Here is a look at some law and religion news stories from around the web this week:
- The 6th Circuit has rejected a Free Exercise defense asserted by a member of the Oklevueha Native American Church, who claimed that he was growing large amounts of marijuana to donate to the church.
- The Religion Clause blog has compiled a list of church-state and religious liberty cases for which Supreme Court Nominee Judge Gorsuch either wrote an opinion, or served on the 10th Circuit panel.
- Christian leaders throughout the United States have criticized President Trump’s travel ban, and his stated intention to favor Christian refugees over refugees of other faiths.
- This week, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a bill called the USA Values Act, which “prohibits the issuance or implementation of any Executive Order that has the effect of abridging religious liberty.”
- Yesterday, President Trump vowed to “totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment, a law that restricts political speech by tax-exempt churches.
- The gunman in the Quebec mosque shooting has been identified as a “lone wolf,” and is said to have been motivated by Islamophobia.
- Politico: An attorney in California has filed suit on behalf of the people of California and the public generally, asserting that President Trump’s Executive Order limiting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries intrudes on Congress’ legislative authority and violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion.
- On Wednesday, the Virginia House of Delegates preliminarily approved a measure that supporters say is intended to protect religious liberties.
- NY Times: Slovakia’s parliament has overridden a veto by President Andrej Kiska and approved legislation that will tighten conditions for the official registration of churches.
- California State Senators have proposed a “Religious Freedom Act,” which bans local agencies from sharing personal information about California residents with the federal government for a database.
