Religious Law

What is canon law? Bishop Paprocki explains

The election of a new pope—who himself has a doctorate of canon law—has many lawyers interested. What exactly is canon law, and what should civil attorneys know about it? Bishop Thomas John Paprocki can shed light on the subject.

May 15, 2025 3:27 PM CDT

$2.6M settlement approved in suit claiming meditation program violated public school students’ religious rights

A federal judge in Chicago has approved a $2.6 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging that the Chicago Public Schools violated the establishment clause when it required students to participate in transcendental meditation or observe a half hour of silence.

May 8, 2025 12:53 PM CDT

Chief justice appears to be ‘pivotal vote’ in challenge to state-funded religious school in Oklahoma

Does the First Amendment allow or require Oklahoma to fund a Catholic charter school? Chief Justice John Roberts emerged as “a pivotal vote" on that question during oral arguments Wednesday, Bloomberg Law reports.

Apr 30, 2025 3:44 PM CDT

Supreme Court majority appears to side with parents who object to instruction using LGBTQ storybooks

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared ready to rule for parents who argue that they have a right to exclude their children from school lessons involving storybooks with LGBTQ characters and themes, according to publications that covered the oral arguments.

Apr 22, 2025 3:19 PM CDT

Chemerinsky: Religion cases will test whether SCOTUS continues to break down walls separating church, state

In recent years, the Roberts court has dramatically changed the law with regard to the religion clauses of the First Amendment. Again, this term, the U.S. Supreme Court has several cases about the Constitution and religion.

Apr 1, 2025 3:39 PM CDT

Supreme Court appears to favor Catholic charities group’s quest for state unemployment tax exemption

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday appeared to side with a group of Catholic charities in northern Wisconsin that sought a religious exemption from the state’s unemployment tax.

Apr 1, 2025 11:35 AM CDT

SCOTUS once again grapples with First Amendment religion clauses in Wisconsin employment tax case

While cases stemming from the second Trump administration’s torrent of executive actions begin to work their way up to the U.S. Supreme Court on the emergency docket, the court still has some important cases to hear in the final two months of argument for the term.

Mar 27, 2025 9:53 AM CDT

From Courtroom to Courtside: Gonzaga Law prof also serves as chaplain for basketball team

Gonzaga University School of Law professor Father Bryan Pham will have a great seat on Thursday as the Gonzaga Bulldogs face off against the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Pham has been the men’s basketball team’s chaplain since 2019.

Mar 19, 2025 5:30 PM CDT

Supreme Court will decide whether Oklahoma can fund Catholic charter school

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether the First Amendment allows Oklahoma to fund a Catholic online school as part of its charter school program.

Jan 27, 2025 10:16 AM CST

SCOTUS will decide whether schools can require LGBTQ-themed books at story time with no opt-outs

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether schools can require teachers to read storybooks to elementary-age children with LGBTQ characters and themes over parents’ objections.

Jan 21, 2025 10:27 AM CST

First Amendment bars kosher inspector from suing Jewish nonprofit, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has found that an inspector who ensured that food products complied with Jewish dietary law cannot pursue a job-related lawsuit against the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, a nonprofit corporation that runs the country’s largest kosher certification program.

Jan 2, 2025 1:23 PM CST

Insurance coverage for preventive care at risk unless Supreme Court acts, cert petition says

The federal government is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a federal appeals court decision that could end free preventive care services provided by health insurance.

Sep 24, 2024 2:30 PM CDT

11th Circuit rules for athletic association that refused to allow pregame prayer over PA system

A federal appeals court has ruled against a private Christian school alleging that its First Amendment rights were violated when the Florida High School Athletic Association rejected its request to broadcast a pregame prayer over the public address system.

Sep 4, 2024 10:09 AM CDT

1st Circuit rules against Satanic Temple in challenge to city council snub

The Boston City Council’s failure to invite the Satanic Temple to deliver an invocation before its meetings did not violate the First Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Aug 7, 2024 3:07 PM CDT

Ten Commandments displays should not be required in public school classrooms, ABA House says

The ABA’s House of Delegates overwhelmingly agreed at its annual meeting Monday to oppose legislation permitting or requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and to urge the repeal of such laws already in place.

Aug 5, 2024 1:16 PM CDT