Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this episode, we discuss: 0:31 President Trump's new executive order setting the federal government's policy towards biological sex and gender ideology. 8:24 An Ohio state law requiring school boards to permit students to receive a religious education during the school day. 16:10 A legal challenge to Arlington, Texas' ban on donation bins. The Napa Legal Podcast: January 27, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this episode, we discuss: (3:35) The recent bill from the US House of Representatives banning men from women's sports in programs with federal funding. (12:52) A legal challenge to New York's state law against employer's religious freedom. (18:46) Montana's Attorney General's attempt to protect parent's rights in their children's decision to obtain an abortion. The Napa Legal Podcast, January 22, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! Listen to Executive Director and Vice President Mary Margaret Bush and Counsel Frank DeVito discuss the first principles of religious freedom in the inaugural episode posted on January 20, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

0:28 Letitia James' attempt to prevent pregnancy resource centers from spreading information about a treatment that can reverse the effects of the abortion pill;

13:09 A Missouri man's appeal to the Supreme Court asking for the right to share his faith in a public park after an unfavorable ruling in a lower court;

25:10 Updates on Jimmy Lai, a Catholic advocate for Democracy whose faith has given him strength during his years of solitary confinement in the Chinese prison system.

Tags: NIFLA vs. James, Pregnancy Resource Centers, progesterone, free speech, pro-life, Supreme Court, First Amendment, Jimmy Lai, Sebastian Lai, Hong Kong.

The Napa Legal Podcast, March 21, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:1:20 A lawsuit against a Colorado law that bans conversations in counselling about biological sex and gender from a Christian viewpoint, even when the patient expresses a desire to do so;

10:47 Two states' actions to protect the rights of parents to send their children to the school of their choice;

24:20 America's largest bank's recent strides towards preventing religious discrimination and debanking.Napa Legal's Report on De-Platforming: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/member-resources/de-platforming-the-threat-facing-faith-based-organizationsTags: Chiles v. Salazar, Counseling, free speech, Colorado, viewpoint-based discrimination, religious discrimination, Idaho, school choice, tax credit, tuition assistance, universal schooling, St. Isidore of Seville, Drummond, JPMorgan Chase, debanking, code of conduct, religious liberty.The Napa Legal Podcast, March 19, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:0:34 The passage of a Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Wyoming, which requires any state law or action that could restrict religious liberty to pass a strict scrutiny analysis (the judicial standard for legality).14:18 A legal challenge to a Delaware law requiring pregnancy resource centers to post a lengthy, often false disclaimer on their entrances, in their waiting rooms, and certain online content.24:35 The potential impact of the Corporate Transparency Act on nonprofits.Tags: Religious Liberty, Nonprofit Law, Supreme Court Cases, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, RFRA, Strict Scrutiny, Free Speech, Pregnancy Resource Centers, Corporate Transparency Act, CTAThe Napa Legal Podcast. March 10, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

0:38 A lawsuit against Liberty University after they fired an employee who acted directly against their statement of doctrine.

18:22 A lawsuit against the US Conference of Catholic Bishops that could let the judiciary govern internal matters of Churches.

27:56 A new study about the effectiveness of giving large unrestricted gifts to nonprofits commonly exercised by billionaire Mackenzie Scott.

27:30: An Extended Essay on Church Autonomy https://fedsoc.org/fedsoc-review/an-extended-essay-on-church-autonomy

Tags: Religious Liberty, Nonprofit Law, Supreme Court Cases, Charitable Giving, Liberty University, Legal Podcast, Catholic Podcast.

The Napa Legal Podcast. March 3, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:0:43 A lawsuit over a tech company's policy refusing to give otherwise available discounts to religious organizations.10:15 Stephen Atkerson's recent victory at Georgia State University, where he was previously told by armed police officers that he couldn't discuss Christianity outside of the Free Speech Zones.20:11 Federal and state disputes, including the Kanas Legislature's recent overruling of the governor's veto, over funding "transgender surgeries" and drugs for minors. The Napa Legal Podcast. February 25th, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this episode, we discuss:0:50 State supreme court cases in Wyoming, South Carolina, and Georgia challenging laws that generally ban abortion once a baby's heartbeat can be detected.15:39 Pending bills in Vermont and Oregon that would let nurses and assistants prescribe physician assisted suicide.28:40 A US circuit court case over whether or not a county government's employee insurance plan can refuse to pay for "gender transitions."The Napa Legal Podcast, February 17, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this episode, we discuss:1:05 The Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports Executive Order with a related pending Senate Bill.10:30 A passionate discussion of the role and history of public schools, as well as how to understand the Establishment Clause in light of a new US Supreme Court Case over the legality of St. Isidore's, a Catholic Charter School in Oklahoma. 23:35 A proposed rule in the D.C. Court of Appeals that could make defending religious clients "professional misconduct." Frank's piece in The American Conservative about the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma City https://www.theamericanconservative.com/charter-case-challenges-school-secularism/The Napa Legal Podcast, February 12, 2025.

