New York’s Latest Bid To Bully The Religious
By Denise Harle “You are effectively being compelled to undermine your own reason for being.” It is one thing to disagree with others’ religious beliefs — and another to bend laws and violate the Constitution to ensure they can’t live out their faith in their daily life and work. Yet Gov. Andrew Cuomo and some…
Chick-fil-A Chickens Out
For decades, Chick-fil-A has been known not just for its tasty chicken sandwiches, but also for its strong witness as a Christian business. As a devout Christian, Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy swam against the cultural tide by refusing to open on Sundays, by speaking up for traditional marriage, and by providing financial support to…
Governor Signs ‘Boss Law’; Pro-Life Challenge Begins
On November 8, 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Boss Bill (Bill S.660 – Metzger/A.584 – Jaffee) into law as Chapter 457 of the Laws of 2019. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms fought against the passage of the Boss Law for several years because of its callous disregard for religious liberty. The Boss Law: Bars…
Court Rejects ‘Conscience Rights’ Rule
In May 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a “Conscience Rights in Health Care Rule” permitting medical professionals to opt out of performing medical services that violated their sincerely-held religious or moral beliefs. New York Attorney General, Letitia James joined other left-wing fellow travelers in suing to block the implementation…
Faith-Based Adoption Agencies Find New Hope
The uncritical acceptance of the LGBT agenda has become so pervasive in government, in the media, and in other spheres of influence that it is now fashionable to trample on religious freedom in the name of so-called LGBT “equality.” On November 3, Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened legal action against a proposed rule from the U.S.…
Cuomo’s Donor Disclosure Law Struck Down
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2016 nonprofit donor disclosure law has been struck down in federal court. In typical Albany fashion, the law was passed at 3:00 A.M. on the final day of the 2016 legislative session. According to the Albany Times Union, the law was perceived as an attack on good-government groups that have criticized the Governor. It…
Appeals Court Lets New Hope Family Services Keep Serving Families—For Now
Albany, NY—Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a temporary injunction allowing New Hope Family Services to continue providing various adoption-related services. New Hope is a Christian charity that the State of New York is attempting to close because of its unwillingness to place children in households headed by same-sex couples.…
Amish File Religious Liberty Suit Over Vaccination Law
Thus far, legal challenges to New York’s controversial repeal of the religious exemption to child vaccination requirements have not met with success. As Albany Update previously reported, one such lawsuit (Sullivan-Knapp v. Cuomo) was rejected by Judge Robert B. Wiggins on October 9, 2019. However, one Amish family in the Finger Lakes region recently filed…
Andrew Cuomo Can’t Put Politics Aside—Even For Kids In Need
Albany, NY—Yesterday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened legal action against a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would protect faith-based child welfare organizations from unfair discrimination based upon their beliefs about marriage and family. Jason J. McGuire, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF), made the following…
Attorney General Barr Speaks On ‘Spiritual Void’ in America
On October 11, 2019, U.S. Attorney General William Barr spoke at Notre Dame Law School. In his speech, Attorney General Barr discussed the Justice Department’s efforts to promote religious liberty. Refreshingly, the Attorney General did not just speak about the law; rather, his remarks addressed some of the core issues that plague the United States…
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Gender Identity, Sexuality
On October 8, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in three cases that relate to employment discrimination. In essence, the cases present one simple question: Does Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mean what it says? Two of the plaintiffs (one from Long Island and one from…
Judge Lambastes Legislature, But Upholds New Vaccination Law
New York’s 2019 repeal of the religious exemption to its child vaccination requirements has led to multiple protests and multiple lawsuits. Parents with religious objections to child vaccination contend that the new law unfairly burdens their constitutionally protected rights by forcing them to choose between violating their beliefs, homeschooling their children, or moving to another…
House Subcommittee Cites Troubled Southern Poverty Law Center List
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a mess. Just this year, the organization founded its founder, Morris Dees, for undisclosed reasons. Later, other senior leaders stepped down, employees spoke out against harassment and discrimination within the organization, and outside consultants were brought in to evaluate the practices of the so-called civil rights watchdog. The…
Faith-Based Adoption Agency Scores Religious Freedom Win
A recent court decision in Michigan is a victory for faith-based adoption agencies and for religious freedom. On September 26, 2019, U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker issued a preliminary injunction barring the State of Michigan from cancelling a contract that allows St. Vincent Catholic Charities to offer adoption and foster care services. This means that…
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Sees Court Victory
College and university campuses in the United States have become a battleground in the struggle to preserve religious liberty. One religious liberty concern that arises in the university context is the concern about equal access and fairness toward Christian student groups. A recent federal case in Iowa was a step in the right direction for…
President Trump Speaks Out For Religious Freedom
On Monday, September 23, President Donald Trump made history by becoming the first U.S. president to hold a meeting at the United Nations that focused only on religious liberty. During a U.N. climate summit in New York, the President spoke at an event billed as a Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom. In his speech,…