IBSA News

Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

Religious Liberty

Supreme Court hands down key wins for religious liberty

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Washington, D.C. | The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued two 7-2 rulings related to religious liberty that could have impact on Southern Baptists in Illinois. The first involved Catholic schools facing discrimination lawsuits from teachers. The Court found the employees performed religious duties in their work and therefore fall under the ministerial exception rule, which […]

Religious liberty wins in Supreme Court’s Espinoza ruling

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The U.S. Supreme Court said June 30 that the state of Montana cannot withhold scholarships from families who use the funds to send their children to religious schools. The 5-4 ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue was cheered by religious liberty advocates. “The Supreme Court made the right decision today,” said Southern Baptist […]

Churches question impact of Court’s LGBT ruling disconnecting sex from biology

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Christians and conservatives are grappling with what the Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which extended civil rights to the LGBT community, will mean for churches and religious institutions. The 6-3 decision, handed down June 15, referenced Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts which was signed into law in 1964. Title VII […]

Gorsuch surprises conservatives in LGBT ruling

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Washington, D.C. | United States Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch (right) shocked religious conservatives by authoring the majority opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County, a ruling delivered June 15 extending civil rights to LGBT cases. The same anti-discrimination protections granted to women by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act now applies to gays, bisexuals, […]

Religious freedom suit filed on behalf of IBSA

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A lawsuit filed June 10 challenges an Illinois law requiring that health insurance policies sold in the state provide coverage for elective chemical and surgical abortions, with no exemptions even for churches. The suit, filed by theThomas More Society, includes the Illinois Baptist State Association in its lists of plaintiffs. “The Illinois State Baptist Association […]