S7, Ep. 08: ‘A vibrant and free civil society is core to religious liberty in our country’
Respecting Religion
In our last show of 2025, Amanda and Holly talk about some of the news from the past week – including an expansion of the travel ban, devastating attacks around the world, and an appearance by Amanda before Congress to talk about the importance of protecting civil society. Plus, get an update on the podcast’s plans for spring 2026 as Amanda embarks on her first sabbatical. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:33): Amanda’s most recent appearance before Congress You can hear Amanda’s opening testimony at 06:37 in this podcast. You can watch it online . Amanda and Holly...
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S7, Ep. 07: Religion in the military and the latest from Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission
Respecting Religion
The Trump administration created a “Religious Liberty Commission” in May, and it seems to be a mix of performative posturing and grievance airing, with some policy substance thrown in. Amanda and Holly discuss what this commission has – and hasn’t – done so far, and they look more closely at this week’s hearing on religion in the military. Littered with celebrities, many of the hearings are privileging certain religious views over others, often furthering “Christian nation” mythology and sharing general misinformation. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:33): What...
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S7, Ep. 06: Updates on Oak Flat, the Johnson Amendment, and efforts to post the Ten Commandments
Respecting Religion
Hear Amanda and Holly react live to some breaking developments in today’s Respecting Religion podcast. One day after new legislation was introduced in Congress to save sacred Indigenous land, they discuss the history of and need for the Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act. Plus, they talk about a brand-new class action lawsuit in Texas trying to halt the unconstitutional posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and they share an update on the latest court activity regarding efforts to protect the Johnson Amendment. This conversation aired live on social media on BJC’s...
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S7, Ep. 05: A religious freedom case flying under the radar: SCOTUS hears Landor v. Louisiana Dept. of Corrections
Respecting Religion
One religious freedom case at the Supreme Court isn’t getting the sort of attention as others, despite how it’s uniting groups that often disagree. So, why did the justices sound so skeptical in the courtroom? Amanda and Holly review this week’s oral arguments in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections, which involves the remedy available to a man whose religious freedom rights were violated when he was in prison. The violation isn’t in question, so why is the remedy? Amanda and Holly review the details in this case, play audio from key moments in the courtroom, and...
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S7, Ep. 04: Criminalizing Mercy: Sanctuary and Government Repression of Migrant Justice
Respecting Religion
Today, we are bringing you a special presentation on the contested issue of “sanctuary,” which continues to cut into the immigration debates in our country. Dr. Sergio M. González traces the sanctuary movement to its roots in the 1980s and examines how we arrived at a moment where mercy is met with repression. This presentation was given on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 22, 2025, as part of BJC’s annual Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting...
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S7, Ep. 03: Why is the Johnson Amendment under attack again?
Respecting Religion
We hear a lot of misinformation about a long-standing part of the tax code that protects the nonprofit sector, and it’s newly under attack in a questionable manner. On this episode, Amanda and Holly discuss the Johnson Amendment, what it does and doesn’t do, and the concerning way the Trump administration is trying to undo it without going through a normal process. They also provide reminders of what all nonprofits – including houses of worship – can do without jeopardizing their 501(c)(3) status under that current law. It’s a curious case – politicians say no one wants this part...
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S7, Ep. 02: Amanda and Holly LIVE on peaceful protests, the impact of the government shutdown, and more
Respecting Religion
In this LIVE conversation, Amanda and Holly take a moment to catch up and review some of the recent news since last week’s program. They discuss how religious leaders have been engaging in peaceful protests of immigration raids, how the ongoing government shutdown is impacting court cases, a change in Oklahoma regarding Bible teaching in public schools, and more. This show first aired live on Thursday, October 23, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on BJC’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels. SHOW NOTES: Do you want special emails about the show, including notifications...
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S7, Ep. 01: The Supreme Court in a new era
Respecting Religion
As the Supreme Court begins a new term, we can’t ignore what else is going on in our country – attacks on the rule of law, weaponization of the Department of Justice, the militarization of American cities, disruptive and chaotic immigration enforcement, and a government shutdown. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman are back for a new season of Respecting Religion to bring thoughtful conversations to these issues and more at the intersection of religion and the law. In the season 7 premiere, they focus on the current Supreme Court term, including a case with an egregious violation of a...
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Join us for season 7 of Respecting Religion
Respecting Religion
With attacks on the rule of law, the militarization of troops in American cities, and a new Supreme Court term starting up, there is no better time to tune in to Respecting Religion. Join Holly and Amanda as they return for a new season to share analysis, opportunities for action, and ways to make sense of issues at the intersection of religion and the law. Respecting Religion is available on your favorite podcasting platform, and now, for the first time, with video on YouTube! We'll see you on October 16 for the season 7 premiere of Respecting Religion! Subscribe today, and...
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S6, Ep. 18: End of term roundup
Respecting Religion
On our season 6 finale, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman explore some of the consequential decisions from the final days of the Supreme Court term, including Mahmoud v. Taylor – which involves parents who want to opt their children out of curriculum they find in conflict with their religious beliefs – and U.S. v. Skrmetti, which focuses on access to medical care for transgender youth. They discuss the real world implications of these and other recent rulings. Amanda and Holly also celebrate a decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals striking down Louisiana’s law...
info_outlineSome troubling trends at the Supreme Court are starting to affect the legal profession and how students in law school approach the U.S. Constitution. As SCOTUS continues to upend decades of established precedent in church-state law, Amanda and Holly discuss what’s changed since they were in law school and the rapid changes in church-state law itself. They look at the views of legitimacy of the Court, and Holly shares specifically what she sees in her work teaching church-state law at Georgetown University Law Center.
SHOW NOTES
Segment 1 (starting at 01:15): Respect for the Supreme Court in law school
Read “The Crisis in Teaching Constitutional Law,” an opinion piece by Jesse Wegman for The New York Times.
Holly mentioned recent episodes of Respecting Religion that covered:
- Religious accommodation in the workplace (episode 26 of season 4 on Groff v. DeJoy)
- The funding of private religious schools with government funds (episode 20 of season 3 on Carson v. Makin)
- Prayer by a coach on the 50-yard-line (episode 21 of season 3 on Kennedy v. Bremerton)
Amanda mentioned the book Deciding to Decide: Agenda Setting in the United States Supreme Court by H.W. Perry.
Segment 2 (starting at 10:51): Turning points, hypocrisy, and partisan muscle
Holy mentioned how SCOTUS uses history and tradition and the case of Greece v. Galloway, which we covered in episode 3 of season 5.
Segment 3 (starting at 21:26): The differences in the Souter/Stevens/O’Connor era and what it’s like in the classroom today
To read more about the Supreme Court religious liberty cases involving Jehovah’s Witnesses, check out this article by Jane G. Rainey published by the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University.
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