Court cases Archives

Federal judge strikes down housing allowance for clergy

Associated Press, Church in the US
October 9, 2017

A housing benefit that saves clergy $800 million a year in taxes has been deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge. Under the law, housing allowances paid as part of clergy salary can be subtracted from their taxable income. Religious freedom advocates fear the ruling could force many churches in poor areas to close.

NJ judge says he won’t overrule Catholic school’s enrollment decision

Associated Press, Church in the US
August 15, 2017

A New Jersey family has lost their lawsuit to try and force their children to be enrolled at a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Newark. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the Archbishop of Newark, testified that he decided not to allow the two girls to re-enroll because their parents’ behavior was not in the best interest of the school.

Catholic leaders praise court blocking Trump’s refugee order

Church in the US
February 10, 2017

A Feb. 9 ruling by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld a temporary restraining order that in effect froze Trump’s executive order on refugees was met with basically unanimous praise by leaders of Catholic relief agencies in the U.S.

Insurer doesn’t want to pay Church to cover sex abuse costs

Associated Press, Church in the US
September 7, 2016

In Connecticut, an insurance company is fighting a court order to reimburse the Archdiocese of Hartford for almost $1 million it’s spent to pay claims by people who say they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests.

Ex-Philly Church official to be retried on abuse cover-up charges

Associated Press, Church in the US
August 6, 2016

Monsignor William Lynn, a former Philadelphia church official described by his lawyer as a “pawn” in the Church hierarchy, will be retried next year over his handling of priest-abuse complaints even though his child-endangerment conviction has been overturned twice.

Judge sentences Catholic man to time in a Baptist church

Church
June 2, 2016

After a Catholic man ended up injuring a Baptist preacher in a brawl following a local hockey game, an Ohio judge sentences him to attend Baptist services for 12 weeks.