Tag Archives: Religious Liberty

What’s at Stake in the Current Election?

Posted on November 4, 2024 by David E Smith

It seems like a cliché to say that this is the most important election in our lifetime. But it feels like that right now. Here are a few different things I think are at stake in 2024, of importance to those who share a Biblical worldview..

Posted in Federal, Sanctity of Life | Tagged Donald Trump, Free Speech Rights, Israel, Jerusalem, Mother Teresa, Pro-Life, Religious Liberty, transgender confusion | Comments Off

Mike Johnson and the Separation of Church and State

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Alyssa Sonnenburg

With Mike Johnson’s selection as the new Speaker of the House, the attacks were instantaneous. One criticism directed at the new Speaker was that he routinely violates the “separation of church and state.” If the accusers had any knowledge of American history, they would not quickly raise such an issue against a Baptist.

Posted in Education, Faith, Federal, Marriage/Family/Culture, Religious Liberty | Tagged Atheism, church, First Amendment, John Adams, Marxism, Mike Johnson, Mike Johnson and the Separation of Church and State, Religious Liberty, Speaker of the House, state, Thomas Jefferson | Comments Off

Cancelling Christianity (Part 1)

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Alyssa Sonnenburg

Immigrants have long swarmed America’s shores because of the opportunities afforded to all who arrive here. Historically, a person could start a business with all the potential risks and rewards involved or take the safer route of being employed by someone else. Employment and educational opportunities have been virtually unlimited, and the choice was yours to make.

Posted in Faith, Marriage/Family/Culture, Religious Liberty | Tagged America, Cancelling Christianity, Cancelling Christianity (Part 1), Christianity, Gerald Hiestand, immigration, Julian the Apostate, Matt Crawford, Religious Liberty, Tom Holland | Comments Off

America’s Pastor: Freedom of Religion & Freedom of Speech Under Attack

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Alyssa Sonnenburg

“If I am to be effective, which I believe I am, we must always see the hurting human in front of us and compassionately, sensitively, truthfully confront that person with the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.” These are the honest and sincere words of Reverend Stephen Lee, also known as America’s Pastor. Recently, Reverend Lee was indicted in Georgia for so-called election interference, along with 18 others, including former president Donald Trump. The state alleges Lee and others “unlawfully conspired and endeavored to conduct and participate in a criminal enterprise in Fulton County, Georgia, and elsewhere.”

Posted in Faith, Federal, Fundraiser, Religious Liberty | Tagged 9/11, America’s Pastor – Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech Under Attack, Barack Obama, Biden, Bill of Rights, David Shestokas, Donald Trump, First Amendment, Free Speech, Fulton Georgia, George W. Bush, government, Great Depression, James Madison, ObamaCare, POM, Religious Liberty, RICO Act, Stephen Lee, Supreme Court, Tom Sawyer, U.S. Constitution, WTC Memorial, WW II | Comments Off

Peter Breen Joins Our Line-Up at the IFI Forum on Religious Liberty

Posted on May 23, 2023 by David E Smith

We are pleased to announce that former state legislator Peter Breen has been added to our line-up of speakers for the IFI Special Forum on Religious Liberty. In addition to being a pro-life hero, Peter leads the Thomas More Society’s Legal Team in service of its Life, Family, and Religious Liberty missions.

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged Arielle Del Turco, Center for Religious Liberty, First Amendment, National Committee for Religious Freedom, Peter Breen, Planned Parenthood, Pregnancy Resource Centers, Religious Liberty, Sam Brownback, SB 1909, Thomas More Society | Comments Off

Growing Number of Government School Students Face Anti-Christian Attacks

Posted on March 19, 2022 by David E Smith

As incomprehensible to average Americans as it may seem, three stories about government school students facing disciplinary actions for expressing their Christian faith were featured in Christian media publications over the past few months...

Posted in Education, Religious Liberty | Tagged American Center for Law and Justice, Christian Persecution, Christina Compagnone, education choice, First Amendment, free exercise of religion, Harmeet K. Dhillon, Home Education, homeschooling, Religious Liberty, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, U.S. Supreme Court | Comments Off

Pro-Family Groups Urge SCOTUS To Rule Against OSHA Vaccine Mandate

Posted on January 6, 2022 by David E Smith

More than two dozen pro-family organizations signed onto an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court to oppose the Biden Administration’s tyrannical vaccine mandate. The brief, filed on Monday, January 3, 2022, urges the Court to protect religious liberty and oppose this sweeping and unchecked mandate, which requires COVID-19 vaccination in employers with 100 or more employees with little to no regard for the religious liberty interests of American citizens.

Posted in Federal, Religious Liberty | Tagged Biden Administration, COVID–19, OSHA, Religious Liberty, U.S. Supreme Court, vaccine mandate | Comments Off

Religious Liberty is not for Churches, says Biden’s Proposed HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra

Posted on February 15, 2021 by David E Smith

Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). But Becerra raises deep concerns among religious conservatives fighting to protect their First Amendment free speech and religious liberty rights. They are leary of Becerra because he defended the anti-free speech California law (AB 775), struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, that forced pro-life care centers to promote state-sponsored abortions.

