lizrplatt.bsky.social
@lizrplatt.bsky.social
Director, The Law, Rights and Religion Project @lawrightsreligion.bsky.social at @unionseminary.bsky.social. I write, speak, and teach about religious liberty law.
Registration is open (in person and zoom webinar) for Convergences, an @xroadproj.bsky.social conference convening a selection of Crossroads Project Fellows to discuss their contributions to SPIRIT HOUSE. October 9-10, 2026 at Princeton University convergences.crossroads.princeton.edu
LRRP partnered with RNS to track the >20 lawsuits brought by religious claimants challenging immigration policies. Read more about it here!
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 2w agoNEW: Trump claims he's “done more for religion than any other president." But 81 religious plaintiffs (including clergy and entire denominations) have filed 21 lawsuits challenging his immigration policies since Jan 2025, most alleging religious freedom violations. religionnews.com/2026/09/16/r...
This class looks fabulous-- what a great opportunity to learn about the clash between immigration enforcement and religious freedom from someone who's truly been in the thick of it. utsnyc.pathwright.com/library/reli...
Religious Freedom & Immigration Rights: Lessons from the Frontlines (Online)
Instructor: Scott Warren
utsnyc.pathwright.com
Woah, a court filing says federal agents spied on churches in the Twin Cities! This is a serious allegation & another sign of how the Trump administration is not actually pro-religious liberty:
Josh Kovensky@joshkovensky.bsky.social · 2mo agoNSPM-7 Watch: federal agents sent an undercover informant to a Sunrise Movement meeting, obtained years of financial records for labor unions, and spied on churches during and after Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis talkingpointsmemo.com/news/dhs-spi...
Gorsuch wrote the Landor opinion.... I covered his approach to religious rights in prison back in 2017: "Gorsuch has held that monetary fines on large corporations constitute a greater burden on religion than the denial of benefits—including food—to prisoners." rewirenewsgroup.com/2017/03/28/n...
Not All Gorsuch Religious Liberty Decisions Are Alike
Although the Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed the vote on his nomination until next week, it's worth taking a closer look at the Supreme Court nominee's record on protecting the faith of people ...
rewirenewsgroup.com
lizrplatt.bsky.social@lizrplatt.bsky.social · 3mo agoNew from me: An op-ed on today's Landor decision. "No matter how robustly our laws may appear to protect religious liberty, our rights are mediated, shaped and limited by a larger legal system that frequently fails to protect the most vulnerable." religionnews.com/2026/06/23/a...
New from me: An op-ed on today's Landor decision. "No matter how robustly our laws may appear to protect religious liberty, our rights are mediated, shaped and limited by a larger legal system that frequently fails to protect the most vulnerable." religionnews.com/2026/06/23/a...
A Rastafarian's Supreme Court loss shows religious freedom depends on who you are
(RNS) — No matter how robustly our laws may appear to protect religious liberty, our rights are mediated, shaped and limited by a larger legal system that frequently fails to protect the most vulnerab...
religionnews.com
The focus has (understandably) been on groups like UU that were cut entirely.... but by consolidating denominations into "presbyterian," "lutheran," etc. labels my thought is they can hire from only conservative denoms-- ie, replace PC(UCA) chaplains w/ PCA, ELCA w/ Missouri Synod, etc. Thoughts?
Philip Bump@pbump.com · 4mo agoCheck and see if your religion is one the military thinks is real! Might be useful info to tuck away. www.military.com/dod-official...
Brief piece from me, on PRRI data about uses of the term "Christian nationalism." Why are those most opposed to it also the most likely to have heard of it? And where are they hearing it? prri.org/spotlight/ho...
How Americans’ Views of the Term Christian Nationalism Are Shaped
Dr. Charles McCrary is a 2025-2026 PRRI Public Fellow focusing on racial justice and white supremacy. He is also an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Humanities at Eckerd College.
prri.org
I'll be in Philly speaking at this event hosted by @atheists.org on May 30th -- come join if you're in the area! americabeyond250.org
America Beyond 250 | May 30, 2026 in Philadelphia
americabeyond250.org
In the final session on May 3, the course explores under-discussed religious liberty issues—from immigration to sacred land, abortion access, and more. This final class will feature Scott Warren of @nomoredeaths.bsky.social.
On April 26, the focus shifts to the Establishment Clause—including the recent shift in church-state doctrine and how different faith communities have experienced it. Featured guests: Richard Katskee of @dukelaw.bsky.social and Sumayyah Waheed of Muslim Advocates
On April 19, the course will turn to Free Exercise rights, and the challenge of protecting religious liberty in a pluralistic democracy. Guest speakers: @aclu.org's Dan Mach and @interfaithalliance.org's Maggie Siddiqi
The course kicks off Sunday, April 12th, with a session on the basics of religious liberty law and policy: how government shapes religious freedom, plus the roles played by lawyers, journalists, and faith leaders. Ft. guest speakers: @simranjeetsingh.bsky.social and @jackjenkins.me
Debates over religious freedom are before the Supreme Court, at the border, in our schools and hospitals. This spring, LRRP Director @lizrplatt.bsky.social is teaching a course at @unionseminary.bsky.social that goes beyond the headlines. Register by 4/1: utsnyc.pathwright.com/library/reli...
I could not be more honored and thrilled to host the incredible guest speakers in the thread 👇 for my upcoming class. They include Supreme Court litigators, award-winning journalists, policymakers, and other religious liberty leaders. I hope you'll join us! Register at utsnyc.edu/blog/event/r...
