Supreme Court of the United States

These are the latest news cases from the Supreme Court of the United States regarding pro-life and family issues, religious persecution, and other topics affecting the Catholic Church.

The Latest

Sharonell Fulton has fostered more than 40 children through Catholic Social Services. Photo courtesy of Becket.

Foster moms ask Supreme Court to hear Philadelphia case

Jul 23, 2019

"As a single mom and woman of color, I've known a thing or two about discrimination over the years..." Read more

US bishops commend Supreme Court's 2020 census decision

Jul 3, 2019

The US bishops on Tuesday applauded the Supreme Court's recent decision blocking the inclusion of a citizenship question on the... Read more

Amazon workers at London Pride Parade.

Gender identity protections good for the economy, companies tell SCOTUS

Jul 2, 2019

More than 200 businesses have asked the Supreme Court to recognize anti-discrimination protections on the basis of gender identity and... Read more

Supreme Court of the United States.

Supreme Court rejects case on abortion by dismemberment

Jun 28, 2019

The Supreme Court announced on Friday that it will not hear a case regarding an Alabama law banning abortions by... Read more

Peace Cross, Bladensburg, Maryland.

Peace Cross can stay, Supreme Court rules

Jun 20, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

In a 7-2 decision, the court ruled in the case American Legion v. American Humanist Association that the Bladensburg Peace... Read more

The Peace Cross in Bladensburg, Md. Via Wikimedia (CC BY 3.0)

US Supreme Court will soon decide 'Peace Cross' First Amendment case

Jun 18, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

Before the month is out, the US Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision in an establishment clause case... Read more

Supreme Court upholds Indiana fetal remains rule, but stops short of major abortion ruling

May 28, 2019

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld part of an Indiana law requiring aborted babies to be cremated or buried,... Read more

The Supreme Court of the United States.

Analysis: Which state pro-life laws could arrive at the Supreme Court

May 16, 2019

With a Supreme Court considered favorable to the pro-life cause and a total of more than 100 Trump nominees in... Read more

Doctor reading test results of pregnant woman by ultrasound.

State abortion battles continue in Rhode Island, Michigan, Alabama

May 14, 2019

Several states are considering new abortion measures, as the nation-wide trend of legislatures passing new laws to restrict or entrench... Read more

Supreme Court of the United States.

Supreme Court rejects Ohio Christian school discrimination case

May 13, 2019

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from an Ohio Christian school that claimed it was singled... Read more

Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery. Via Shutterstock

Alabama bill to send abortion doctors to jail sets up Supreme Court fight

May 3, 2019

The Human Life Protection Act would mean doctors who perform abortion could face years in prison.  Read more

US Supreme Court.

Supreme Court to hear sexual orientation, gender identity employment cases

Apr 24, 2019

By Kevin J. Jones

In a decision that could have potentially far-reaching consequences, the U.S. Supreme Court has said it will hear cases involving... Read more

Supreme Court of the United States.

Supreme Court hears petition to overturn Louisiana abortion law

Apr 18, 2019

The Center for Reproductive Rights formally presented its petition April 17, after the court granted a stay in February which... Read more

After Supreme Court ruling, Texas bans all chaplains from execution rooms

Apr 4, 2019

The state of Texas has banned all prison chaplains from its execution chamber, following a Supreme Court decision that halted... Read more

The Supreme Court of the United States.

SCOTUS ruling shows divide over ‘permissible’ suffering in executions

Apr 1, 2019

The Supreme Court issued a decision Monday denying the appeal of a Missouri death row inmate who argued that execution... Read more

Texas bishops praise delayed execution of prisoner denied Buddhist chaplain

Mar 29, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops praised the Supreme Court’s decision to delay the execution of Patrick Murphy, a Buddhist... Read more

Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in downtown Washington, DC.

DeVos allows religious groups to provide educational services

Mar 13, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

The Department of Education will no longer enforce a provision that forbids religious organizations from providing federally-funded educational services to... Read more

The Supreme Court of the United States.

Supreme Court rejects church funding case

Mar 4, 2019

Although all nine justices voted against hearing the case, three of the justices--Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch--issued... Read more

Peace Cross, Bladensburg, Maryland.

Supreme Court hears arguments in ‘Peace Cross’ case

Feb 27, 2019

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in the case Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission v. American Humanist Association,... Read more

The Supreme Court of the United States.

Supreme Court rejects appeal to make Texas bishops release abortion communications

Feb 20, 2019

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal in the case Whole Woman’s Health v. Texas Catholic Conference et al, in... Read more