In this special guest episode, we discuss how state laws can permit or restrict religious education during the school day with Cody Balch, the Senior Director of Statewide Initiatives at LifeWise academy. LifeWise works with public schools to give students a Bible-based religious ed class during school hours. While a US Supreme Court precedent enables them to carry out their mission, some states permit school boards to refuse to allow organizations like LifeWise to teach students during the day. Listen to learn more about why LifeWise is so crucial to students and how state laws can (and which states are working now to) help.To learn more about LifeWise, visit their website at https://lifewise.org/.To learn more about the Ohio Parents' Bill of Rights, watch The Napa Legal podcast episode published on January 27, 2025 here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts: (Spotify) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GG9oBnxfW2JQRJ5oct8PF?si=rOAR4YZqRKGPmfme-Enhlw

(Apple Podcasts) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/napa-legal-institute/episodes/Executive-Orders--Religious-Education--and-Donation-Bins-January-27--2025-e2tu4bu

In this special episode of the Napa Legal Podcast, we discuss several executive orders that President Trump has signed since coming into office. These include: 1:24 Pro-life orders such as the re-instatement of the Mexico City Policy and the Hyde Amendment 9:30 OMB memo reviewing and pausing federal funding for various programs 15:28 Supporting the role of parents as the primary educators of their children 21:30 White House policy on there being two sexes plus its effects 27:09 Protecting children from chemical and surgical "transgender" procedures 34:01 DOJ dropped case against Dr. Eithan Haim Heritage Foundation's Executive Order Tracker on Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/01/22/heritage-experts-analyze-trump-executive-orders/ Alliance Defending Freedom's (ADF) Executive Order Tracker: https://adflegal.org/campaign/president-trumps-executive-orders/ The Ethics and Public Policy Center's (EPPC) Administrative State Accountability Project: https://eppc.org/program/asap/

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this episode, we discuss: 0:54 President Trump's pardon for 23 pro-lifers convicted under the FACE Act, plus his policy on its enforcement and an attempt to repeal the controversial law. 9:02 The Becket Fund's Religious Liberty Index, a poll measuring public support of religious freedom. 14:13 A new article in Public Discourse about data privacy laws and AI regulation that could impact the work of faith-based nonprofits. 17:35 Mahmoud v. Taylor, A US Supreme Court case seeking to affirm parents' rights to opt their children out of sexual education and other substantially controversial classes. The Napa Legal Podcast, February 3, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:0:45 A newly introduced federal bill that would let nonprofits and churches speak about ongoing political campaigns;

13:20 Another recently introduced federal law that would protect nonprofits from being subject to extreme government regulation;

19:36 Two new state laws that work to ensure that Christians can open their homes to foster children.Read Napa Legal's toolkit on Lobbying, Issue Advocacy, and Campaign Activity here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/member-resources/lobbying-issue-advocacy-and-campaign-activity-crafting-an-organizational-policyRead Timothy Noonan's whitepaper on Understanding Political Activity and Issue Advocacy here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/member-resources/understanding-political-activity-and-issue-advocacy-an-introduction-for-tax-exempt-nonprofitsTags: Free speech, religious speech, churches, politics, campaign activity, tax exemptions, federal financial assistance, religious liberty, foster home law, viewpoint-based discrimination.The Napa Legal Podcast, April 21, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:0:37 Georgia's newly signed Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which works to prevent government violation of the free exercise of religion;

7:00 The Oklahoma Governor's executive order requiring state agencies to review, suspend, and repeal statues that work against religious liberty;