The Law, Rights & Religion Project@lawrightsreligion.bsky.social · 6mo agoDebates over religious freedom are before the Supreme Court, at the border, in our schools and hospitals. This spring, LRRP Director @lizrplatt.bsky.social is teaching a course at @unionseminary.bsky.social that goes beyond the headlines. Register by 4/1: utsnyc.pathwright.com/library/reli...
Really exciting to see religious liberty arguments successfully upholding a preliminary injunction protecting abortion access in Indiana.
Catesby Holmes@catesby.bsky.social · 7mo agoEvangelical Christians aren't the only people whose faith-based views of abortion matter, ruled an Indiana judge who just blocked the state's abortion ban citing Jewish religious freedom. Someone had to say it! RNG has tracked this case as it moved through the courts. Our updated story here.
Join us Thursday, Mar. 12th, at @unionseminary.bsky.social for a talk by Prof. Kraig Beyerlein of @ndsociology.bsky.social. More on this event here: lawrightsreligion.org/events/march... No registration is needed for UTS's chapel services: guests can simply sign in at the front desk day-of.
UPDATE: Just spoke with the head of CSPL. They have *still* not heard from ICE/DHS about granting clergy access to the Broadview ICE facility. A federal court order issued last week required ICE/DHS to work with CSPL to grant clergy access to the site on Ash Wednesday. Today is Ash Wednesday.
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 7mo agoCan corroborate @sojo.net here: CSPL has also told me they have yet to hear from DHS about clergy being granted access to the Broadview ICE facility. A federal court order issued last week requires them not only to allow clergy in, but to work to CSPL to do so. religionnews.com/2026/02/13/j...
We've updated our sensitive locations tracking doc to reflect this latest decision: lawrightsreligion.org/our-work/sen...
Update on Sensitive Locations Litigation — The Law, Rights & Religion Project
In January of 2025, President Donald Trump withdrew a policy known as the “sensitive locations memo,” which had previously limited immigration enforcement in locations such as houses of worship and re...
lawrightsreligion.org
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 7mo agoA federal judge has barred DHS from conducting (most) immigration raids and enforcement activities in and around churches affiliated with a group of denominations and regional bodies that have sued the Trump administration. religionnews.com/2026/02/16/j...
Can't imagine a better person to teach this class. Liz is the real deal and has such a wealth of knowledge on religious freedom (in its true sense, not just the white supremacist version) and the law! Beyond lawyers, anyone envisioning a pluralistic interfaith future can benefit from this offering ❤️🔥
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York@unionseminary.bsky.social · 8mo agoNew course open to all! “Religious Freedom and the Law,” taught by Liz Reiner Platt will provide students with a solid understanding of the basic legal history and current status of key religious liberty doctrines, including Constitution protections and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
I'm so excited to teach this class! It's open to the public, so you can join. And look out for some amazing guest speakers I've booked to be announced. Religion beat journalists, faith activists, Supreme Court litigators, and religious freedom litigants.
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York@unionseminary.bsky.social · 8mo agoNew course open to all! “Religious Freedom and the Law,” taught by Liz Reiner Platt will provide students with a solid understanding of the basic legal history and current status of key religious liberty doctrines, including Constitution protections and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
Good time to remember the history of kneel-in campaigns during the Civil Rights Movement.
Brian Kaylor@briankaylor.bsky.social · 8mo agoActivists interrupted the service of a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, MN, today to protest that one of the pastors is the acting director of the nearby ICE field office: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/protesters...
I don't have a glossy Giving Tuesday pitch but @lawrightsreligion.bsky.social gets a lot done with a small budget so if you'd like to support us, your money will go far! utsnyc.edu/lrrp/
The Law, Rights & Religion Project
utsnyc.edu
For those following DHS's entry onto religious property-- No More Deaths is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson.
No More Deaths | No Más Muertes@nomoredeaths.bsky.social · 10mo ago🚨 On Sunday, November 23, U.S. Border Patrol illegally entered the No More Deaths’ humanitarian aid station and arrested three people who were receiving aid, without a warrant.
Have you assigned, cited, or otherwise used LRRP's materials in your work? Do us a big favor and let us know!
The Law, Rights & Religion Project@lawrightsreligion.bsky.social · last yr.Are you an educator, faith leader, or advocate? Are you using LRRP materials? Let us know how you're using our work so we can plan, improve, and report to our partners and funders. lawrightsreligion.org/feedback
Just discovered an #AARSBL25 stowaway!
lizrplatt.bsky.social@lizrplatt.bsky.social · 10mo agoI'll be at #AARSBL25 speaking about @lawrightsreligion.bsky.social at the Centers for Religion and Public Life Workshop on Friday and tabling at the @unionseminary.bsky.social reception Sunday. Come say hi! And if anyone's there a day early and wants to go to the Museum of Fine Arts, hit me up.
I'll be at #AARSBL25 speaking about @lawrightsreligion.bsky.social at the Centers for Religion and Public Life Workshop on Friday and tabling at the @unionseminary.bsky.social reception Sunday. Come say hi! And if anyone's there a day early and wants to go to the Museum of Fine Arts, hit me up.
If you want to know how much these groups care about immigrants, read the briefs they submitted in Trump v. Hawaii. All they cared about was that the opinion not strengthen the Establishment Clause.
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 11mo agoReporter's notebook: Non-religion-focused law firms lead religious freedom cases all the time, but some have asked if any of the big conservative religious freedom firms are involved in Broadview cases. They're not. I've reached out to a couple, and if they respond, I'll let y'all know.
