Please join us for this Zoom event with Eric Rassbach, Vice President and Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Religious Freedom for All. Audits 990s 2019-2020 2019-2020 2018-2019 2018-2019 2017-2018 2017-2018 2016-2017 2016-2017 2015-2016 2015-2016 2014-2015 2014-2015 2013-2014 2013-2014 2012-2013 2012-2013 Becket is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Online Events A group of atheists challenged the words "under God" who considered the phrase a violation of the Establishment Clause. Last year a Becket blog post about a legal victory for a Colorado voucher program that diverts public education funds to religious schools was headlined “Needy Kids 1, Anti-Catholic Bigots 0.” In the fall of 2012, Becket co-sponsored an event for the Manhattan Declaration — … He also serves as legal counsel at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which he joined in 2019. Becket - Religious Liberty for All Becket is a public interest law firm that defends the free expression of all religious traditions. It has represented Muslim clients in the European Court of Human Rights, and has assisted in pre-litigation and litigation in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Prior to joining Becket, Chris was an associate in the appellate practice of Jones Day in Washington, D.C. From 2016 to 2017, he clerked for the Honorable Thomas M. Hardiman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Roger Severino is the Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Report. Prior to joining Becket, Chris was an associate in the appellate practice of Jones Day in Washington, D.C. From 2016 to 2017, he clerked for the Honorable Thomas M. Hardiman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sign in. Becket - Religious Liberty for All Becket is a public interest law firm that defends the free expression of all religious traditions. Swell Fundraising provides online fundraising and event management software for nonprofits. Online Seminars For example, it operates resource websites about the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, the freedom to preach without fear of censorship or IRS retribution, the Blaine Amendments, and religious liberty in Sri Lanka. Becket - Religious Liberty for All Becket is a public interest law firm that defends the free expression of all religious traditions. Join Atlas Network on Thursday, June 1 in New York City for a reception featuring president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty William Mumma. Freedom of religion is a basic human right that no government may lawfully deny; it is not a gift of the state, but instead is rooted in the inherent dignity of the human person. Most recently the Becket Fund helped the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District in New Jersey. Luke Goodrich is Vice President and Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and the author of Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America. [22] The Court agreed to take on the case and the Becket Fund represented Holt, citing that the denial of the plaintiff's right to grow his beard according to his faith is a clear violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The Supreme Court would later unanimously rule in support of Mr. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted state and local authorities to impose unprecedented restrictions on their citizens, leading to a perhaps equally unprecedented wave of lawsuits. [10], In 2011 Hasson stepped down as President of the Becket Fund, making way for William P. Mumma who has since served as the President and Chairman of the Board. Beards, prisoners, Native Americans, Sikhs, nuns, and two 17-year-old girls named Samantha top the list. Becket - Religious Liberty for All Becket is a public interest law firm that defends the free expression of all religious traditions. We are proud to offer grants that benefit LGBTQ individuals who have an express need for support. Becket Fund files lawsuit for Little Sisters of the Poor The Little Sisters of the Poor vow to support and follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, including teachings on the inherent value and dignity of every human person. Look into other municipalities that took up “free” legal representation to defend Christian hegemony — they always cost money when they lose. Congratulations to Becket Fund General Counsel Luke Goodrich on this important victory for religious liberty. Chris Pagliarella is a Clinical Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School. Last year a Becket blog post about a legal victory for a Colorado voucher program that diverts public education funds to religious schools was headlined “Needy Kids 1, Anti-Catholic Bigots 0.” In the fall of 2012, Becket co-sponsored an event for the Manhattan Declaration — … [9] Hasson named The Becket Fund after Saint Thomas Becket, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170 during the reign of Henry II of England. Tax ID: 52-1858532 In addition to online donations, we also accept mailed donations, matching gift donations, stock donations, wire transfers … Donations are tax-deductible. These microgrants, as we call them, range from $25 to $650, with some flexibility depending on the request. In addition to these activities, the Becket Fund provides resources for the public and other civil rights attorneys. [citation needed], Another Becket Fund client is a mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, that was denied the right to use its building by a local court after complaints that the mosque was promoting terrorism.