A Texas court ruled that the clergy-penitent privilege did not prevent a minister from testifying against a church member in a child molestation prosecution.

An Illinois court ruled that it was not barred by the First Amendment from resolving a pastor's "invasion of privacy" lawsuit.

The business mileage rate increases from 40.5 cents per mile for the first eight months of 2005 to 48.5 cents per mile for the last four months of 2005.

A North Carolina court ruled that the civil courts are barred by the First Amendment from resolving cases involving the discipline of church members.

A city ordinance requiring a church to "tap in" to a city sewer line, at a substantial cost, did not violate the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) or the First Amendment.

A California court ruled that a disruptive church member’s legal rights were not violated by a court order banning her from church property.

A California court ruled that a trial court’s order prohibiting an abusive 84-year-old church member from entering church property was reasonable and valid.

An Arizona court ruled that a woman's confession of a crime, communicated to a volunteer music minister at her church in an email, was not protected by the clergy-penitent privilege.

A former female chaplain at a Catholic University was barred by the so-called “ministerial exception” from suing the University for sex discrimination.

False information provided on an application for employment may constitute grounds for termination.

A Florida court ruled that a pastor could sue two members of his church for defamation as a result of statements they made during a church business meeting.

A Texas court ruled that a church was not liable, on the basis of negligent supervision.

Some tax consequences of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.