Roundup for November 15, 2014: Parsonage exemption, Buddhist and Presbyterian splits, rappers, free resources

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

Posts to the blog

• Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• TX Breakaway Presbyterian congregation settles for $7.8M with PCUSA before hearing Story here.
• D.Utah: FLDS member with belief in secrecy excused from testifying about internal church affairs, cites #HobbyLobby. Story here. 
• Retweet: @LawMeetsGospel @PSRBlaw MT @TEMPLE_HERITAGE: YES! We are now a 501(c)(3). All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you Josh at Plews Shadley Original tweet here.
• 2nd Cir.: Synagogue may pursue RLUIPA-based challenge to denial of construction at historic site. Story here. 
• Megachurch leader threatens to sue rappers over remix. Story here.
• Cert. Filed In Ban On Church Use of New York City Schools. Story here.
•  Company seeks $250M from Los Angeles archdiocese. Story here.
•  Church boots AA group over gay weddings - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports. Story here.
• Notre Dame Asks For Supreme Court GVR In Contraceptive Coverage Challenge. Story here.
• Free Webinar—Nonprofit Engagement Best Practices by The NonProfit Times—Covers social media, fundraising, engagement. More information here.
• North Carolina Supreme Court Allows Direct Appeal of School Voucher Program. Story here.
• Minnesota Archdiocese Enters Historic Settlement In Clergy Abuse Case. Story here.
• NOT RELIGION: @PSRBlaw's Josh Tatum @LawMeetsGospel elected to IN State Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section’s Council. Story here.
• Pastors Seek To Quash Subpoenas For Sermons, Communications. Story here.
• Pastor accused of affairs temporarily banned, turns over keys to building and church-provided Mercedes. Story here.
• FREE DOWNLOAD: #Nonprofit Board Stories & #LeadershipDevelopment Strategies. Download here.
• Same-sex marriage has been legal in Idaho for all of 2 days, and two ministers already face jail, fines. Story here.
• Two Ministers Ordered To Perform Same-Sex Wedding Face Jail, Fines. Story here.
• NY's high court considers neo-Pagan tax exemption case from @TimesUnion. Story here.
• All A-Board!: How Personalities Affect Your Board - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly. Story here.
• Houston Mayor Drops Pastor Subpoenas via @CTMagazine. Story here.
• W. D. Ky..: Catholic Hospital's Disability Plan Does Not Qualify as a Church Plan Exempt from ERISA. Story here.
•  Rogue pastors endorse candidates, but IRS looks away via @POLITICO. Story here.
• Constitution Check: Should the Supreme Court get involved in church property disputes? Story here.
• Jehovah's Witnesses to pay $13.5M for alleged child abuse via @fox5sandiego. Story here.
• 3 Unique YouTube Perks for Non-profit Organizations [Creator's Tip #167] - ReelSEO. Story here.
• Very interesting report on nonprofit C.E.O. pay. Religious leaders seem to be outliers. Story here.
• Court Rejects Free Exercise and Establishment Clause Challenges To California's Reparative Therapy Ban. Story here.
• Retweeted Plews Shadley (@PSRBlaw): PSRB attorney Josh Tatum @LawMeetsGospel helps @TEMPLE_HERITAGE obtain nonprofit status. #BethElTemple Original tweet here. Story here.
• Interesting article with helpful tips on transition in the top spots of nonprofits: Who'll Fill Their Shoes? Story here.
• @IUPhilanthropy Study: Younger, Non-Religious Women Give More #philanthropy. Story here.
• N.Y. App. Div.: Buddhist congregants can't sue over shuttered Manhatten temple, dissent would neutrally apply bylaws. Story here. Opinion here.
• D.C. Cir.: Compromise accommodation for religious nonprofits on contraceptive mandate passes RFRA test. Story here. Opinion here.
   

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing

The Seventh Circuit unanimously rejected a challenge to the parsonage exemption brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, concluding that the Wisconsin-based, nontheistic group lacked the legal ability to challenge the statutory exception granted to “minister[s] of the gospel.” Because the Seventh Circuit concluded the plaintiffs did not have standing, it did not reach the question of whether the parsonage exemption runs afoul of the First Amendment. The opinion reverses a decision of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin that held the provision unconstitutional as violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (You can listen to the very interesting oral argument here.*) 

Weekly roundup for September 13, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• Ind. Ct. App.: State antidiscrimination law applies to selection of Roman Catholic high school's basketball team Story here. Opinion here.
• ACLJ sues MD college for discriminating against radiation applicant for mentioning his religious beliefs in interview Press release here.
• 7th Cir. hears argument over constitutionality of parsonage allowance. Story here. Audio here.
• 3rd Cir.: New Jersey’s ban on gay conversion therapy does not violate 1st Amendment Story here. Opinion here.
• 9th Cir.: LAX's ban on soliciting upheld over 1st Amendment objections brought by Hare Krishna. Story here. Opinion here.
• 7th Cir. considers standing to sue at oral argument on ministerial-housing allowance Analysis here.

