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International Religious Freedom: Religion and International Diplomacy
Has the State Department interpreted the international religious freedom policy too narrowly over the past decade by focusing on individual cases of religious persecution?
The Culture War and the Coming Election
At the moment no hot-button issue looms but events could change that quickly April 11, 2007 by David Masci, Senior Research Fellow, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life The 2008 presidential election is still more than a year-and-a-half away, b...
Strange Bedfellows: Why Are Some Religious Groups Defending 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus'?
by David Masci, Senior Research Fellow, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life March 27, 2007 A recent Supreme Court case involving the free speech rights of students is producing some very unusual alliances. Christian conservative groups, such a...
Same-Sex Marriage in California: Legal and Political Prospects
Special Report: The Same-Sex Marriage Debate An Overview of the Same-Sex Marriage Debate The Constitutional Dimensions of the Same-Sex Marriage Debate A Stable Majority: Most Americans Still Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Additional Resources Map: Stat...
The Christmas Wars: Religion in the American Public Square
Every year as the holiday season gets underway, debates break out across the country over the appropriateness of religious displays in public spaces, such as crèches and menorahs placed in town halls. But the so-called "Christmas wars&...
The "Christmas Wars": Holiday Displays and the Federal Courts
December 12, 2006 For more information about the Christmas wars, see the recent transcript The Christmas Wars: Religion in the American Public Square. Download PDF version (146 KB) Heated disputes over seasonal religious displays in public spaces ...
Legislating International Religious Freedom
With the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998, the United States became one of the few countries in the world to make promotion of religious freedom an explicit foreign policy goal. The act, signed into law by President Clint...
Religious Voters and the Midterm Elections
Despite predictions from some pundits that sex scandals involving former Rep. Mark Foley and former National Association of Evangelicals President Ted Haggard would make evangelicals disillusioned with the GOP, exit polls showed evangelicals suppo...
Judicial Showdown: The Supreme Court Returns to the Abortion Debate
On Nov. 8, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases that challenge the constitutionality of the federal Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. The Act aims to prohibit a doctor from performing what the legislation calls a "partial bir...
The Supreme Court Revisits the Partial Birth Abortion Issue
Gonzales v. Carhart and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood Download the full backgrounder (12-page pdf) Abortion resource page Introduction On Nov. 8, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in two cases that challenge the constitutionality o...
Dr. No? The Debate on Conscience in Health Care
Does requiring pharmacists to dispense medication they find morally objectionable violate their rights to the free exercise of religion? Or, are religious objections secondary to a woman's right to receive an approved prescription in a timely mann...
Many Americans Uneasy with Mix of Religion and Politics
69% Say Liberals Too Secular, 49% Say Conservatives Too Assertive August 24, 2006 Download the complete report Navigate this Report Introduction and Summary Section I - Religion and Public Life Section II - Religion and Politics Section III - Reli...
Washington State High Court Upholds Gay Marriage Ban
The Pew Forum's legal expert David Masci explains the impact of the latest legal ruling on gay marriage in Washington.
The Death Penalty Today: Defend It, Mend It or End It?
The Pew Forum, together with the Federalist Society and the Constitution Project, recently held an event examining the application, morality and constitutionality of the death penalty in the United States, focusing on issues such as habeas corpus ...
Courts Rule Against Gay Marriage in Two States
The courts ruled against gay marriage in two top state courts recently in Georgia and New York. What is the political impact for supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage?
Federal Court Sends Back Georgia Evolution Sticker Case
The Pew Forum's legal expert David Masci explains the impact of the latest legal ruling in the battle over teaching evolution in American public schools.
Judge Allows Religious Rights Case at Guantanamo Bay to Move Forward
A federal judge has said 4 former detainees at Guantanamo Bay may file a lawsuit alleging their religious rights were violated even though they are not U.S. residents or living in the U.S.
The Supreme Court's Decision in Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita
Unanimous Court Upholds Group's Right to Use Illegal Drug in Worship Services Download the Decision Analysis Download the Legal Backgrounder On Feb. 29, 2006, the Supreme Court ruled that the adherents of a small religious group can continue, for ...
From Griswold to Lawrence and Beyond: The Battle Over Personal Privacy and the New Supreme Court
From Griswold to Lawrence and Beyond The Battle Over Personal Privacy and the New Supreme Court2006 03 02Although a right to personal privacy is not mentioned in the Constitution, most judges and legal scholars acknowledge that a measure of privacy
Supreme Court's Decision in Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
Unanimous Court Sends Abortion Decision Back to Lower Court Download the Decision Analysis Download the Legal Backgrounder On January 18, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a lower federal court had erred in striking down in its entirety a Ne...
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