LANGLEY, B.C. - Following two days of argument at the Supreme Court, Trinity Western University (TWU) is optimistic Canada's highest court will arrive at a decision that supports the freedom of all faith groups and other minorities in Canada. At the Supreme Court today several intervenors supported Trinity Western University by noting that an open and diverse Canada requires making space for different ideas and beliefs. "We are pleased the Supreme Court afforded us the opportunity to have our case heard.  We know the Supreme Court justices will carefully consider the case and we are confident they will decide in favour of a truly free, diverse and pluralistic Canadian society," says Earl Phillips, executive director of TWU's proposed School of Law. Over the past two days the court heard from Trinity Western University, the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario, and an unprecedented number of interveners, on whether TWU's law school graduates will be accepted into the practice of law. The court's decision is expected within the next several months. "This case is about more than our law school. It is about freedom for all faith communities and other minorities in Canada," says TWU President Bob Kuhn. "As the BC … [Read more...]

By Lacey McNeil, First Liberty Institute communications BEAVER, Pa. - Almost six months after First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the Beaver Area School District (BASD) regarding the district’s religious censorship of high school senior Moriah Bridge’s graduation remarks, BASD has changed course. BASD has enacted a new policy explicitly stating the expressions of students and/or other private speakers at future graduation ceremonies “shall not be restricted because of religious, anti-religious, or non-religious content.” “Students retain their constitutional rights to freedom of expression from the schoolhouse gates, all the way through the graduation ceremony.,” said Jeremy Dys, deputy general counsel for First Liberty. “By adopting this new policy, the BASD is taking the important step of protecting future students who wish to reference their religious beliefs in a personal speech to their classmates.” In addition to the new policy, the superintendent of BASD apologized to Moriah for the lack of clarity under the previous policy.  The action by the BASD comes soon after a meeting between Moriah, members of the BASD and First Liberty Institute attorneys. … [Read more...]