The Napa Legal Podcast

Napa Legal Institute
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

Listen to Napa Legal's Senior Counsel and Director of Content Frank DeVito discuss key legal and policy updates relevant to faith-based nonprofits with Marketing and Content Manager Kyle Nazareth each week.

  1. 4d ago

    Too Religious for Connecticut's Capitol? The Nativity Ban Explained

    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 Kyle Nazareth discuss Connecticut banning a Nativity display in the capitol building, the draft of the report released by the White House Religious Liberty Commission, and the continued legal battles of the Little Sisters of the Poor against the contraceptive mandate. In this episode, we discuss: [1:27] After Connecticut's Joint Committee on Legislative Management denied the Family Institute of Connecticut permission to place a small Nativity in the state Capitol under a policy that allows private displays unless they are "religious in nature," First Liberty Institute and the law firm Jones Day sent a demand letter arguing the exclusion is viewpoint discrimination under the Free Speech Clause and that the Establishment Clause — with Lemon v. Kurtzman's endorsement test abrogated by Kennedy v. Bremerton — plainly permits the display. [13:16] The White House Religious Liberty Commission, created by President Trump's executive order and built on seven hearings, released a 224-page draft report surveying the state of religious freedom in America — from religion's role as an indispensable support for a free society to the history of the First Amendment from colonial establishments through the twentieth-century incorporation of the Establishment Clause against the states — and Kyle unpacks its twelve recommendations, including repealing the Johnson Amendment, restoring benefits for service members discharged over religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine, and directing the DOJ to clarify the proper understanding of the Establishment Clause. [29:53] The Little Sisters of the Poor are back before the Third Circuit — represented by Becket's Mark Rienzi and the firm Clement & Murphy, with oral argument heard July 7 — challenging a district court ruling that found the religious exemption to the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate arbitrary and capricious, and arguing that even if that were so, striking the exemption would only leave the mandate itself violating RFRA by substantially burdening the Sisters' religious exercise, more than a decade and three Supreme Court victories into Pennsylvania and New Jersey's effort to strip away their protection. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/ For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcast The Napa Legal Podcast, July 21, 2026 #freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

  2. Jul 16

    Pay Your Taxes to a Christian School Instead? The New $1,700 Tax Credit | Guest Corrinne Vidales

    Welcome to the Napa Legal Podcast, where we discuss religious liberty from the perspective of faith-based nonprofits.In this guest episode, Napa Legal's Senior Counsel Frank DeVito is joined by Corrinne Vidales, Legal Counsel at the Ohio Christian Education Network and an alumna of Napa Legal's Good Counselor Project. Join them for a discussion of scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) and the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit created by the One Big Beautiful Bill. With Treasury rules expected this fall, this program allows taxpayers to redirect up to $1,700 of their federal taxes to scholarship organizations, with major implications for Christian schools, faith-based nonprofits, and the families they serve.In this episode, we discuss:0:00 Introduction1:43 Corrinne's background and her work at the Ohio Christian Education Network3:37 What is a scholarship granting organization?4:51 How Ohio's dollar-for-dollar SGO tax credit works7:09 How scholarship money flows from donors to families9:37 Which states currently have SGO programs10:43 The federal Education Freedom Tax Credit and how it will work11:27 State opt-in: what happens if a governor refuses?14:05 Who's eligible for federal scholarships?15:19 How existing SGOs can qualify for the federal program16:21 Credit amounts, rollover, and stacking state and federal donations20:03 The greatest evangelism opportunity of our lifetime? What this means for the future of Christian education21:23 Launching new schools and taking the SGO model national23:53 ConclusionNapa Legal's introductory resource on SGOs, written by Corrinne, is available at https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcast

