Latest Church and state News

A Wisconsin ruling on Catholic Charities raises the bar for religious tax exemptions

Mar. 14, 2024 14:44 PM EDT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Exemptions that allow religious organizations to avoid paying Wisconsin's unemployment tax don't apply to a Catholic charitable organization because its on-the-ground operations aren't primarily religious, a divided state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The...

Today in History: March 8, Joe Frazier defeats Muhammad Ali in 'Fight of the Century'

Mar. 08, 2024 00:03 AM EST

Today in History Today is Friday, March 8, the 68th day of 2024. There are 298 days left in the year. Today’s highlight in history: On March 8, 1971, in the first of three fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Frazier defeated Ali by decision...

Voucher expansion leads to more students, waitlists and classes for some religious schools

Mar. 03, 2024 08:12 AM EST

The Miami Archdiocese’s superintendent of schools says Catholic education is increasingly in demand in South Florida, now that all K-12 students regardless of income are allowed to use taxpayer-funded programs to pay for private school tuition. Against the backdrop of favorable...

Chief justice's Christian reasoning in IVF opinion sparks alarm over church-state separation

Feb. 23, 2024 15:08 PM EST

When the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children under state law, its chief justice had a higher authority in mind. By citing verses from the Bible and Christian theologians in his concurring opinion, Chief Justice Tom Parker alarmed advocates for...

Trump tells religious broadcasters he'll defend Christianity against perceived threats from the left

Feb. 23, 2024 10:52 AM EST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump promised to use a second term in the White House to defend Christian values and even suggested he'd shield the faith's central iconography, warning a convention of religious broadcasters on Thursday night that the left wants “to tear down...

Christian-nation idea fuels US conservative causes, but historians say it misreads founders' intent

Feb. 17, 2024 08:06 AM EST

The U.S. Constitution doesn’t mention Christianity or any specific religion. The Declaration of Independence famously proclaims that people’s rights come from a “Creator” and “Nature’s God” — but doesn’t specify who that is. Yet large numbers of Americans believe...

Editorial Roundup: Kentucky

Feb. 01, 2024 07:13 AM EST

Frankort State Journal. January 30, 2024. Editorial: It’s not legislature’s job to require moment of silence in schools There are countless issues that Rep. Daniel Fister, R-Versailles, could be advocating for this legislative session (during an election year, mind...

Kentucky House committee passes bill requiring moment of silence in schools

Jan. 31, 2024 18:52 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky House overwhelmingly passed a bill on Wednesday instructing public schools to set aside time for a moment of silence at the start of each school day. The measure easily cleared the House on a 79-17 vote and moves on to the Senate. Republicans have...

Kentucky House committee advances bill requiring moment of silence in schools

Jan. 23, 2024 11:13 AM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky schools would set aside time for a moment of silence at the start of each school day under a bill that won approval from a state House committee on Tuesday. The moment of silence would last one to two minutes at the start of the first class each day...