by Jorge Gomez • 6 minutes
Will 2025 be another landmark year for religious freedom in America? It appears that way—especially given the multiple religious liberty cases knocking on the door of the U.S. Supreme Court.
There are two major First Liberty cases the Supreme Court is considering whether to take up. Plus, the Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in several more cases that will impact houses of worship, employees, ministries, families and everyday Americans.
Please pray for First Liberty’s cases. Specifically, pray for strength for our clients, as well as wisdom for the Justices. Remember, it only takes four Justices for the Court to agree to hear a case. And because the Court is actively looking at our cases, it’s possible we’ll hear a response very soon.
1. Fire Chief Ron Hittle
Hittle v. City of Stockton California
The Court is expected to conference on Friday, March 7 to consider whether to hear First Liberty’s case involving Fire Chief Ron Hittle.
Chief Hittle was a dedicated first responder for almost 25 years. When he attended a world-class leadership conference with a few team members, the city of Stockton, California fired him. Why? Because the conference was held at a church. First Liberty asked the Court to hear the case and make it clear that cities can’t fire employees because of their religious beliefs or practices.
This case isn’t just about one firefighter. It has implications for the rights of every person in the workplace. A win for Chief Hittle would be a win for employees nationwide.
Chief Hittle’s case appears to be receiving attention. Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in an unrelated employment discrimination case. Justice Neil Gorsuch asked a series of questions about whether the Supreme Court should reconsider the legal framework that lower courts have been using in employment discrimination cases. The attorney responded in part by referencing our case for Fire Chief Hittle.
2. Blake Warner
Warner v. Hillsborough County School Board
The Supreme Court could soon decide whether to take up First Liberty’s case involving Blake Warner.
The Florida father was told by a court that he must have an attorney in order to legally represent his child. We asked the Court to hear the case and to review a lower court decision, arguing that forcing Blake to get a lawyer infringes on a parent’s right to make critical decisions for his child, and a child’s rights to access the courts and do so without an attorney.
A couple weeks ago, the Supreme Court ordered the school district attorneys to respond to our petition. Their response is due March 17. Action from the Court could come soon after that.
First Liberty supports the right of parents to make decisions about what’s best for their children and to raise them consistent with their religious beliefs. Protecting parental rights is central to protecting religious liberty. This case has implications for every family in the country. It presents an opportunity to protect parents’ constitutional right to raise their children as they see fit.
3. Catholic Charities Bureau
Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission
On March 31, the Supreme Court will hear a case involving a Catholic charitable organization in Wisconsin that’s being forced to pay taxes because, according to the state, its ministry is not sufficiently religious.
Our friends at Becket are representing Catholic Charities Bureau. Since 1917, the charity has operated as part of a Catholic Diocese in northern Wisconsin, providing a wide range of services to help the disabled, the elderly and the poor. Catholic Charities’ mission is to serve those in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance program provides financial assistance to those who have lost their job through no fault of their own. Under state law, certain nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin can opt out of the program, including those operated primarily for religious purposes.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Catholic Charities could not receive a religious exemption from the state’s unemployment compensation program. The state court concluded that Catholic Charities’ service to the poor and needy was not “typical” activity. It also held that the charity was not “operated primarily for religious purposes” as required for the tax exemption, even though Catholic Charities is directly controlled by and tasked with carrying out the Catholic Church’s religious ministry to people in need.
First Liberty filed an amicus brief supporting Catholic Charities and explaining why the Supreme Court should reverse the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling.
“In its opinion, the Wisconsin Supreme Court set forth an erroneous understanding of religious exercise that limited religious activities to those involving religious worship, education, or the active sharing of a religious faith,” our brief notes. “This caricature of religion improperly limits what qualifies as religious exercise in a manner that threatens religious charitable ministries across the country.”
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide when an organization meets the criteria for “religious behavior” sufficient to qualify for tax exemption. The outcome of this case could set an important precedent that protects longstanding tax exemptions for faith-based nonprofits. This will impact ministries and charitable organizations across the country that make an incredible, life-changing impact in the lives of millions of people.
4. Parents & Religious Families in Montgomery County
On April 22, the Court will hear arguments in a case involving more than 300 religious parents in Montgomery County, Maryland who argue they should be allowed to opt their children out of school reading materials promoting controversial ideology.
First Liberty is fighting a very similar case in California for two families who were also told by a school district that they could not opt their children out of books promoting radical gender ideology.
Parents have a right to know what their children are learning in school—and to opt them out if they’re exposed to materials or courses that violate their religious beliefs. Even still, we’re witnessing attacks on parental rights and religious freedom all over the country. It’s an issue affecting people of ALL faiths.
There is perhaps no right more deeply rooted in our nation’s history and tradition than the right of parents to direct their children’s religious upbringing. First Liberty’s case and the one pending at the Supreme Court could have massive implications for families nationwide. The outcome could impact religious liberty and parental rights for decades to come.
5. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School
On April 30, the Supreme Court will hear two consolidated cases involving St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, a faith-based charter school that’s being excluded from receiving publicly available benefits simply because of its religious character.
The Oklahoma Charter School Board approved St. Isidore to participate in the state’s network of independently designed and privately operated charter schools. But the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the board could not authorize a charter contract with St. Isidore solely because the school is religious. According to that decision, Oklahoma’s approval of a religious charter school is unconstitutional because charter schools receive taxpayer funding and are considered “state actors,” i.e. public schools.
Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom are representing the Catholic school and argue the state is violating the Free Exercise Clause. By excluding religious schools from the charter school program, the state is effectively punishing parents and children for exercising their religion.
First Liberty filed a brief asking the Court to make clear that states cannot discriminate against religious schools. We pointed to the landmark ruling in our Treat Children Fairly case, Carson v. Makin, which held that states are prohibited from discriminating against parents who send their children to religious schools. That decision also ensured fairness in how the government treats all religious schools and organizations.
Beyond protecting the rights of St. Isidore and other religious schools in Oklahoma, the outcome could impact faith-based schools across the country. With this case, the Supreme Court can reaffirm that the First Amendment prohibits state officials from excluding religious families and schools. It’s an excellent opportunity for the nation’s highest court to strengthen religious liberty protections, educational choice and parental rights.
 |
|
|
