Right-wing justices think religion is under siege. Will the full Supreme Court follow?

[DonViejo]

By Joan Biskupic, CNN legal analyst & Supreme Court biographer

Updated 7:01 AM ET, Wed February 17, 2021

(CNN)The Supreme Court has increasingly exempted religious believers from government regulations, and it is clear by their statements that individual justices on the right think religion is under siege in America.

Earlier this month, the justices spared churches from California's Covid-19 restrictions on large indoor gatherings. In late November, the justices ruled for New York churches and synagogues challenging coronavirus occupancy limits.

"When a State so obviously targets religion for differential treatment, our job becomes that much clearer," wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch in a statement in the latest California church case. Joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, the statement reinforced conservatives' warnings in recent months of religious liberty under attack.

At the Supreme Court, a counteroffensive of sorts has been underway, most recently in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, building on a series of religion cases last year.

more
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/supreme-court-religion-philadelphia/index.html

[Sinistrous]

1. The "Thin edge of the wedge" for

establishment of a theocratic dictatorship. Which, of course, has been the dominionist wet dream for decades.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. The Supreme Court's mantra will be "It's OK If You're A Christian" until the conservative majority

is overcome. Their attitude is "if a Christian wants to do it and calls it part of their religion, they should".

Increasing the numbers on the SC seems to be off the table now, even though the Senate could in theory do it if the filibuster was abolished. Is there any chance of this coming back?