17:20 The IRS' decision to stop investigating a church that prayed for a religious candidate.Read Timothy Noonan's whitepaper on political activity for nonprofits here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/member-resources/understanding-political-activity-and-issue-advocacy-an-introduction-for-tax-exempt-nonprofitsRead Napa Legal's toolkit on crafting an organizational policy for lobbying, issue advocacy, and campaign activity here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/member-resources/lobbying-issue-advocacy-and-campaign-activity-crafting-an-organizational-policyRead the USCCB's political activity guidelines here:https://www.usccb.org/offices/general-counsel/political-activity-guidelinesTags: Religious Freedom Restoration Act, RFRA, Georgia, Oklahoma, Governor Stiff, religious charter school, St. Isidore case, IRS, political, 501(c)(3).The Napa Legal Podcast, April 14, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode we discuss:

0:37 The Wisconsin Catholic Charities US Supreme Court case, which just heard oral arguments over whether or not the nonprofit is legally a religious organization;

11:43 A district court's decision in alignment with the Church Autonomy Doctrine over a defamation lawsuit brought against the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia by a now defrocked priest;

19:15 Another US Supreme Court case over whether or not states can refuse to fund abortion providers with federal dollars.

To view some shorter clips from this week's episode, check out our "podcast clips" playlist here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwszS7Ql6_y7Fq99BbjXU1e2Ug92qRy93

Read Frank DeVito's post on Blaze Media about the Wisconsin Catholic Charities case here:https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/wisconsin-high-courts-ruling-marks-a-dark-day-for-religious-freedom

Tags: Wisconsin Catholic Charities, unemployment tax, nonprofit governance, Church Autonomy Doctrine, defamation, Medina, Kerr, Planned Parenthood, Supreme Court, religious liberty.

The Napa Legal Podcast, April 7, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! This special episode features guests Brian Hawkins (Senior Director of External Affairs - People United for Privacy) and Tyler Martinez (Senior Attorney - National Taxpayers Union Foundation).

In this episode, we discuss the Corporate Transparency Act, its history and related current legislation and lawsuits, as well as how it harms the freedom and work of nonprofits.

Read Brian and Tyler's article in the Washington Times here:

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/4/nonprofit-concerns-corporate-transparency-act/

Watch another recent episode of The Napa Legal Podcast where we discuss the CTA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-61m-bxmuvU&t=1475sTags:

Corporate Transparency Act, Free Association, Privacy, Donor Information, Data Leaks

The Napa Legal Podcast: April 2, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:0:34 A legal challenge to an Illinois law that prevents faith-based organizations from hiring employees that align with their religious identity;

12:06 A federal bill introduced in the US House of Representatives that would protect pregnancy resource centers from government interference in their life-affirming care;

22:58 A new law in Idaho that protects the rights of healthcare professionals, institutions, and payers to refuse to provide abortions and other controversial procedures based on religious and ethical objections.Tags: Religious liberty, religious employers, employment freedom, equal protection, compelled action, Chris Smith, pregnancy resource centers, medical conscience rights, abortion.

The Napa Legal Podcast, March 31, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

2:10 The US Supreme Court's recent ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood, a case over whether or not states can refuse Medicaid funding to the nation's largest abortion provider;

20:20 A new HHS investigation into a major medical provider over its potentially illegal treatment of a nurse who requested religious exemptions;

34:28 A circuit court's recent ruling in favor of two public school teachers who were after they started a grassroots political movement.

Tags: Planned Parenthood, SCOTUS, religious freedom, South Carolina, Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, Pickering Balance Test, Free Speech, I Resolve.

The Napa Legal Podcast, July 1, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:1:31 The US Supreme Court's recent ruling on whether or not a Tennessee law banning "transgender procedures" for minors violates the Constitution;

9:27 The US Supreme Court's order to a New York court to revisit an abortion exemption in light of the recent Catholic Charities case;

20:40 A New York bill that expands access to physician assisted suicide;

35:32 Iowa's Parent's Bill of Rights that enables religious education during the school day.Read Frank DeVito's article in First Things here:https://firstthings.com/the-supreme-court-corrects-wisconsin-on-religious-freedom/Read Joseph Clement's blog post at Napa Legal Institute here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/post/catholic-charities-bureau-v-wisconsin-applies-the-establishment-clause-to-prevent-religious-discriminationTags: Skirmetti, transgender procedures, abortion laws, New York MAiD, parent's rights, religious education in public schools.The Napa Legal Podcast, June 24, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast!In this special guest episode with Notre Dame Law Professor Nicole Garnett, we discuss the active Supreme Court Case over whether or not a charter school can be explicitly religious.Tags: St. Isidore of Seville v. Drummond, Religious Freedom, Catholic charter school, Establishment Clause, First Amendment, Free Speech, Free Exercise.The Napa Legal Podcast, May 14, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:1:36 An emergency attempt by the Native American group Apache Stronghold to prevent their site of worship from being handed over to a mining company;