[29]. Religious people and institutions are entitled to participate in public life on an equal basis with everyone else, and should not be excluded for professing their faith. Religious expression (of all traditions) is a natural part of life in a free society, and religious arguments (on all sides of a question) are a normal and healthy element of public debate. ... to take away religious freedom from other religious groups,” said Luke Goodrich, senior counsel at the nonpartisan Becket Fund … The event is open to Atlas Club members and Trendsetters members. [30][31], Another significant area of litigation for the Becket Fund has been religious land use. About this Event. Welcome, ! The atheist group did not appeal. The New Civil Liberties Alliance and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty are looking for a mid-level accounting professional, based in downtown Washington DC, who will be responsible for the day-to-day accounting functions of the two separate organizations. Catholic Leadership Speaker Series. Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C. Daniel Blomberg is senior counsel for Becket. [10] A long series of quarrels with King Henry ended with Becket's murder and martyrdom at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. Discussion with Eric Eyre, Author of Death in Mud Lick, COVID Impact: A Discussion on the return to campus in the Fall 2021, Expert Panel Discussion on E-commerce: Legal Issues and Regulations, JAZZYJZ YOUNG WOMEN BUSINESS Discussion Maintaining Business in COVID Era, Sustaining Impact in a Time of COVID-19 - A virtual panel discussion, One Year Later: COVID-19 Clinical Response A Virtual Roundtable Discussion, Dating In The Age Of Covid: An Interactive Online Discussion Ages 40+. The Becket Fund won’t pay it. The organization maintains that "freedom of religion is a basic human right that no government may lawfully deny; it is not a gift of the state, but instead is rooted in the inherent dignity of the human person. The Becket Fund has been a strong opponent of the concept of "defamation of religion" as it has been presented at the United Nations and elsewhere. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted state and local authorities to impose unprecedented restrictions on their citizens, leading to a perhaps equally unprecedented wave of lawsuits. Burwell.[25]. Holt. The fund conferred this honor upon FFRF after the national state/church watchdog properly persuaded a public school in Pratt, Kan., to stop enlisting young students to support a Christian … December 09, 2020. Congratulations, too, to the Becket Fund’s new president, William Mumma, who has stepped in to take the helm after Seamus stepped aside for health reasons, and to Executive Director Kristina Arriaga. "[16], The Becket Fund has served as counsel at the Supreme Court for three religious freedom cases since 2012 starting with Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC (2012). The position would also involve […] The New Civil Liberties Alliance and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty are looking for a mid-level accounting professional, based in downtown Washington DC, who will be responsible for the day-to-day accounting functions of the two separate organizations. It currently represents the Little Sisters of the Poor , Mother Angelica’s Eternal Word Television Network , Houston Baptist and East Texas Baptist Universities , along with many other religious ministries . Events. 46 were here. Becket is committed to funding 2-3 commercially viable, mid-market ($5M-$30M) films per year that reflect the ethnic and gender diversity of the movie-watching audience across the globe, while providing superior returns for investors through use of a … Family Research Council (FRC) will host the Becket Fund and Alliance Defending Freedom for a webcast lecture event tomorrow - Wednesday, Feb. 20 - called "Religious Liberty in America." Notable clients have included the nation's oldest Hindu temple, the Hindu Temple Society of North America, in Flushing, New York City, Prison Fellowship International, Muslim students in Richardson, Texas, seeking to pray the dhuhr prayer on the campus of Lloyd V. Berkner High School, and a Zen Buddhist silent meditation center in New York state that neighbors claimed would make too much noise. This event is co-sponsored by the Libertarian Law Council. Clients have included Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians. The Becket Fund also represented intervenors in the challenge to the Pledge of Allegiance in Hanover, New Hampshire public schools. [citation needed], Nonprofit organization in Washington D.C., United States, History and leadership of the Becket Fund, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, United States Department of Health and Human Services, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United Nations Economic and Social Council, United Nations Commission on Human Rights, "Becket Fund law firm gaining a reputation as powerhouse after Hobby Lobby win", "Founder of Hobby Lobby's law firm pioneered debate over religious freedom", "Meet the Lawyers Fighting for Religious Freedom Today Before the Supreme Court", "Kevin Hasson on the right to life and religious liberty", "Saint Thomas Becket | Biography, Death, & Significance", "Editorial: Supreme Court got it right on church hiring", "The Medical Facts About Birth Control and Hobby Lobby—From an OB/GYN", "Supreme Court rules against