Liberty Counsel

Stand Your Ground

Orlando, FL – Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver is urging people in states affected by same-sex unions to stay: “Stand your ground. Do not voluntarily resign your post when confronted with this intolerant agenda.” Staver made these comments after several magistrates in North Carolina resigned because they refused to preside over a same-sex marriage. “I appreciate the conviction of these magistrates, but rather than resign they should remain at their post. Liberty Counsel will represent them, but once they resign there is not much we can do to help,” said Staver.

Liberty Counsel Stands by Barron Collier High School Chorus Bullied by ACLU

Collier County, FL – Liberty Counsel has offered to represent Barron Collier High School against the ACLU, which wants the school chorus to cancel its fall concert rather than hold it at a church. “This is another case of one ‘offended’ adult trampling the rights of students,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

Catholic Law School Protected From Abortion-Contraception Mandate

Naples, FL – A United States District Court ruled yesterday that the Obama Administration cannot require the Ave Maria School of Law to pay for contraception, sterilization, or abortion until after the case has had a full hearing. Ave Maria is being represented by Liberty Counsel Senior Litigation Counsel Roger Gannam, as well as Alliance Defending Freedom. “While women are being hung in Iran for fighting off a would-be rapist and killed in Iraq for standing for their religious beliefs, the Obama Administration continues to put its influence and efforts on forcing religious organizations to pay for $10 contraception and abortifacients,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

Modern-Day Abolitionist Sits on the Alabama Supreme Court

Montgomery, AL – Justice Tom Parker, Alabama Supreme Court, is a modern-day Wilberforce, fighting for the rights of the unborn and families. “He’s someone who really takes time to read history and the development of jurisprudence,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “He’s not a surface thinker.”

Keith Fournier Named Special Counsel for Liberty Counsel

WASHINGTON, DC – In a move seeking to mobilize millions to stand in solidarity for religious freedom, defend marriage, and promote the protection of all human life, two longtime human rights and constitutional lawyers, Mat Staver and Keith Fournier, announced a formal collaboration for the culture on Friday, October 10, 2014.

The Supreme Court Gives Silent Nod to Same-Sex Marriage

The responsibility for the undermining of marriage rests solely at the U.S. Supreme Court

Liberty Counsel Successfully Defends Christian Business Owner over Same-Sex Wedding

Mountain Top, PA--Liberty Counsel has successfully defended a Pennsylvania banquet hall that refused to host a same-sex wedding because of the owner's Christian beliefs. The Inne of the Abingtons, following its long-standing (and perfectly legal) policy, politely refused to host the wedding of a lesbian couple and suggested several alternate venues. After the Inne was unfairly shamed on social media for its stance, a heterosexual couple canceled their 100-guest wedding and reception event. But even though there was not enough time for the Inne to rebook the facility, the couple demanded the return of their deposit, which was nonrefundable under the industry-standard contract.

Liberty Counsel Defends Church’s Rights in Amicus Brief

Washington, DC— The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco decided a Freedom of Speech case using subjective legislative motive rather than the facts in the case, Liberty Counsel told the Supreme Court in an amicus brief today. Later this year, the Supreme Court will hear Reed. v. Town of Gilbert, a First Amendment challenge from Good News Community Church, which was denied the right to advertise its church like other businesses or political candidates.

Liberty Counsel Fights Religious Intolerance from Florida Home Owners’ Association

Kissimmee, FL--When Enock and Ines Berluche, homeowners at the Shingle Creek Reserve at the Oaks in Central Florida, were told to remove the religious statues in their yard or face “legal action,” the couple reached out to Liberty Counsel.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Violates Judicial Code of Conduct

...Merits of the state constitutional amendments defining marriage as one man and one woman were such that the Supreme Court would have to overturn them with haste

GAO Report Reveals ObamaCare is Funding Over 1,000 Abortion Plans

Washington, DC—Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released “Health Insurance Exchanges: Coverage of Non-excepted Abortion Services by Qualified Health Plans.” In this report, the GAO found that in 28 states that do not have laws restricting healthcare coverage for abortion related services, 1,036 plans use taxpayer dollars to fund abortion-on-demand.

ASU Football Team Harassed for Mourning Loss of Teammates

The university should immediately rescind the unconstitutional directive suppressing private student expression in the form of crosses on individual players' helmets

Change Therapy Case May Go to the Supreme Court

Philadelphia, PA – Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued its decision in King v. Christie, Liberty Counsel’s case on behalf of licensed mental health professionals who are providing and families who are receiving counseling to reduce or eliminate their unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, or identity.

Liberty Counsel Defends National Motto, "In God We Trust"

Pittsburgh—Liberty Counsel offered to defend the Allegheny County Council after it received a threatening email from the Freedom From Religion Foundation ("FFRF") opposing a proposed display of the National Motto “In God We Trust” in the County Council meeting room in Pennsylvania.

Judge Richard Posner is Wrong on Marriage

Washington, DC – Judge Richard Posner of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has become a superstar to the homosexual rights movement after Tuesday’s appeals court hearing on Indiana and Wisconsin’s natural marriage amendments.

Tennessee State Judge Says Natural Marriage is in the State’s Interest

Kingston, TN – A Tennessee judge ruled that the state’s marriage amendment promoting “family continuity and stability is certainly a legitimate state interest.” Roane County Circuit Judge Russell Simmons’s ruling comes amidst decisions in more than a dozen states where United States v. Windsor has been used to overturn state marriage amendments, including the Fourth Circuit Court overturning Virginia’s marriage amendment this week.

IRS Poised to Target Churches

Washington, DC – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is poised to start targeting churches. The IRS is reportedly bowing to the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), settling a lawsuit after the IRS promised to monitor churches for politicking. The settlement is being held up by Father Patrick Malone and Holy Cross Anglican Church, which filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss without prejudice. If FFRF dismisses the lawsuit without prejudice, the atheist organization can renew the lawsuit if the group deems the IRS is not targeting churches.

Christians in Defense of Israel Becomes a Ministry of Liberty Counsel

Washington, DC – Liberty Counsel is pleased to welcome Christians in Defense of Israel into the Liberty Counsel family! Comprised of over 90,000 supporters of Israel, Christians in Defense of Israel is built on Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you” (NKJV). Before the merger with Christians in Defense of Israel, Liberty Counsel already had over 150,000 supporters of Israel in its own Israel program.

Justina Pelletier Tells Her Story on Capitol Hill

Washington, DC—Today, Justina Pelletier visited Washington, D.C., to tell members of Congress about the ordeal she experienced at the hands of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Boston Children's Hospital. Justina urged Congress to pass “Justina's Law,” a bill named after her which would defund involuntary medical research upon children in state custody. Liberty Counsel began representing the Pelletiers in late February and worked diligently in the courts to free Justina. Liberty Counsel’s office in Washington, D.C., arranged for Justina's testimony today, along with other meetings with legislators this week.

Supreme Court Strikes Down ObamaCare HHS Abortion Mandate

Washington, DC—Today, the United States Supreme Court struck down the ObamaCare HHS contraception and abortion employer mandate. The Court ruled that the federal government may not force religious business owners and corporations to provide abortion-inducing drugs and devices and contraceptives to their employees. “Our responsibility is to enforce RFRA [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] as written, and under the standard RFRA prescribes, the HHS contraceptive mandate is unlawful,” the High Court ruled.