10:30 A new Religious Liberty Commission formed by a Presidential Executive Order;

26:21 An investigation by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice into a new Washington state law that forces Catholic priests to face imprisonment unless they break the seal of Confession.Read Rachel Morrison and Eric Kniffen's Amicus brief here:https://eppc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Apache-Stronghold-v.-USA-Amicus-Br-of-RFI-EPPC-in-Supp-of-Petitioner.pdfRead the National Catholic Register's article on the recent Washington state law here:https://www.ncregister.com/cna/trump-s-justice-department-investigates-washington-law-threatening-seal-of-confessionTags: Apache Stronghold v. United States, First Amendment, Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), Religious Liberty Commission, Trump Executive Orders, state law, free exercise of religion, Department of Justice.The Napa Legal Podcast, May 12, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this special guest episode, Frank DeVito is joined by current Good Counselor Project Fellow Kyle Nazareth. They discuss the ongoing Supreme Court case Medina v. Planned Parenthood which could decide if South Carolina's government is allowed to restrict funding one of the nation's largest abortion providers.Tags: Medicare, Medicaid, Medina v. Kerr, Medina v. Planned Parenthood, federalism, states right, section 1983, abortion.The Napa Legal Podcast, May 7, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Weekly Podcast! In this week's episode, Frank Devito (Counsel and Director of Content) and Mary Margaret Bush (Executive Director) discuss the following religious liberty updates:

0:33 Explaining recent oral arguments at the Supreme Court over a Catholic charter school, with a special focus on what it means to be a state actor as well as the legal implications of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause;

21:58 A new law in Indiana that protects the rights of parents to educate, upbring, and care for their children;

29:16 Recent developments in the lawsuit from a professor against his former university who was effectively fired to his personal statements about medical treatment for minors.

Tags: St. Isidore of Seville v. Drummond, Establishment Clause, First Amendment, state actor, Carson v. Makin, Supreme Court, religious liberty, principle of subsidiarity, parents' rights, Governor Braun, University of Louisville, free speech, censorship, higher education.

The Napa Legal Podcast, May 5, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

1:16 Oral arguments before the US Supreme Court for Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case in which Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim parents are fighting for the right to opt their children out of LGBTQ related lessons that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs;

13:37 An ongoing district court case where a faith-based nonprofit that supports young survivors of sex trafficking lost assistance from the local government because they only hired coreligionists;

25:09 A settlement between Holy Sexuality and Asana after the tech company previously refused to offer faith-based organizations an otherwise publicly available discount.

Tags: Mahmoud v. Taylor, Parental opt-out rights, parents' rights, employment law, California discrimination law, legal settlements.T

he Napa Legal Podcast, April 28, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this special guest episode with attorney and legal scholar Lael Weinberger. We discuss the basics of the Church Autonomy Doctrine and how it can impact the work of faith-based nonprofits today, particularly in the light of several court cases.Tags: Church Autonomy Doctrine, religious liberty, faith-based nonprofits,.The Napa Legal Podcast, April 25, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

1:41 A new law in Nevada that protects the privacy of donors, volunteers, and members of nonprofits;

9:32 A current legal battle after a NY public school "socially transitioned" a seventh-grade against her parents' wishes, all the while lying to them about what was ocurring;

25:03 A case in Florida over whether or not the city can require a sexually explicit performance to be performed indoors and with age restrictions, rather than near a playground.

Tags: Donor privacy, leaked information, nonprofit data security, parental rights, free exercise, obscenity law.

The Napa Legal Podcast, June 16 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal podcast! In this special guest episode with Notre Dame Law Professor Vincent Muñoz and Napa Legal's summer fellow Kathleen Farnan, we discuss the origins and history of religious freedom in the United States.

Tags: Founding fathers, originalism, First Amendment, jurisprudence.

