US Supreme Court sends Zubik case back to lower courts

Oklahoma bill to jail abortion doctors goes to governor

Heide Brandes Reuters | May. 19, 2016

An Oklahoma bill that could send any doctor who performs an abortion to jail headed to the governor on Thursday, with opponents saying the measure is unconstitutional and promising a legal battle against the cash-strapped state if it is approved.

The bill to make abortion a felony punishable by up to three years in prison was approved by the Republican-dominated Senate on Thursday. Governor Mary Fallin, a Republican opposed to abortion, has not indicated whether she will sign it.

Missourians challenge how state obtains execution drugs

Elizabeth A. Elliott | May. 19, 2016

The Missouri Court of Appeals heard arguments in a case saying a judge incorrectly dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s procedures for obtaining the drugs it uses to perform executions.

How the politics behind the bathroom wars hark back to old race-baiting

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove Religion News Service | May. 19, 2016

COMMENTARY: Some religious conservatives are calling on prayer warriors to petition heaven for relief from federal overreach in response to the government's directive concerning bathroom accommodations for transgender students.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is discriminatory: let's fix it

Louise Melling Religion News Service | May. 18, 2016

Commentary: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is being used as a vehicle for institutions and individuals to argue that their faith justifies myriad harms.

Our challenge to Missouri executions

Mary Ann McGivern | May. 17, 2016

NCR Today: On May 18, the Missouri Court of Appeals will hear our case, challenging the Missouri Department of Corrections practice of buying execution drugs out of state.

Obama directive on transgender access to facilities 'deeply disturbing'

Catholic News Service | May. 17, 2016

The Obama administration's directive on transgender access to bathrooms "that treats 'a student's gender identity as the student's sex' is deeply disturbing," said two chairmen of U.S. Catholic bishops' committees.

Supreme Court order sends contraception case back to lower courts in search of compromise

Brian Roewe | May. 16, 2016

The seven cases consolidated in Zubik v. Burwell will return to the appeals level with time to "resolve any outstanding issues between them," the justices said.

Good conversations for society to have

Dennis Coday | May. 16, 2016

On May 9, the U.S. Justice Department sued North Carolina for civil rights violations in the state's House Bill 2 -- which requires people to use the restroom that corresponds with their birth gender -- and North Carolina countersued claiming government overreach. The next day, David Greene, host of the National Public Radio program "Morning Edition" spoke with Theodore Shaw, head of the Center for Civil Rights at the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill.

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Biden and Boehner, teary and grateful, receive high Catholic honor

Cathy Lynn Grossman Religion News Service | May. 16, 2016

Vice President Joseph Biden and former Speaker of the House John Boehner received the University of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal at the commencement ceremony on May 15.