Browsing: freedom of religion

The Supreme Court just heard arguments for Greece v. Galloway, a case about legislative prayer and religious freedom. But the debate shouldn’t stop there.

The court should also agree to hear Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius, a high-profile case that carries widespread implications for religious business owners across the country.

Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, in the town of Greece, N.Y., filed a lawsuit against the town complaining that they and other residents that attend council meetings are a captive audience because the council opens every meeting in prayer.

They contend that because nearly every prayer offered was overtly Christian, that the town was endorsing Christianity, which is viewed as a violation of the First Amendment.

Freedom of religion is again at the forefront of a Supreme Court case. On Nov. 6, justices heard oral arguments in Town of Greece v. Galloway, No. 12-696.

Two residents, Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, in the town of Greece, N.Y., a suburb of Rochester, filed a lawsuit against the town complaining that they and other residents that attend council meetings are a captive audience because the council opens every meeting in prayer. They contend that because nearly every prayer offered in an 11-year span were overtly Christian, that the town was endorsing Christianity, which is viewed as a violation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause.

Many religious institutions use the First Amendment as a defense in an attempt to shirk their responsibilities for sexual abuse that occurred under their watch.

However, the freedom of religion clause in the First Amendment is not a defense for sexual abuse.