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Weekly roundup for September 6, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• Ind. Ct. App.: State antidiscrimination law applies to selection of Roman Catholic high school's basketball team Story here. Opinion here.
• ACLJ sues MD college for discriminating against radiation applicant for mentioning his religious beliefs in interview Press release here.
• 7th Cir. hears argument over constitutionality of parsonage allowance. Story here. Audio here.
• 3rd Cir.: New Jersey’s ban on gay conversion therapy does not violate 1st Amendment Story here. Opinion here.
• 9th Cir.: LAX's ban on soliciting upheld over 1st Amendment objections brought by Hare Krishna. Story here. Opinion here.
• 7th Cir. considers standing to sue at oral argument on ministerial-housing allowance Analysis here.

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Weekly roundup for August 30, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• MT teacher fired for pregnancy sues Catholic school, alleges school singles out pregnant women in enforcing faith Story here. Complaint here.

• Mark Driscoll steps down as pastor of Mars Hill Church during review Story here. Prior post here.

• US judge sides w reality star, says part of Utah's polygamy ban violates Free Exercise clause http://t.co/6jZ6l7wg6n
  Court Awards Attorneys' Fees In Utah Polygamy Law Challenge http://t.co/iY2JGVbRl3

• Beard-and-hair-cutting attacks were personal, 'not hate crimes', court rules Story here. Opinion here.

• Justice Department Sues Minnesota Town Over Denial of Use Permit To Mosque http://t.co/x0JmFgJunL

• Christian evangelists lose appeal over police action at 2012 Detroit-area Arab festival Story here: http://t.co/CFu5jyS3Lu Opinion here.

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Weekly roundup for August 23, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

Posts to the blog

• You shouldn't make decisions as a body by e-mail, even if your bylaws allow electronic meetings.
  

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• Indianapolis Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral sues JP Morgan for $13 million in lost investments from alleged mishandling trust investments. Story: http://t.co/o1ubS6KZAc Complaint here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/237002121/Christ-Church-v-JP-Morgan=

• United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana rules a Southern Baptist college is not required to self-certify its objections under the Affordable Care Act's mandate for employers to cover contraceptives. Story:  http://t.co/LW5Ef3szlP Opinion here: http://www.adfmedia.org/files/LaCollegeDecision.pdf

• Trial court in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, rules Amish families must comply with new ruling on building and sanitary permits or be forced out of their homes. Story: http://t.co/aP29tErBds

• Ninth Circuit: California may require healthcare workers of Catholic residential facility to accompany residents to non-Catholic worship services without infringing on the workers' or the facilities' free exercise. Story: http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2014/08/9th-circuit-state-can-require-care.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Opinion here: http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/08/19/caretakers.pdf

• Oklahoma City Archbishop sues, then settles, for the return of consecrated host set for use in black mass taken from Turkish priest without knowledge of its purpose Story:   http://t.co/6iIvUnN8va Complaint here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/237388798/Coakley-v-Daniels Settlement covered here: https://news.vice.com/article/catholic-archbishop-drops-lawsuit-over-oklahoma-city-satanic-black-mass

• Fifth Circuit held that a challenge to protections of the bald eagle based on the First Amendment and the Restoration of Religious Freedom Act filed by a church and others should be able to proceed, stating the government hadn't met its burden. Story: https://t.co/x2HtnpN6Fl Opinion here: http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/13/13-40326-CV0.pdf

• South Carolina Supreme Court dismissed a dispute between a suspended bishop of the Methodist Union Episcopal Church and the church's General Officers. Story: http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2014/08/dispute-over-suspension-of-methodist.html?spref=tw Opinion here: http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/opinions//unpublishedopinions/HTMLFiles/SC/2014-MO-034.pdf

•  21 former Mars Hill pastors file complaint against prominent evangelical leader Mark Driscoll Story here: http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/22/mark-driscoll-charged-allegations-21-former-mars-hill-pastors/

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.