the canonization…Lisa Curtis -
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Obama Helps Spark a Religious Freedom Debate in India
The issue of religious freedom has sparked heated debate in India in recent weeks, prompting the country’s prime minister to address the subject directly. At an event celebrating Indian Catholics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the crowd that “My government will ensure that there is complete freedom of faith and that everyone has the undeniable…Ben Smith