Yesterday, Rob Boston discussed a bit of the controversy that has erupted in response to the Department of Health and Human Service’s (HHS) decision to require all institutions to provide insurance plans for their employees that include contraceptive coverage, with a narrow exemption for houses of worship. Read more

Last year, the BOAST Interim Study Group was created in the state of Maryland to examine and report on a recurring school voucher proposal most recently introduced in the 2011 General Assembly session. The Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers (BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit, if passed, would award an income tax credit in exchange for donating to a private school voucher program or “innovative educational programs” in public schools. Read more

Last month, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced the formation of the Task Force on Opportunity Scholarships for Tennessee to make recommendations to him on possible voucher programs in the state. He explained, "First and foremost, any new program must complement our ongoing efforts to reform education." Read more

Tomorrow the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing on SB 98, which would permit district school boards to allow prayers of invocation or benediction at public school events. This regrettable bill is unnecessary, unconstitutional, and would harm the religious rights of students. Read more

This Thursday, January 12, the New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee will be holding a hearing on HB 1607, a tuition tax credit bill. The legislation would grant tax credits to businesses donating to scholarship organizations for private and religious schools. These kinds of bills create a “backdoor” voucher program. Read more

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) recently introduced H.R. 3600, “To restore the Free Speech and First Amendment rights of churches and exempt organizations by repealing the 1954 Johnson Amendment.” The Johnson amendment, passed by Congress in 1954, is the law that prohibits churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations from engaging in political campaign activity in support of or opposition to any candidate for public office. This is not the first time Rep. Read more

This month, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) introduced H. Res. 489, “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate Christmas.” Personally I was unaware that Christmas was in a position in need of protection, but of course it is that time of year when the Religious Right launches an endless stream of rhetoric on the “War on Christmas.” Read more

Happy Bill of Rights Day! Today marks the 220^th anniversary of its ratification. Last week, the President issued a proclamation celebrating the occasion and the vital freedoms protected by the document.

The proclamation begins: Read more

Earlier today, the Legislative Department submitted comments to the National Forest Service requesting they deny a request to extend the special use permit currently allowing the display of a large statue of Jesus on federal land. The statue, located on a ski slope in Big Mountain, MT, was first erected by the Knights of Columbus in 1953, and is identified only as a “religious shrine” in the permit. Read more

Earlier today, the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination (CARD), which AU Chairs, sent letters to all 13 faith-based partnership offices within federal departments and agencies requesting information on how each agency handles the issue of hiring discrimination by religious organizations receiving federal grants and contracts. Read more