Topic
Church and State
Pastors Push Back Against 'Annual Registration Fee'
One Illinois city says it's charging churches a fee, but church leaders call it an unfair 'tax.'
April 18, 2013
Radical Proposal to Weed Out 'Fake Pastors' Splits Kenyans
Should courts vet clergy for integrity?
March 4, 2013
China Isn't Trying to Wipe Out Christianity
A new report on persecution belies important changes in the country's religious freedom.
February 25, 2013
Chances Improving for Ex-Episcopalians in Property Fights
Court cases in Texas and South Carolina could reshape other disputes—and denominations.
February 20, 2013
How China Plans to Wipe Out House Churches
Report: Govt.-sponsored persecution rose 42 percent in 2012.
February 18, 2013
Obama Pleads for a More Prayerful Washington
At National Prayer Breakfast, President urges Democrats and Republicans to be less partisan, more prayer-minded. Top faith aide, Josh Dubois, steps down.
February 8, 2013
Sovereign Grace Ministries: Courts Shouldn't 'Second-Guess' Pastoral Counseling of Sex Abuse Victims
Legal observers question whether clergy-penitent privilege applies to denomination accused of covering up crimes.
January 25, 2013
Government Backs Down on Contraceptive Mandate
Promises to "never enforce" current HHS rule against Wheaton College or similar religious employers. But is it a real victory?
December 19, 2012
State-Sponsored Pilgrimages Under Review in Nigeria
A third of the country's 90,000 religious pilgrims this year were Christians.
December 5, 2012
The Surprising Christian Organizations Suing the Government
Many suing over the HHS contraception mandate are doing so "despite, not because of, the culture war aspect."
November 19, 2012
Church and State for the Homeless
How Denver's faith and civic leaders are working together to get families off the street and into jobs and homes.
November 13, 2012
Christians Fight Israel's Marriage Ban
Without official recogition, evangelicals must travel abroad to get married. Will a lawsuit help?
November 6, 2012
Uganda Tells 1 Million Couples: You're Not Really Married
Unions hang in the balance as govt. restricts which churches can marry.
October 26, 2012
Why the IRS Has Stopped Auditing Churches—Even One that Calls President Obama a Muslim
Decision on who can authorize investigations of churches that influence voters is frozen for foreseeable future.
October 26, 2012
Why Churches Worship Illegally—In Paris
Evangelical churches are multiplying but lack space to grow.
October 9, 2012
Song of the Secularist
Jacques Berlinerblau offers a soaring paean to freedom from religion, but the American people don't seem to be singing along.
September 20, 2012
Give Church-State Peace a Chance
Michael Meyerson charts a historical path between the extremes of our church-state debates.
September 13, 2012
Food Fights: Homeless Ministries Respond to Restrictions
Several cities enacted anti-feeding laws over the summer.
September 5, 2012
Supreme Court's Health-Care Ruling Could Weaken Charity Tax Breaks
Why some religious nonprofits' worries aren't about the contraception mandate.
September 4, 2012
Are Parents' Prayers for Miracle Healings Inhumane?
New study in Journal of Medical Ethics draws criticism.
August 15, 2012
Nigerian States Propose Religion Limits as Gunmen Kill 19 at Bible Study
Continued surge in sectarian violence has local governments debating how to stop it.
August 8, 2012
Do the Church Fathers, the Founding Fathers, and Catholic Saints Really Go Together?
Thoughts on the roots of religious liberty as the Catholic Church's "Fortnight for Freedom" comes to a close.
July 5, 2012
When Dad Is in Prison
Mentoring programs for children of prisoners let faith flourish after federal cutback.
June 15, 2012
Passing the Plate for Politics
Why it's legal for churches to take collections for PACs that oppose gay marriage.
June 14, 2012
Liberia: Getting Back to the Founding Faith
Believers debate re-labeling the country a 'Christian nation.'
June 4, 2012
Is the Lord's Prayer a Christian Prayer?
Observers weigh in as a judge considers the question.
May 7, 2012
Q & A: Ross Douthat on Rooting Out Bad Religion
Why the New York Times columnist wants to see America return to its confessional roots.
April 16, 2012
Contract Concern: USAID Policy on Hiring Alarms Charities
Groups concerned religious liberty fear they could be challenged in the future.
March 23, 2012
Religious Groups Still Weighing In on Obama Administration's Contraception Plan
A recent proposal by the administration tries to address previous religious freedom concerns.
March 23, 2012
Timeline: Obama Administration Actions Affecting U.S. Religious Freedom
How we got to the current religious liberty debates over contraception and other issues.
March 23, 2012
The Supreme Court's Religious Freedom Reality Check
A recent unanimous ruling reveals deep commitment to our 'first freedom.'
March 13, 2012
Santorum Wrong to Reignite 'Freedom of Worship' Controversy
Religious freedom rhetoric should not be a partisan tool.
February 29, 2012
The Price of Religious Advocacy in D.C.
More religious groups are spending more money on political lobbying than ever before.
February 21, 2012
Sex Offender Misstep Illustrates Outreach Difficulties
A law prohibiting convicted sex offenders from living near a public-school bus stop created complications for one ministry.
February 16, 2012
Obama Does Not Widen Religious Exemption for Contraceptive Mandate
The burden to cover contraception shifts to the insurance companies, but an earlier exemption for religious groups will not change.
February 10, 2012
The Best Ways to Fight Poverty—Really
The government is by far the best institution to raise the poor's standard of living. The church does something more important for them.
February 10, 2012
First They Came for the Catholics: Obama's Contraceptive Mandate
An open letter to evangelical Christians.
February 8, 2012
You Can't Worship Here: Evicting Churches from New York Schools
What will really happen this weekend when churches gather in school buildings for the last time?
February 8, 2012
The Ironies of Obama's National Prayer Breakfast Speech
The President seems to be debating himself on religious motivations and the common good.
February 3, 2012
Political activism resource offers guide for churches
Weeks before voters head to the polls in the closely fought presidential election, a resource developed by faith groups and civil liberties leaders offers guidelines to churches hoping to influence the political process without violating legal restrictions. (ABP)
Hundreds of pastors back political candidates, defy tax rules | Reuters¬es=
More on pastors who held a 'protest' yesterday to preach partisan politics from the pulpit. Money quote: "If the IRS wanted to get serious about this, there are already plenty of blatant violations they could pursue," said Rob Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington-based group that monitors and informs the IRS about tax-code violations.
Challenge to clergy tax break clears hurdle
A Wisconsin judge has given a green light to a lawsuit challenging a federal law that exempts clergy from paying income taxes on the fair rental value of their homes. (Church Executive)
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