Law And Religion News

The latest law and religion stories, each synthesized from multiple sources with added background and context.

"Alabama Chief Justice's Bible-quoting Sparks Debate on Embryo Ruling"

Alabama Supreme Court's ruling that frozen embryos are considered children under state law, with Chief Justice Tom Parker citing Bible verses and Christian theologians in his opinion, has sparked a debate on church-state separation. Advocates fear that such explicit references to Christian theology could embolden government officials to challenge the separation of church and state, while anti-abortion activists rejoice at the decision. The ruling reflects the influence of the conservative Christian legal movement and could impact decisions in other state courts and legislatures, particularly in states with fetal personhood language in their laws.

2 years ago•Source: The Associated Press

Supreme Court Supports Religious Accommodations for Christian Postal Worker

law-and-religion

4.545 min•3 years ago

Supreme Court Supports Religious Accommodations for Christian Postal Worker

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that employers cannot deny religious accommodation requests, including requests to avoid working on the Sabbath, unless granting them would impose a substantial burden. The decision aimed to clarify decades of confusion and was seen as a win for religious Americans. However, the Court chose not to overrule a 1977 decision that settled a similar dispute, which disappointed some observers. The ruling sends the case back to lower courts for reconsideration, emphasizing the need to determine whether an employer would face "undue hardship" in granting religious accommodation requests.

via Deseret News