The Story: “Shutdown Impacts Chapel Services” by John Schlageter writing at the Archdiocese of the Military. The Lead: “There is a chronic shortage of active duty Catholic chaplains. While roughly 25% of the military is Catholic, Catholic priests make up only about 8% of the chaplain corps. That means approximately 275,000 men and women in uniform,...

The Story: “Some Businesses Balk at Gay Weddings,” by Nathan Koppel and Ashby Jones writing at the Wall Street Journal The Lead:“Religious-rights advocates argue that the Constitution affords people the right to abstain from a ceremony that violates their religious beliefs. ‘It’s an evisceration of our freedom of association'” said John Eastman, the chairman of...

The Story: “Birth Control and the Boss’s Religious Views,” editorial board of the New York Times. The Lead: “Allowing employees to make independent decisions to obtain contraceptives does not violate anyone’s religious freedom. If the Supreme Court takes up these cases, it should soundly reject the warped view that some employers can get out of...

The Story: “Gay Rights vs. Religious Rights: 7 Issues to Watch” by Sara Pulliam Bailey writing for ReligionsNews.com, September 6, 2013. The Lead:  “Many of the legal skirmishes are not directly tied to federal recognition of gay marriages after the Supreme Court’s decision striking down most of the Defense of Marriage Act. Instead, the fights largely revolve around...

By Jeremy Dys At the first meeting of the City Council for the newly formed Zion, Illinois in 1902, the Reverend John Alexander Dowie presented the city with a proposed corporate seal.  Rev. Dowie had created a shield draped by a ribbon reading, “God Reigns” within a circle of the words, “Corporate Seal” and “City...

The Story:  “With Obamacare, business doesn’t have a prayer” by Matt Bowman writing in the Washington Times, 9/5/13 The Lead:  “Under American law, modern corporations can pursue any lawful purpose, including religion. That’s been true for a century. Religion is lawful in America, and so are environmental stewardship and social advocacy. These are all ‘values’ that...