The Napa Legal Podcast, June 11, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:0:40 The US Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in favor of Catholic Charities;

11:12 A group of Christian parents' attempt to combat a state law that makes it impossible for them to foster children solely because of their faith;

22:10 HHS recission of guidelines that required hospitals to perform "emergency" abortions.Tags: Catholic Charities, Wisconsin Supreme Court, Establishment Clause, religious discrimination, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, abortion mandate.The Napa Legal Podcast, June 6, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

0:33 The implications of the Supreme Court's decision not to hear the appeal of a coalition of Native American Apache tribes to protect their site of worship from a mining company;

17:14 A lawsuit in Colorado over whether or not a sport's apparel company can refer to men and women as such;

28:04 A Christian photographer's attempt to protect herself from a New York law that would have compelled her to act against her religious beliefs.

Tags: Apache Stronghold v. United States, First Amendment jurisprudence, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Thomas, CADA, advertisement, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, employment laws, 303 Creative.

The Napa Legal Podcast, June 2, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal podcast! In this guest episode with Becket Law's VP and Senior Counsel Luke Goodrich, we discuss the principles of religious liberty and why they matter, particularly in light of the Apache Stronghold case.While the Supreme Court decided not to take up the appeal, this provides an excellent case study on why religious freedom matters in the United States, and how concerned citizens can work to uphold it in every facet of civil life.Tags: Apache Stronghold v. United States, First Amendment, First Principles, American law.The Napa Legal Podcast, May 29, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss the following religious liberty updates:

0:38 A California law that prevented disabled children of faith from attending schools that could best serve their needs;

13:02 A Florida court case over the role of parents in their children's decisions about abortion;

25:43 The US Supreme Court's ruling on the landmark St. Isidore of Seville virtual charter school case.

Tags: Religious discrimination, school vouchers, tuition assistance, abortion, parental rights, Catholic charter school, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, Due Process.

The Napa Legal Podcast, May 23, 2025

Establishment of Religion? Free Exercise? State Actors? Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this special guest episode, Napa Legal's Senior Counsel and Director of Content Frank DeVito discusses the implications of the First Amendment in the St. Isidore of Seville v. Drummond Supreme Court Case with experienced attorney Chris Schandevel. Tags: Constitutional law, Bill of Rights, school choice, US Supreme Court, religious liberty jurisprudence.The Napa Legal Podcast, May 21, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:0:31 A new requirement in Colorado that effectively shuts down Christian summer camps;

12:54 A new law in Tennessee that protects free speech and religious beliefs in public schools;

21:21 The recent restoration of the Facebook account for a Christian newspaper after they were inexplicably suspended.Tags: Christian summer camps, licensing requirements, public accommodations, free speech, public schools, deplatforming, Facebook.The Napa Legal Podcast, May 19, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we examine religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, we discuss the following legal and policy updates.

1:21 A lawsuit in Pennsylvania over religious discrimination in children's sports;

8:43 A federal agency's recent decision to allow religious organizations access to emergency disaster funding;

17:06 A Christian bookstore's efforts to protect their right to religious liberty which facing censorship and legally compelled speech.

Tags: PIAA, public school sports, Trinity Lutheran, Small Business Administration, Center for Faith, establishment clause, free exercise, freedom of religion, religious liberty, CADA, anti-discrimination laws, free speech, first amendment.

The Napa Legal Podcast, August 4, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast!

In this guest episode, Frank DeVito is joined by ADF's Suzanne Beecher. They discuss two upcoming Supreme Court cases that will determine the future of women's sports and sex-based distinctions in athletic competitions.

Tags: West Virginia v. B.P.J., Hecox v. Little, Title IX.

The Napa Legal Podcast, July 31, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:1:09 A court ruling against Washington’s law that attempted to force clergy to either abandon their faith or face fines and imprisonment;

11:25 Mississippi’s MAMA program that offers support to young families;

17:08 The recent decision of several major hospitals and hospital networks to stop performing “transgender surgeries" on minors.Tags: Mandated reporter, religious liberty, seal of Confession, pregnancy resource centers, pro-life life, Skirmetti.The Napa Legal Podcast, July 29, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast!

In this guest episode with Nathan Berkeley, the Religious Freedom Institute's (RFI) Associate Vice President of US Strategies and Communications, we discuss how assisted suicide negatively impacts religious liberty.

Tags: PAS, physician assisted suicide, medical conscience rights, free exercise, freedom of religion.

