In his 1984 State of the Union address, President Ronald Reagan exhorted the American people, “…we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it’s alright to keep asking if we’re on His side.” This most poignant question should be revisited often. Our justice system may soon provide insight to the answer.
News Release For Immediate Release: 3.1.21 Contact: Chris Freund, media@firstliberty.org Direct: 972-941-4453 Chinese Dissidents Tell Supreme Court: Protecting Donor Privacy A Matter of Life and Death First Liberty Institute submits friend-of-the-court brief in key cases challenging California’s blanket private donor records reporting requirement Washington, DC—First Liberty Institute representing Citizen Power […]
Press Statement For Immediate Release: 2.25.21 Contact: Lacey McNiel, media@firstliberty.org Direct: 972-941-4453 Deceptive “Equality Act” Threatens Existing First Amendment, Federal Legal Protections for Religious Americans Washington, DC—The following statement regarding the “Equality Act,” passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, may be attributed to Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief […]
Press Statement For Immediate Release: 2.23.21 Contact: Lacey McNiel, media@firstliberty.org Direct: 972-941-4453 Biden Nominee to Lead Health and Human Services Deemed a Danger Says Religious Liberty Law Firm Washington, DC—The following statement may be attributed to Mike Berry, General Counsel to First Liberty Institute: President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of […]
News Release For Immediate Release: 2.23.21 Contact: Lacey McNiel, media@firstliberty.org Direct: 972-941-4453 Federal Court Urged to Reverse Decision Dismissing Juror Who Sought Divine Guidance During Deliberations Attorneys argue that banning those who believe God answers prayer from civic duty would deny the right to a jury of one’s peers Atlanta, […]
The U.S. Supreme Court’s most recent church autonomy cases have focused on the ministerial exception to employment law. Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC and Our Lady of Guadalupe v. Morrissey-Berru make it clear that the First Amendment forbids secular courts from hearing employment law claims, such as Title VII claims, that involve ministerial positions at religious organizations. These cases recognize that churches, synagogues, mosques, religious schools, and other religious organizations have a right to choose their own leaders and internal structures. This means, as Our Lady of Guadalupe held, that “courts are bound to stay out of employment disputes involving those holding certain important positions with churches and other religious institutions.”
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