Obama in contraception case", "The Little-Known Force Behind the Hobby Lobby Contraception Case", "Supreme Court backs beards in prison - CNNPolitics", "The Becket Fund, not the Little Sisters, Lose", "Deeply Conservative Judge Rules Against Religious Employers, Affirms Right To Birth Control", "God's Rottweilers: Meet the small nonprofit law firm that's reshaping American politics", "Ahlquist v. City of Cranston, Rhode Island (2011–present)", "Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Hanover Public Schools", "Judge allows Muslims to use Tennessee mosque", "Inmate Lawsuit Over Kosher Food to Get Appeals Court Hearing", "Texas State Prisoners Fight for Access to Kosher Meals", "Supreme Court denies Boulder County's request to weigh in on church expansion", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Becket_Fund_for_Religious_Liberty&oldid=1004359754, Civil liberties advocacy groups in the United States, Legal advocacy organizations in the United States, Religious organizations based in the United States. This position will be directly answerable to the CFO and Executive Director. In early May 2018, the Morris County Freeholders authorized the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty to file an appeal to the US Supreme Court to overturn the NJ Supreme Court decision. For over 20 years, it has defended clients of all faiths, including Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians. For all others there is a $50 suggested donation. The firm operates as a non-profit. Find out more about how your privacy is protected. Daniel’s clients have included an international order of nuns, the world’s largest religious media organization, synagogues, members… The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that describes itself as "a non-profit, public interest law firm defending the freedom of religion of people of all faiths." Log in or sign up for Eventbrite to save events you're interested in. Media Inquiries; Donate; 2021 Canterbury Medal Gala; COVID-19 and In-Person Worship Online Government Seminars. He also serves as legal counsel at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which he joined in 2019. Congratulations, too, to the Becket Fund’s new president, William Mumma, who has stepped in to take the helm after Seamus stepped aside for health reasons, and to Executive Director Kristina Arriaga. [8], The Becket Fund was founded in 1994 by Kevin Hasson, who had previously worked at the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department and the Washington law firm Williams & Connolly, in which capacity he became well-known and controversial for defending Catholic University's decision to fire Charles Curran for his opposition to Church doctrine despite his being a respected moral theologian. Prior to joining the Department, Mr. Severino served as Director of the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society in the Institute for Family, Community, and Opportunity at The Heritage Foundation. [15], The Fund's stated mission is to "protect the free expression of all religious traditions." Welcome, ! Your email will only be seen by the event organizer. Unfortunately, the federal … "[12] Montse Alvarado, who started with Becket in 2009, replaced Arriaga as Executive Director in 2017. S/he has contributed to one or more of our events, publications, or projects. The case was taken to the Superior Court of New Jersey where the phrase "under God" was once again ruled constitutional. In 2012, a government mandate threatened Wheaton College, a Christian school and one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country, with crippling fines unless it violated its religious beliefs. The Becket Fund continues to lead the charge against the unconstitutional HHS mandate, winning a landmark victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby . Allow Facebook friends to see your upcoming events? [19] The court ruled 5-4 in favor of Hobby Lobby, asserting that family owned businesses have a right to operate in accordance with their conscience. The Becket Fund has also litigated on behalf of prisoners who seek to continue following their beliefs in prison. It also provides continuing legal studies courses in cooperation with West Legal EdCenter. [28] Both cases were resolved in favor of the current Pledge language. Among the Becket Fund's governmental clients have been the states of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, the city of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Spartanburg County School District No. A Muslim inmate in the Arkansas prison system wanted to grow a beard according to his faith. Kyle Duncan was formerly general counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, where he was lead counsel representing Hobby Lobby Stores in its challenge to … Chris Pagliarella is a Clinical Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School. Kristina Arriaga, who was the Executive Director of the Becket Fund starting in 2010 and a member of the firm since 1995,[11] is now a "Senior Advisor to the Board. • Eric Rassbach, VP and Senior Counsel, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, co-counsel for synagogue plaintiffs in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, • Moderated by: Josh McDaniel, Attorney at Horvitz & Levy LLP and President of the Los Angeles Lawyers Chapter. Independent Clinical: Appellate Litigation with Becket Location: Washington D.C. Thomas Becket (/ ˈ b ɛ k ɪ t /), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170.