ISIS embraces sex slavery, using contracts and courts to govern the practice

ISIS—also known as the Islamic State group—has embraced sex slavery and is regulating the practice with sales contracts notarized by ISIS-run courts, according to a newspaper investigation. The girls and women who are taken as sex slaves belong to the Yazidi religious minority, the New York Times reports. ISIS not…

Aug 13, 2015 9:09 AM CDT

2nd Circuit rules against nonprofits challenging opt-out process for contraceptive coverage

The opt-out process for religious nonprofits that don’t want to provide contraceptive insurance coverage for their workers does not violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a federal appeals court has ruled. The New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (PDF) on Friday, report the New York Times and…

Aug 10, 2015 9:01 AM CDT

Supreme Court’s Abercrombie ruling marks a setback for employers

Aug 1, 2015 3:20 AM CDT

Archdiocese seeks court order to end protesters’ 11-year vigil and close down deconsecrated church

An 11-year, 24/7 vigil at a Roman Catholic church outside Boston may be coming to an end, if Massachusetts appeals courts see the case the same way as the Archdiocese of Boston. The protesting parishioners say they are the true owners of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini church in Scituate, under…

Jul 23, 2015 11:20 AM CDT

Man with Voodoo beads is ordered detained for refusing to remove them in court

A defendant appearing before a North Carolina judge was detained for nearly three hours last week when he refused to remove his Voodoo beads or tuck them into his shirt during a court appearance. The defendant, Abu-Bakr Abdur Rahman of Fayetteville, says he believes Judge Talmage Baggett of Cumberland County…

Jul 17, 2015 7:54 AM CDT

EEOC suit claims United Parcel Service’s appearance policy violates workers’ religious rights

The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued the United Parcel Service for allegedly violating the religious rights of workers and job applicants whose appearance violates company policy. The suit, announced Wednesday in this press release, says the company bans beards and hair that is below collar length for male…

Jul 17, 2015 5:45 AM CDT

Parishioners at Church of Cannabis avoid criminal charges, plan civil suit

Parishioners at the First Church of Cannabis in Indianapolis left their pot at home when they gathered for a service on Wednesday, the same day that Indiana’s new religious freedom law took effect. Police had announced in advance that any pot smokers would be arrested, and officers were posted outside…

Jul 2, 2015 7:30 AM CDT

ACLU suit challenges Louisiana governor’s ‘marriage and conscience order’

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s “marriage and conscience order” is being challenged in a lawsuit that claims the executive action exceeded his powers. The suit (PDF) was filed on Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Louisiana, the Forum for Equality Foundation and six New Orleans residents, according to…

Jul 1, 2015 9:21 AM CDT

9th Circuit revives inmate’s pro se suit over being required to work with pork in kitchen

A federal appeals court has given a green light to a former inmate’s First Amendment complaint over being required to work with pork as part of his job assignment in an Oregon prison kitchen. Reversing a trial court’s grant of summary judgment in a pro se lawsuit by Clarence Eugene…

Jun 29, 2015 11:55 AM CDT

County clerks, judges with religious qualms can refuse to issue gay marriage licenses, Texas AG says

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says in a legal opinion that government employees may refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses if doing so violates their sincerely held religious beliefs. Paxton’s opinion (PDF) says employees such as county clerks and their employees, justices of the peace and judges retain religious freedoms.…

Jun 29, 2015 7:43 AM CDT

SCOTUS rules for Arizona church in First Amendment challenge to sign ordinance

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled for an Arizona pastor and his church in a challenge to an ordinance that imposed more stringent restrictions on temporary signs directing the public to its services than on other signs. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion (PDF) for the court finding a First…

Jun 18, 2015 9:36 AM CDT

New Michigan law allows adoption agencies to refuse service based on religious objections

A Michigan bill signed by the governor on Thursday allows private adoption agencies with state contracts to refuse to place children with families based on sincerely held religious beliefs. The law’s backers say the bill will ensure that faith-based adoption agencies remain open so that as many children as possible…

Jun 12, 2015 8:00 AM CDT

Gay marriages are targeted in new North Carolina opt-out law for magistrates, other officials

Some court officials in North Carolina can refuse to perform marriages based on a sincerely held religious objection, according to a new law passed on Thursday. The North Carolina House voted to override the governor’s veto of the measure on Thursday, following a June 1 vote by the Senate, report…

Jun 12, 2015 7:18 AM CDT

Family of car crash victim had no right to know brain was removed during autopsy, court rules

The family of a 17-year-old car crash victim had no right to be notified that his brain had been removed during an autopsy, New York’s highest court has held. The 5-2 ruling (PDF), issued Wednesday by New York’s Court of Appeals, overturned a $600,000 jury award to the parents of…

Jun 11, 2015 11:39 AM CDT

US-born Israeli soldier won’t be jailed for eating non-kosher sandwich

Officials say a Boston man who volunteered for combat service in Israel’s army won’t be put behind bars for eating a non-kosher sandwich after all, following an international kerfuffle over a planned 11-day jail term. Initially, Ohad Levy was not only to be jailed but booted from a training course…

Jun 3, 2015 3:05 PM CDT