The Napa Legal Podcast, July 24, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

1:45 A settlement in a dispute between Camp IdRaHaJe and Colorado officials over the state's requirement that all summer camps permit campers of the opposite sex to share private spaces;

12:15 An ongoing lawsuit over whether or not students at private universities in Virginia obtaining religious degrees are eligible for state financial assistance;

22:50 A recent consent decree in which a public school district agreed to stop viewpoint-based discrimination on its Facebook page.

Tags: First Amendment, public accommodation law, free exercise, free speech, VTAG, church and state, censorship.

The Napa Legal Podcast, July 21, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss:

0:45 clarifying the conversation about the IRS's recent statements in a joint motion regarding the Johnson Amendment and if religious leaders are able to endorse political candidates during religious activities;

22:53 A new Supreme Court case involving a street preacher who was fined after sharing his faith near a city amphitheater;

35:20 Missouri's new law protecting religious and political student associations.

Tags: Internal Revenue Service, free speech, censorship, Gabriel Olivier, First Amendment, political campaigning, 501(c)(3) laws, campaign law, speech on campus

The Napa Legal Podcast, July 14, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss several of the Supreme Court's most impactful cases for religious liberty in this previous term. We'll also preview two upcoming cases in the next term that the Supreme Court has already agreed to hear.1:50 St. Isidore v. Drummond6:30 Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Department of Labor16:10 Mahmoud v. Taylor23:30 Medina v. Planned Parenthood28:15 United States v. Skirmetti34:40 Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton36:15 Chiles v. Salazar40:45 First Choice v. PlatkinTags: Supreme Court, religious freedom, parents' rights, school choice, free speech, first amendment, Constitutional Law.The Napa Legal Podcast, July 7 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this special guest episode, Frank DeVito sits down with Chris Motz, the Senior Counsel at First Liberty and former Marine infantry officer and current part time judge advocate in the Air Force reserve component.

They discuss religious liberty in the US military, especially in the light of recent contract cancellations for support staff of Catholic chaplains. Chris and Frank explain the history of the chaplaincy, current practices and opportunities for religious servicemembers, the need for greater support for Catholic chaplains and soldiers, and more!

To watch more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our website here:

https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcast

To learn more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our site here:

https://www.napalegalinstitute.org

Read Chris' piece on Army cuts for chaplains here:

https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5628554-catholic-chaplains-face-army-cuts/

Topics: US Military, free exercise, Fr. Emil Kapaun, Fr. Vincent Capodanno, Father O’Callahan.

The Napa Legal Podcast, December 18, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this episode, Frank DeVito and Joseph Clement discuss the following updates:

1:40 A recent victory in court for a group of pro-life sidewalk counsellors in Florida who were prevented from carrying out their ministry;

15:25 A Minnesota court's recent decision that protected the rights of a Catholic school to hire according to its faith;

28:20 Criticism that the US Army has faced for cutting back key support roles for religious servicemembers and their families.

Topics: First Amendment, abortion clinics, buffer zone laws, Florida Preborn Resuce, ministerial exception, Church Autonomy Doctrine, Army chaplains, religious freedom, American constitutional rights.

The Napa Legal Podcast, December 16, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious freedom from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this special episode, Frank DeVito discusses the Good Counselor Project with 2025 fellows Darren Geist and Brandon Sipple. Learn more about Napa Legal's GCP Fellowship, an annual formation program centered around the study of the great books.Applications for the 2026 cohort of the Napa Legal Good Counselor Project are now open! For more information and to apply, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/good-counselor/the-good-counselor-fellowshipExplore more of the Napa Legal Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwszS7Ql6_y51WlMS0kPL-Kcn8CajmaRWVisit Napa Legal's website here:www.napalegalinstitute.orgRead Napa Legal's blog here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/publications/and-gods-firstTags: Religious freedom, attorney formation, Aristotle, Dante, Euclid, St. Thomas More, St. Thomas Aquinas, Catholic education.The Napa Legal Podcast, October 15, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, Frank DeVito and Joseph Clement discuss the following updates:

0:57 Whether or not Colorado's ban on affirming a child's God-given sex in counselling violates the First Amendment;

17:02 the National Right to Life Committee's recent involvement in a lawsuit against Idaho's ban on abortion trafficking;

26:29 A Michigan-based program that provides funding for expectant mothers and families with new babies.

Explore more of the Napa Legal Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwszS7Ql6_y51WlMS0kPL-Kcn8CajmaRW

Visit Napa Legal's website here:www.napalegalinstitute.org

Read Napa Legal's blog here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/publications/and-gods-first

Tags: Kaley v. Chiles, oral arguments, SCOTUS OT 25, Free Speech Clause, subpoenas, First Choice v. Platkin, religious liberty, nonprofit law, legal podcast, pro-life movement, abortion, constitutional amendments.

