Christopher Vondracek

New York opens period to file sex abuse claims under the Child Victims Act

The state of New York opened a one-year filing period for sex abuse claims on Wednesday, and lawsuits against the Boy Scouts, the Catholic church, public schools and other high-profile defendants flooded state courthouses.

August 14, 2019

‘School prayer zone’ signs appear near South Carolina public schools

The streets around public schools in a South Carolina county sport new signage -- noting where students and teachers can pray.

August 9, 2019

Feds to probe whether Conn. transgender athlete policy violated girls’ civil rights

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating whether Connecticut's allowance of two transgender athletes to participate in track has violated the civil rights of three of the girls they consistently beat to the finish line.

August 9, 2019

Joelle Chung, high school tennis player, sues league for religious discrimination

An undefeated high school tennis player has filed a lawsuit against Washington state's athletic league, accusing officials of religious discrimination for scheduling a championship match on Saturdays, which she observes as the Sabbath as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

August 8, 2019

Pierre T.F. Riggs High School drops ‘Lady Governors’ moniker after Kristi Noem election

A South Dakota high school is dropping its mascot from "Lady Governors" to "Governors" months after the state elected its first female governor.

August 7, 2019

Jordan B. Peterson suggests Catholic church value ‘justice’ over ‘mercy’

Outspoken Canadian psychologist Jordan B. Peterson has advice for the Catholic church: Drop the emphasis on "mercy" over "justice" in its contemporary teachings.

August 7, 2019

Lack of pro-life Democrats in 2020 race saddens advocates

Pro-life advocates and Democrats are lamenting the absence of abortion as a debate topic among the Democratic presidential candidates, calling for a little nuance on the issue.

August 5, 2019

Larry Hogan anti-BDS executive order defended in federal court

A state attorney told a federal judge on Thursday that Maryland's prohibition on state contractors boycotting Israel, in fact, is not about Israel at all.

August 1, 2019

Advocates aim to overturn New York state ban on surrogacy

Advocates plan to lobby for the reproductive health rights for surrogate mothers in New York, where surrogacy remains illegal even after Democrats enacted several pro-choice laws this year.

July 31, 2019

Missouri 8-week abortion ban headed to court

The ACLU and Planned Parenthood sued Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday for signing the fetal heartbeat bill earlier this year.

July 31, 2019

New Hampshire new law lets residents mark an ‘X’ for gender on licenses

New Hampshire next year will become the 12th state to allow residents to identify their gender with a neutral "X" on their driver's licenses, the latest in the increasing public accommodations for LGTBQ rights at the state level.

July 29, 2019

Reps. Mark Meadows, Jamie Raskin call to end blasphemy laws around the world

Two congressman -- a Maryland Democrat and the Republican Chair of the Freedom Caucus -- have introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning "blasphemy" laws, a move cheered by religious liberty advocates.

July 27, 2019

Texas ban on chaplains in the execution chamber draws fire from faith leaders

A group of faith leaders across Texas are calling on state corrections officials to allow chaplains back in the execution chamber.

July 25, 2019

Lee Zeldin hits BDS movement against Israel as anti-Semitic

A House Republican on Wednesday called for an anti-Semitism resolution "with teeth," a day after the House voted overwhelmingly to condemn the campaign to boycott the Israeli government as protest for its occupation of Palestine.

July 24, 2019

Wyoming Valley West School District rejects donations to pay for student lunch debts

A Pennsylvania school board has rejected donations to cover parents' debts for lunches for their children, saying the parents themselves should pay their bills.

July 24, 2019

Virginia school board transgender bathroom policy returns to court

An attorney for a rural Virginia school board insisted Tuesday in federal court in Norfolk that the transgender boy who sued his school for refusing him use of the boy's bathroom is still considered female by the school board.

July 23, 2019

Pro-life activists able to defend undercover Planned Parenthood video as journalism, judge rules

A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that pro-life activists who shot undercover video at Planned Parenthood clinics can defend their actions as journalism at their trial in September, greatly lessening any potential penalties under state and federal laws for posing as biomedical officials to secretly record interviews.

July 22, 2019

U.S. debates intrude on State Department religious freedom gathering

As what was billed as the largest gathering on religious freedom around the world at the U.S. State Department wrapped up on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence took a veiled swipe at the political debate that is consuming Washington these days.

July 18, 2019

Dr. Leana Wen departure from Planned Parenthood cheers pro-life activists

The next leaders at Planned Parenthood will likely take a more forceful public tone than Dr. Leana Wen, who was ousted on Tuesday after less than a year in office.

July 17, 2019

Religious freedom summit an even bigger draw in second year

The State Department is hosting what it calls the largest-ever international gathering on the state of religious liberty around the world, though representatives from one nearby nation were forced to stay home.

July 16, 2019