Federal judge issues disturbing ruling in favor of First Amendment discrimination

Among the good news surrounding President Trump’s endeavor to nominate scores of judges to federal courts is a disturbing development for religious liberty in Wisconsin. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled last week that a 65-year-old income-tax exemption for housing for members of the clergy violates the First Amendment’s “establishment clause because it does not have a secular purpose or effect and because a reasonable observer would view the statute as an endorsement of religion.”

This could be a blow to religious freedom nationwide and threatens almost $1 billion in new taxes on houses of worship.