Getty Images Today’s ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods’ right to deny employees contraception coverage is a disaster both for women and religious minorities. Essentially the decision says that “closely-held” corporations – 90% of American businesses – can choose to exempt employees from contraception coverage, and only contraception coverage. The decision created…
Prayer outside the U.S. Supreme Court / Getty Images “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful, amen.” For ten years I attended a Church of England school and, for every set meal during that time, a version of this grace was said. Although there was a notable minority…
In this week’s Reporters Roundtable podcast, host Josh Nathan-Kazis is joined by Forward contributing editor Jay Michaelson to discuss why the recent Supreme Court decisions are mixed blessings. Then, Liam Hoare calls in to discuss his recent report on the Jews of Kosovo. Finally, Johnna Kaplan tells the fascinating story of why a town in…
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: … Do not do injustice in judgment by favoring the poor or deferring to the rich, but judge your neighbor in righteousness. (LEV. 19:1-15) Joshua ben Perachiah said: Judge every person to the side of merit. (MISHNAH PIRKEI…
The shouting for joy over this morning’s Supreme Court decisions had barely subsided when a long ago memory flashed into my mind. Twenty-two years ago, my partner and I were on vacation in Pennsylvania with our daughter. My partner became ill and I took her to a nearby emergency room. In this smalltown hospital. they…
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied a request by anti-abortion militant James Charles Kopp to review his conviction in the 1998 killing of Buffalo obstetrician Barnett Slepian. Kopp is serving a life sentence in federal prison in Pennsylvania on a 2003 New York state conviction for second degree murder, as well a 2007 federal…
As the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, Facebook users are seeing red. Gay marriage advocates are ditching their regular profile photos on the social networking site in favor of the Human Rights Campaign’s red equals sign. The image has spawned numerous variations around the web — and some have…
You’ve probably heard by now of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal, the American students imprisoned and abused in Iran for two years, virtually incommunicado, on flimsy espionage charges until they were finally “bailed out” (read: ransomed) by Oman and released last month. You may also know about Alan Gross, the ailing American computer specialist arrested…
