Archives for June 2018
Ex-Clinton aide: 84 percent of Americans say illegal aliens should be turned in to authorities
America’s trucker shortage could slow economy
Judge Roberts likely to become ‘swing’ vote with Justice Kennedy’s retirement
Tim Tebow looking like a baseball pro in Double-A league
U.S. Supreme Court’s decision leaves in place a circuit court split on prayer
WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Supreme Court announced it denied to review the decision of the United States Court of Appeal for Sixth Circuit in Bormuth v. County of Jackson, which found legislator invocations to be constitutional Thursday, June 28. First Liberty Institute and Supreme Court advocate Allyson Ho with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher represent Jackson County, Michigan, whose commissioners open public meetings with prayer. “Our country has a long history of legislator-led prayer, just as the Sixth Circuit determined in our favor,” said Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO to First Liberty Institute. “Thankfully our clients in Jackson County, Michigan will be able to continue their tradition. We hope the Supreme Court will one day extend that protection across the country.” At the same time the Court declined to review an opposite opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District in Rowan County v. Lund, which concluded that similar invocations are unconstitutional. While the Supreme Court denied review of both cases, leaving in place the decisions before the Sixth and Fourth Circuits, Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, dissented from the decision, saying, “For as long as this … [Read more...]
Court ruling to help Christian teachers, supporters say
By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP)-- Christians and other teachers in public schools, as well as the school-choice movement, stand to benefit from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision June 27 that public-sector unions may not require fees from nonmembers, supporters of the ruling say. In a 5-4 opinion, the high court ruled against such mandates by government and public-sector unions and overturned a 41-year-old Supreme Court decision in the process. The justices decided such a requirement on workers who refuse to join the union is a violation of free-speech protections in the First Amendment. "States and public-sector unions may no longer extract agency fees from nonconsenting employees," Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the court's opinion. A union procedure that automatically deducts fees from a nonmember's wages "violates the First Amendment and cannot continue," he said. "Neither an agency fee nor any other payment to the union may be deducted from a nonmember's wages, nor may any other attempt be made to collect such a payment, unless the employee affirmatively consents to pay." The ruling offers important implications for Christians and other teachers with faith convictions, according to the … [Read more...]
Johnson introduces legislation defending religious expression
Washington, D.C. – Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church, Bossier City, introduced H.R. 6213, the History and Tradition Protection Act of 2018, June 28 to combat the abuse of the establishment clause. The establishment clause was intended to serve as a shield for people of faith, but has been twisted and perverted into a powerful weapon to be used against them. “Religious symbols and expression are deeply embedded in the history and tradition of our country,” said Johnson, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee as well as the Committee on Natural Resources, “but for more than a half-century, radical secularist organizations have engaged in an aggressive campaign of fear, intimidation and disinformation in their quest to rid the public square of all religious symbols, history and expression. “We must protect the principles on which our nation was founded,” continued the first-term representative. “My legislation will ensure activists can no longer profit off the abuse of our laws, so we can better protect the religious liberties of all Americans.” Johnson’s bill abolishes the award of monetary damages and attorney fees in establishment clause cases where a plaintiff complains of (1) any … [Read more...]
On last day of term, Supreme Court upholds right of woman to pray in her home
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court summarily reversed a lower court ruling in the case Sause v. Bauer, in which attorneys for First Liberty Institute and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, represent Mary Anne Sause. “The Supreme Court’s decision today is a just outcome for Ms. Sause and a victory for religious liberty,” said Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty. “No American citizen should ever be ordered by government officials not to pray in their own home.” Attorneys for Sause had asked the Supreme Court to reverse the appellate court’s ruling that the police officers, who in 2013 entered Sause’s home to investigate an alleged minor noise complaint, harassed her, and ordered Sause, a devout Catholic, to stop praying in her home were entitled to qualified immunity. The Supreme Court’s decision sends a clear signal that citizens are entitled to religious liberty in their own home. The case was led by veteran U.S. Supreme Court advocate and now judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, James Ho. Ironically, Judge Ho was mentioned today by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as a possible Supreme Court Justice for the vacancy left by retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. After Judge Ho took … [Read more...]
Fleming selected for economic development post
By Message Staff Former U.S. Rep. John Fleming has been nominated by the Trump Administration to serve as assistant secretary of commerce for economic development. Fleming, who is a member of First Baptist Church in Minden, has long been a champion of faith-based and conservative values. According to a 2016 Baptist Message article, Fleming submitted or supported bills to: protect health entities that decline to provide, pay for or refer for abortions; defund Planned Parenthood, the largest U.S. abortion provider; prohibit public funds from paying for abortions; and require parental consent as a measure to prevent young girls from being transported across state lines for abortions. “Whether it’s national defense, right-to-life or the protection of First Amendment rights,” Fleming told the Baptist Message, “it’s my personal faith, my belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior and what I think he wants me to do that guides me in my decision-making.” Since 2017, Fleming has worked in President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services. He was Louisiana’s 4th District representative to the U.S. House from 2009 to 2017, and was unsuccessfully in a bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate. He lost in a runoff to U.S. Sen. John … [Read more...]
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