Church and State Archives - Page 3 of 4

New Jersey mayor orders Marian shrine removed from state-owned land

Aug 17, 2017

A shrine important to the Mexican-American community in Passaic, New Jersey has been dismantled, since it is on state-owned property. The mayor said the action was taken because of of separation-of-church-and-state issues.

By Associated Press

Claiming ‘sanctuary’ in the current immigration climate

Apr 9, 2017

Kevin Appleby, director at the Center for Migration Studies of New York, says that ultimately, law enforcement has the right to detain and deport a person, and if they have probable cause that someone’s in the church that they need to apprehend, they can step on to its property and do so. The term “sanctuary” has to be clarified so all parties know what it can provide, and what it can’t.

By Rhina Guidos

Norway and its national church part ways

Jan 7, 2017

Norway, one of Europe’s most secular nations, is changing the wording of its constitution in regards to its Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway. While some are satisfied with the change, some say it doesn’t go far enough, and some think it could lead to a culture war.

By Kimberly Winston

Lawmaker’s solution to marriage row: Get the state out of it

Dec 31, 2016

Rep. T.J. Berry wants to take government out of marriage and leave it to houses of worship by classifying such legal partnerships as domestic unions. But that could open the door to more problems since the federal government only recognizes marriage for benefits.

By Summer Ballentine

Mexico’s religious liberty problem shows in priest prosecution

Dec 9, 2016

A decision by Mexico’s electoral watchdog that two politicians and the local priest are guilty of violating the country’s laws keeping religion out of politics show that, despite recent freedom of religion amendments, the country still lacks proper laws in this area. A religious affairs journalist reports.

By Felipe de J. Monroy

On politics in the pulpit, a preacher’s dance is always delicate

Aug 15, 2016

Especially in an election season, preaching the full Gospel prevents a congregation from putting the preacher in one ideological box. One may sound like a Republican one Sunday, a Democrat the next, and a dyed-in-the-wool Socialist the next. It all depends on the Sunday.

By Fr. Edward L. Beck