This week's edition of The 3, there is news out of California regarding the right of a seminary to dismiss students who entered into gay marriages, in violation of the school's standards. Also, a Washington, DC church has won a lawsuit and will be allowed to meet outdoors in the District after local restrictions did not allow it to do so. And, a Cabinet official is looking into a removal of religious material in an Oklahoma home for seniors.
Court says that seminary students in gay marriages can be removed
A California seminary had attempted to expel two students who were found to be in gay marriage relationships - and The Washington Times reports that despite court action, a federal judge ruled that it was permissible under the law for them to do so.
The article says:
Attorneys representing Fuller Theological Seminary said the ruling marks the first time a federal court has recognized a religious liberty exemption for faith-based educational institutions.
“It would create a huge establishment clause [issue] if you have government agents going in and telling a seminary how to do their job and practice their faith,” Daniel Blomberg, a senior attorney for the religious liberty law firm Becket who represented the seminary, told The Washington Times.
A federal district judge issued a ruling in favor of a religious exemption for the school.
Washington, DC church receives favorable ruling to meet
A Washington, DC church that had been meeting in neighboring Virginia in an outdoor setting filed a lawsuit against the District and the COVID gathering restrictions implemented by Mayor Muriel Bowser. The church, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, wished to meet outdoors with health protocols in place.
FoxNews.com reports that a Federal district judge found that the restrictions violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, saying, "The District’s current restrictions substantially burden the Church’s exercise of religion," and adding, "More, the District has failed to offer evidence at this stage showing that it has a compelling interest in preventing the Church from meeting outdoors with appropriate precautions, or that this prohibition is the least-restrictive means to achieve its interest." The judge cited the double standard that allowed protests in the city, cheered on by Mayor Bowser, while placing restrictions on churches, which were limited to 100 or less participants in outdoor services.
Religious liberty at stake in senior living home
Wilhoit Properties operates a senior living home in Oklahoma, and it has attracted some high-level attention from Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, who, according to CBN.com, received a letter from a resident, who "was distressed over management ordering the removal of Bibles and religious decorations from a Christmas tree."
In a statement, Carson said, "Religious liberty is at the core of our Nation's identity and will be upheld under the Fair Housing Act," adding, "Barring religious materials infringes upon this right, and the Trump Administration will not stand for discrimination against any group for practicing their religious traditions." It is possible that HUD will attempt to resolve the issue itself or refer the situation to the Department of Justice.
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