Tag Archives: Clarence Thomas

Lawsuit Against State of Illinois’ Unconstitutional Ban on Counseling for Minors

Posted on July 30, 2018 by David E Smith

IFI is asking for help from supporters in moving forward an important lawsuit against the state of Illinois. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of pro-life crisis pregnancy centers in California (NIFLA v. Becerra) and with the encouragement of IFI and others, Mauck & Baker, a Chicago-based law firm committed to protecting religious liberty, is considering a lawsuit against the Illinois law that bans counseling for children and teens who experience unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria.

Background

The plaintiffs in the NIFLA case (i.e., pro-life crisis pregnancy centers) sued the state of …

Posted in Faith, Sexuality | Tagged Bruce Rauner, Clarence Thomas, conversion therapy ban, FACT Act, HB 217, King v. Governors of New Jersey, Mauck & Baker, NIFLA v. Becerra, Pickup v. Brown, Youth Mental Health Protection Act | Comments Off

U.S. Supreme Court Recap for First Amendment Cases

Posted on July 6, 2018 by aswillis

It has been an eventful term for the U.S. Supreme Court, which has provided many closely decided cases and ended with the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. For those interested in free speech and religious liberty, there have been plenty of decisions to keep track of and digest. Here is what you need to know.

Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission

The story is well-known. Jack Phillips, a Christian cake shop owner from Colorado, refused to create a cake for the same-sex “wedding” of two men. They filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which …

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Anthony Kennedy, Arlene’s Flowers Inc. v. Washington, Barronelle Stutzman, Bill Jack, Clarence Thomas, Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Donald Trump, Jack Phillips, Janus v. AFSCME, John Roberts, Korematsu v. United States, Mark Janus, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, Reproductive FACT Act, Rowan County v. Lund, Samuel Alito, SCOTUS, Town of Greece v. Galloway, Travel ban, Trump v. Hawaii, U.S. Supreme Court, Washington Supreme Court | Comments Off

SCOTUS Allows Lower Court to Ban prayer from Public Square

Posted on July 3, 2018 by David E Smith

In case you thought that the potential to flip Justice Kennedy’s seat alone will bring us back to the constitutional promised land, think again. So long as the lower courts are not restrained, we will never return to the Constitution and the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

Posted in Faith, Federal, Religious Liberty | Tagged Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Daniel Horowitz, Establishment Clause, First Amendment, John Roberts, Prayer, SCOTUS, Town of Greece v. Galloway | Comments Off

Might NIFLA Help Overturn Bans on Same-Sex Attraction Counseling

Posted on June 29, 2018 by David E Smith

So much good news from the U.S. Supreme Court this week, including the announcement of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s impending retirement and the 5-4 decision in the NIFLA v. Becerra case, which asserts that the speech of pro-life crisis pregnancy centers is, indeed, protected speech.

Justice Kennedy surprised the nation by announcing his retirement at the end of July, giving President Donald Trump another opportunity to continue to restore respect for constitutional principles and historical American values. Perhaps we will see that proverbial long arc of justice bending more often toward justice.

Justice Kennedy surprised again, this time in NIFLA v. …

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged American Psychological Association, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Curtis Schube, Donald Trump, First Amendment, King v. Governors of New Jersey, NIFLA v. Becerra, Pennsylvania Family Policy Institute, Pickup v. Brown, SCOTUS, sexual orientation change efforts, SOCE | Comments Off

Scalia the Bold Leader for Originalism

Posted on February 16, 2016 by David E Smith

The importance of Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away this past weekend, is based not just in what he said in his U.S. Supreme Court opinions, but how he said it. As the life and work of Justice Scalia are honored and remembered, conservatives would do well to be grateful for his bold leadership on behalf of the originalist moorings of constitutional jurisprudence.

Posted in Federal | Tagged Antonin Scalia, Citizens United, Clarence Thomas, McIntryre v. Ohio Election Commission, Obergefell v. Hodges, U.S. v. Jones | Comments Off

Anti-Christian Activists Will Defeat Themselves

Posted on May 12, 2014 by David E Smith

For years now, anti-Christian activists have been pushing the hate button and accusing those of us who hold to biblical morality and family values of being intolerant, hate-filled bigots (and worse).

But this strategy, seen most recently in the attack on godly twin brothers, Jason and David Benham, will inevitably defeat itself. After all, when the alleged victims are the bullies and the alleged tolerant ones are full of bigotry, their rhetoric cannot be taken seriously.

Back in 2008, as Californians voted to preserve marriage with the Proposition 8 marriage amendment, the amendment was quickly dubbed Prop Hate, as …

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged Benham brothers, Chuck Colson, Clarence Thomas, Dan Savage, David Benham, Fred Phelps, Gary Bauer, Jason Benham, LGBTQ, Phyllis Schafly, Proposition 8, Ronald Reagan | Comments Off