RELIGION HEADLINES

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(SRN NEWS) – Starting in May, Utah will ban the flying of Gay Pride flags at public schools and all government buildings. Any state or local government buildings will be fined 500 dollars a day for flying any flag other than the United States flag, the Utah state flag, military flags or a short list of others approved by lawmakers.  Political flags supporting a certain candidate or party, such as President Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” flags, are also banned.  Utah’s flag law goes further than one signed recently in Idaho that only applies to public schools. 

The Supreme Court appears to be leaning toward a Catholic charitable organization fighting the state of Wisconsin in the latest religious rights case to come before the court. The justices on Monday suggested that the Catholic Charities Bureau should not have to pay unemployment taxes because the work of the social services agency is motivated by religious beliefs.  Wisconsin exempts all religious groups from the tax.  The state argues the organizations don’t qualify because their day-to-day work largely does not involve religious teachings. 

A federal judge has ruled that Alabama’s attorney general cannot prosecute people and groups who help women travel to other states to obtain abortions.  U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. Thompson’s ruling declared that such prosecutions would violate both the First Amendment and a person’s right to travel.  Marshall has not actually pursued any such prosecutions. 

The Trump administration has launched an investigation into the California Department of Education.  At issue is a policy that allows teachers and staff to hide from parents the fact that a student is living as the opposite sex in class.  The administration says the California rule may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a law allowing parents to access their child’s records.  Federal officials say they might take away taxpayer funding for the state if they determine that the gender-identity policy violates federal rules.