Religious Liberty News
Stories on legal battles, faith in public life, and policies that affect religious freedom. The Daily Signal reports on challenges and victories surrounding First Amendment protections.
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opinion
Misguided Fairness for All Act Would Undermine Religious Liberty
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The radical bill drew widespread opposition from conservatives, and with good reason, as it would enshrine radical gender ideology in federal law and decimate the religious… -
news
3 Big Wins for Religious Liberty Indicate Tide Is Turning
Air Force Col. Leland Bohannon, a combat veteran, was close to retirement when he entered an unexpected fight—one to preserve his two-decade military career. “There always will be a pending opportunity for you to stand for what God has said in his word as the differences between where society is going and where God has… -
opinion
In California, the Right to Gender ‘Transition’ Is Threatening Religious Liberty
In the age of transgenderism, the right to medically transition is threatening some of the most basic freedoms we’ve known, such as religious freedom. Consider a recent case out of California, where a state appeals court ruled that a transgender man can move forward with a lawsuit suing a Catholic hospital for discrimination. In April… -
opinion
Arizona’s Supreme Court Notches a Win for Free Speech, Religious Liberty
The Arizona Supreme Court handed a win to two Christian artists Monday in the latest dispute over religious liberty and nondiscrimination laws. The court ruled 4-3 that the city of Phoenix cannot use a local nondiscrimination ordinance to coerce the owners of an art studio into creating custom wedding invitations that express messages that violate… -
opinion
Trump Should Use UN Meeting to Champion Religious Liberty
Heads of state will flock shortly to Turtle Bay for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. They have no better opportunity to highlight perhaps the most important human rights issue of our times— religious freedom. President Donald Trump ought to take concerns over this most basic of human liberties center stage at… -
opinion
House Democrats Put Current Religious Liberty Protections Under Microscope
If you thought House Democrats would slow down after six months of LGBT-open borders-infanticide socialism, think again. Based on Tuesday’s hearing, the new majority is just warming up. Apparently, it’s not enough to try to strip away people’s privacy, speech, liberty, and dignity. Now, the left is coming for the biggest prize of all: our… -
news
Supreme Court Dodges Decision in Christian Bakers’ Refusal to Make Cake for Same-Sex Wedding
The Supreme Court lifted an order Monday that punished a Christian couple in Oregon who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, telling a lower court to reconsider the dispute in light of the high court's decision last year involving another Christian baker in Colorado. The decision keeps a contentious social dispute over… -
opinion
How the US Is Promoting Religious Liberty Around the World
Around the world, religious liberty remains under threat. In China, a million Uighurs Muslims are now in internment camps—and it’s not the only nation where there’s no true freedom of religion. Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom, joins us to discuss. Read the interview, posted below, or listen to the podcast:… -
opinion
Washington State May Have Triggered the Next Major Religious Liberty Case
One year ago last week, in a major religious liberty case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian cake artist Jack Phillips. Yet just one year later, a floral artist in Washington state now finds herself in similar circumstances to Jack. Her case could prompt the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the matter. In… -
news
Christian Cake Baker’s Attorney: 3rd Lawsuit Is ‘Rehash’ of ‘Old Claims’
A Colorado baker is being sued for a third time for refusing to design custom cakes that he says run contrary to his religious beliefs. Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado—first sued in 2012 for declining to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding because of his traditional Christian beliefs—is… -
news
Trump Announces New Protections for Religious Liberty, Conscience on National Day of Prayer
President Donald Trump spoke out on religious freedom Thursday, as he vowed to protect conscience rights and to combat anti-Semitism. “Just today, we finalized new protections of conscience rights for physicians, pharmacists, nurses, teachers, students, and faith-based charities,” Trump said at a White House Rose Garden event with faith leaders from across the country on… -
news
‘A Win for Freedom’: Colorado Drops Second Case Against Christian Baker
Colorado baker Jack Phillips is 2-0 now after state officials dropped their second attempt to coerce him into baking products that violate his beliefs. Phillips, in turn, dropped a federal lawsuit. “I have and will always serve everyone who comes into my shop; I simply can’t celebrate events or express messages that conflict with my… -
news
At Prayer Breakfast, Trump Touts ‘Historic Action to Protect Religious Liberty’
President Donald Trump spoke up for life and religious freedom Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast, two days after making similar appeals during his State of the Union address. “To ensure that people of faith can always contribute to society, my administration has taken historic action to protect religious liberty,” Trump said during his remarks… -
opinion
A Christian Baker’s New Legal Fight With Colorado Is a Matter of Fairness
Most of us understand the importance of fairness early in life. Whether it’s an umpire’s call in Little League or a teacher’s grading in elementary school, we all intuitively know that fairness is a big deal. But fairness perhaps is no more important than when our rights are in the hands of courts or other… -
news
Judge Says Christian Baker Jack Phillips’ Lawsuit Against Civil Rights Officials Can Proceed
A federal judge in Denver rejected Colorado’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that state civil rights officials are waging a campaign of harassment against Jack Phillips, the Christian baker at issue in the landmark Masterpiece Cakeshop case. Three weeks after Phillips prevailed at the Supreme Court, a state anti-discrimination panel issued a new probable cause… -
opinion
Washington State, ACLU Aren’t Letting Up in Crusade Against Florist’s Religious Liberty
How would you like to attend a political rally featuring President Donald Trump? How about one featuring former President Barack Obama? Even better—why don’t you attend both? You get to help decorate the stage. You can even create a banner setting forth that party’s platform. Given our polarized political climate, it’s a safe bet that… -
news
Christian Baker Jack Phillips Asks Court to Halt New Civil Rights Prosecution
Jack Phillips, the Christian "cake artist" of Masterpiece Cakeshop fame, asked a federal court Tuesday to temporarily stop a new civil rights prosecution brought against him by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Three weeks after Phillips prevailed June 4 at the U.S. Supreme Court, the state agency issued a probable cause determination finding that he likely discriminated… -
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… -
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… -
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…