The Napa Legal Podcast, October 16, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious freedom from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits.

In this guest episode, Fr. Tad Pacholcyzk from the National Catholic Bioethics Center joins Napa Legal's Frank DeVito and Joseph Clement to discuss the philosophical foundations and practical implications of protecting medical conscience rights.

What You'll Learn

- What are medical conscience rights, and why do they matter

- Why should medical professionals be free to bring their faith into their practice

- How should we respond to the surge of moral relativism that interferes with protections for religious freedom

Guest Bio

Fr. Tad Pacholcyzk is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts and the Senior Ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience at Yale University, and has spoken extensively on bioethical issues for over 20 years.

If you appreciate this content, please like, share, and subscribe.

Explore more of the Napa Legal Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwszS7Ql6_y51WlMS0kPL-Kcn8CajmaRW

Visit Napa Legal's website here:www.napalegalinstitute.org

Read Napa Legal's blog here:

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Tags: Bioethics, medicine, religious liberty, Chiles v. Salazar, Free Speech, NCBC.

The Napa Legal Podcast, October 9, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious freedom from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits.In this guest episode, David Cortman from the Alliance Defending Freedom joins Napa Legal's Frank DeVito and Joseph Clement to discuss the complex issues surrounding religious freedom in public schools. We explore how the history, tradition, and laws of the United States all work to protect religious free exercise in public education.What You'll Learn- What constitutional protections students have for religious expression- How parental rights have been respected in public schools in America and what threats parents face today- Recent and active Supreme Court cases affecting the exercise of religion in schoolsGuest BioDavid Cortman is the Vice President of US Litigation and Senior Counsel and the Alliance Defending Freedom. He has been practicing law for nearly 30 years and has litigated (and won) major cases affecting religious freedom at the Supreme Court.If you appreciate this content, please like, share, and subscribe. Leave a comment below — we’d love to hear your experiences or questions about religious freedom in schools.Explore more of the Napa Legal Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwszS7Ql6_y51WlMS0kPL-Kcn8CajmaRWVisit Napa Legal's website here:www.napalegalinstitute.orgRead Napa Legal's blog here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/publications/and-gods-first

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. This week Frank DeVito and Joseph Clement discuss the following legal and policy updates:

0:55 The Fifth Circuit's recent decision in favor a Baptist organization that invoked the Church Autonomy Doctrine;

14:09 A new law in California that expands who is allowed to make medical decisions for minors other than the child's parents;

21:48 An attempt in the Florida legislature to revoke state funding from pregnancy resource centers.

Tags: First Amendment, religion clauses, religious liberty, parental rights, due process, jurisprudence, pro-life, abortion.

The Napa Legal Podcast, September 29, 2025

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. In this week's episode, Frank DeVito and Joseph Clement discuss the following updates.1:13 A Christian mom is appealing to the Supreme Court for the right to bring her daughter with her to Church services. Her request comes after a lower court ruled that her Protestant church could cause "major psychological harm" to her daughter.14:36 A Christian nonprofit filed a lawsuit to regain over $400,000 in grants after they were revoked since the organization hired only members of the same faith.22:23 A Post-Dobbs regulation that prevented doctors from assisting in abuse investigations was vacated.Tags: Maine Supreme Court, free exercise, Church Autonomy Doctrine, ministerial exception, first amendment, establishment clause, medical privacy, abortion. The Napa Legal Podcast, September 22, 2025.

Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty through the perspective of faith-based nonprofits. This week Joseph Clement is joined by guest host David Kolenda (GCP 2024 Fellow) to discuss the following legal and policy updates:

1:36 Two parents are appealing to the Supreme Court after a public school refused to disclose conversations that staff had with their young daughter;

9:51 Arizona's law requiring nonprofit donors' names and address to be leaked is facing a challenge in the state's highest court;

19:47 Quebec's legislature plans to ban prayer in public.

Tags: Due Process clause, parental rights, social transitions, "shock the conscience" test, Constitutional law, religious liberty, donor privacy, campaign activity, Quebec secularism minister, free speech, human rights, First Amendment, charter of human rights, censorship.

The Napa Legal Podcast, September 15, 2025.