The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on May 5, 2014, that local governments can, under certain conditions, open their meetings with prayers—even if those supplications to the deity are Christian most of the time. I can’t... Read More

Starting in the late 1980s charter schools were pitched to Americans as a harmless and non-threatening alternative to traditional public schools. That’s come to pass in some states. But in others, we’re beginning to see... Read More

In March the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in two important cases that could establish new parameters for what religious liberty means. The two cases, which the high court has consolidated into one, concern... Read More

Leaders of religious right groups are fond of claiming that the United States faces a crisis of faith. They’re right, but they’re off by one word. It’s not a crisis of faith, it’s a crisis... Read More

For some reason the Jehovah’s Witnesses like to work my neighborhood. It’s not uncommon for me to come home at night and see a copy of the Watchtower or Awake! crammed under the doormat. A... Read More

In June the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key provision in the Defense of Marriage Act and dismissed, on technical grounds, a case challenging same-sex marriage in California. The rulings were considered victories for... Read More

The name Alton Lemon may not ring any bells for you, but it should. Lemon, who died on May 4 at age eighty-four, was the lead plaintiff in an important 1971 Supreme Court case dealing... Read More