http://www.pewforum.org/The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution charges the government with guaranteeing religious freedom while prohibiting it from advancing the interests of any one faith. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on a host of church-state issues, from school prayer to the placement of religious displays on public property. But observers across the political spectrum often find these court decisions perplexing, with different standards, principles and tests being applied at various times.en-usCopyright: (C) Copyright 2009 The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. All rights reserved.info@pewforum.org (PewForum Info)info@pewforum.org (PewForum Info)60http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsshttp://www.pewforum.org/uploadedImages/_content/defaultPublicationThumb(1).gifhttp://www.pewforum.org/Wed, 16 May 2012 16:25:22 GMTWed, 16 May 2012 16:25:22 GMTTue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMTAmericans who have heard about the federal rule that would require employers to provide birth control as part of their health care benefits are closely divided over whether religiously affiliated institutions should be given an exemption. Sharp divisions of opinion exist on the issue by religious affiliation, party and ideology.http://www.pewforum.org/Government/Public-Divided-Over-Birth-Control-Insurance-Mandate.aspxWed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMTOn Oct. 5, 2011, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a case that could help determine how much latitude religious organizations have in making employment decisions about clergy and others who perform religious duties. http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/The-Supreme-Court-Takes-Up-Church-Employment-Disputes-and-the-“Ministerial-Exception”.aspxThu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT Whenever churches or religious organizations find themselves involved in civil litigation, courts first must determine whether the First Amendment’s religion clauses bestow a unique legal status on religious organizations that puts some of their decisions and actions beyond the reach of civil laws. http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/Churches-in-Court(1).aspxThu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWhile the gay marriage controversy has many elements, including disagreements over religious and social norms, much of the debate is a legal one.  http://www.pewforum.org/Gay-Marriage-and-Homosexuality/The-Constitutional-Dimensions-of-the-Same-Sex-Marriage-Debate.aspxThu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTThe debate over government funding of religious institutions raises some thorny issues in the discussion about the appropriate relationship between church and state. Most legal scholars agree that the Constitution limits at least some government funding of religion but disagree sharply on exactly what is permissible.http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/Shifting-Boundaries-The-Establishment-Clause-and-Government-Funding-of-Religious-Schools-and-Other-Faith-Based-Organizations.aspxThu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMTCourts have long grappled with questions of religious freedom, but other government bodies also help ensure protection of this cherished liberty.http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/A-Fluid-Boundary-The-Free-Exercise-Clause-and-the-Legislative-and-Executive-Branches.aspxWed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMTWhen Americans speak of their most cherished liberties, freedom of worship often tops the list. But this freedom is not absolute. Indeed, throughout most of the nation's history, religious practices have often been subordinated to a variety of government laws and regulations.http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/A-Delicate-Balance-The-Free-Exercise-Clause-and-the-Supreme-Court.aspxWed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMTEach year as the winter holidays approach, Americans across the country debate the appropriateness of the government sponsoring, or even permitting, the display of Christmas nativity scenes, Hanukkah menorahs and other religious holiday symbols on public property.http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/Religious-Displays-and-the-Courts.aspxWed, 09 May 2007 00:00:00 GMTNearly a half-century after the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling striking down school-sponsored prayer, Americans continue to fight over the place of religion in public schools. http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/Religion-in-the-Public-Schools.aspxWed, 30 Mar 2011 13:29:02 GMT In This Report 1 Overview Upper Roman Decimal Decimal Decimal Decimal http://www.pewforum.org/Church-State-Law/Churches-in-Court-TOC.aspx