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged California Family Council, Department of Health and Human Services, First Amendment, James Gallagher, Joe Biden, Jonathan Keller, Religious Liberty, U.S. Supreme Court, Xavier Becerra | Comments Off

Government Must Support and Encourage Free Exercise of Religion, or Fail

Posted on November 11, 2020 by David E Smith

Illinois Family Institute has joined a friend of the court ("amicus") brief supporting Catholic Social Services in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which was just argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.

At the federal level, the courts generally enforce this amendment by requiring 1) a compelling government interest, and 2) the least restrictive means narrowly tailored to actually achieve that interest (called the strict scrutiny test), before allowing a government to infringe Constitutional rights.

Posted in Federal, Religious Liberty | Tagged Amy Coney Barrett, Bernie Sanders, Catholic Social Services in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, COVID–19, Employment Division v. Smith, free exercise of religion, James Odom, Philadelphia, Religious Freedom Restoration, Religious Liberty | Comments Off

Instagram Brands Christian Worship ‘Harmful’

Posted on June 29, 2020 by David E Smith

The headline to this article is not sensationalistic. It is not click bait. It is truth. Shocking truth. Yes, Instagram has designated videos of live worship on the streets to be in violation of community guidelines, calling the content “harmful.” Let the outrage be felt and heard.

Posted in Marriage/Family/Culture | Tagged Big Tech, Big Tech censorship, Cancel culture, freedom of speech, Google, Instagram, Josh Hawley, Prager U, Religious Liberty, Sean Feucht, YouTube | Comments Off

The Bill of Rights is Not Dead Yet

Posted on June 8, 2020 by David E Smith

Until recently, several states—including Minnesota—declared that it was unlawful to engage in the free exercise of religion in groups of ten or more. When churches dared pursue legal recourse to correct that issue, politicians, pundits and journalists offered criticism. As one of the attorneys on the receiving end of that criticism on more than one occasion, it left me perplexed. “What’s the big deal?” they might say, “Why can’t churches just worship online?!

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged Bill de Blasio, Bill of Rights, Cornovirus, COVID–19, First Amendment, freedom to worship, J.B. Pritzker, Jacob Frey, lock-down, Religious Liberty, Tim Walz | Comments Off

PODCAST: Christians, the Church, and the State

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Benjamin D. Smith

I’d like to offer a few words about the separation of church and state—a concept long abused by “progressives.” The religion clauses of the First Amendment were intended to protect religion from the intrusive power of the state, not the reverse. The Establishment Clause states that “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion.” That does not mean religious convictions are prohibited from informing political values and decisions. To expect…

U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr
Offers Honest Assessment of the Culture to Notre Dame Students

Posted on October 24, 2019 by David E Smith

When U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr addressed law students at the University of Notre Dame his remarks would have been widely accepted 10-15 years ago. Today, the culture has changed making what once were traditional moral standards now controversial positions. He outlined how the Founding Father’s enshrined their belief of religious liberty in the U.S. Constitution, “which provides for limited government, while leaving ‘the People’ broadly at liberty to pursue our lives both as individuals and through free associations.”

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged Communism, de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, Fascism, Notre Dame Law School, Religious Liberty, U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Constitution, University of Notre Dame, William P. Barr | Comments Off

U.S. Supreme Court Hands Christian Bakers Win in Same-Sex Case, Vacates Lower Court

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Benjamin D. Smith

The U.S. Supreme Court handed religious liberty advocates a victory Monday when it vacated a lower court’s opinion that had ordered a Christian baker to design a cake for a same-sex wedding.

Posted in Religious Liberty, Sexuality | Tagged Aaron and Melissa Klein, ADF, Anthony Kennedy, First Liberty Institute, Jack Phillips, Kelly Shackelford, Masterpiece, Oregon, Religious Liberty, SCOTUS | Comments Off

Speak Up and Speak Out in 2019

Posted on January 5, 2019 by David E Smith

May I propose a New Year’s resolution for 2019? Let’s determine to speak up and to speak out, to raise our voices with clarity and compassion, to refuse to hold back regardless of cost or consequence. Will you join me?

To those of you who are already doing this, I encourage you to continue to stand strong.

To those who are not, now is most certainly the time. What are you waiting for?

One of the most important principles taught by Jesus was that if we try to save our lives, we lose them. But if we lose our lives …

Posted in Faith | Tagged Allum Bokhari, Early Rain Covenant Church, Franklin Graham, Free Speech, gender pronouns, Infowars, misgendering law, New Year’s Resolution, political correctness, Princeton University, Pronoun Wars, Religious Liberty, speech control, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping | Comments Off