State Regulation of Social Services Ministries of Religious Organizations

Religiously motivated civil disobedience in the area of social and human services ministries of religious organizations has become increasingly widespread. With growing governmental involvement in the lives of citizens and moves by federal and state agencies to narrowly confine and define religious activities, it comes as no surprise that conflict over the proper role of the state has crept as well into the arena of social and human services conducted from religious motivation. The current litigation and legislation is principally focused on state regulation by certification or licensing requirements that are expanding from health, fire, and safety concerns into the sensitive areas of program and personnel