  3. Jul 14

    Counselors FORCED to Affirm Gender Ideology | Maine tries to reverse SCOTUS

    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 Kyle Nazareth discuss an Eighth Circuit ruling reviving two Missouri counselors' challenge to local counseling censorship ordinances after the Supreme Court's decision in Chiles v. Salazar, a First Circuit ruling requiring Christian schools in Maine's school choice program to comply with the state's gender identity mandates in hiring and admissions, and the return of federal Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood after the One Big Beautiful Bill's one-year defund expired.In this episode, we discuss:[2:57] After the Supreme Court held in Chiles v. Salazar that conversations in counseling sessions are protected speech, the Eighth Circuit ordered a district court to reconsider claims brought by counselors Wyatt Bury and Pamela Eisenreich, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, challenging Kansas City and Jackson County ordinances that bar counselors from helping clients become comfortable with their biological sex.[12:40] The First Circuit ruled that Bangor Christian Schools, affiliated with Crosspoint Church and represented by First Liberty, may apply its religious beliefs when hiring teachers, but not where sexual orientation or gender identity is involved, effectively forcing the school to choose between its faith and participation in Maine's school choice program four years after Carson v. Makin.[30:10] Planned Parenthood regains Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion services after the One Big Beautiful Bill's one-year funding pause expired, as pro-life advocates continue pushing for permanent defunding of abortion providers.For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, July 14, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

  4. Jul 8

    SCOTUS Protects Girls' Sports, Teacher FIRED Over Pronouns, & Michigan Targets Catholic Charities

    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 Alexa Kawlewski discuss: 1:30: A Catholic Charities serving the Lansing, Michigan area, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, files suit after the state abruptly revoked its participation in womens' services funding programs, allegedly out of hostility toward its beliefs on abortion and contraception. 15:05: A Montgomery County substitute teacher was denied a religious accommodation and removed from the classroom for refusing to use false pronouns and conceal students' social transitions from their parents. Her cert petition raises key questions under the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses, including a circuit split created by the Fourth Circuit. 27:00: The Supreme Court holds that Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause allow states to maintain girls' sports for biological girls, with notable concurrences from Justice Thomas and Justice Gorsuch worth reading. Registration is still open for Napa Legal's annual Nonprofit Summit on July 22 in Napa, California, a one-day formation event for nonprofit leaders, board members, and professionals serving faith-based organizations. Learn more and register at: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/nonprofit-summit For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/ For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here: https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcast The Napa Legal Podcast, July 8, 2026 #freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

  5. Jun 30

    School District Rejects Parental Opt-Out of LGBT Content (conflicts Mahmoud v Taylor): June 30, 2026

    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 Alexa Kawlewski discuss an effort by a California school district to thwart the US Supreme Court by teaching LGBT materials without parental consent, a recent Supreme Court ruling on RLUIPA regarding prisoners’ rights to sue, and a win in the 9th Circuit by former employees of Alaska Airlines who were terminated for voicing their views on the Equality Act. In this episode, we discuss:1:45 California school district defies a recent Supreme Court ruling requiring schools to notify parents when material that contradicts their faith is taught in the classroom. 15:54 Prison guards will not be held liable in their individual capacity for shaving an inmate’s head despite his religious beliefs. 27:52 Airline flight attendants in a religious discrimination case win appeal at the 9th Circuit. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 30, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

  6. Jun 25

    Church Can't Host Religious Services and Activities at Newly Acquired Church Building: June 25, 2026

    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 Alexa Kawlewski discuss a Michigan township refusing to let a newly acquired church operate, a New Jersey Christian addiction recovery ministry fighting a series of administrative and zoning battles, and an eminent domain dispute between the federal government and the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico. In this episode, we discuss:1:48 Township of Windsor, Michigan, refuses to allow a church to host religious services and related activities at a newly acquired church building. 15:20 A New Jersey-based addiction and recovery ministry faces multiple roadblocks from local township authorities, resulting in hefty fines. 29:48 Judge allows federal government to deposit money to acquire a large parcel of land from the New Mexico Diocese of Las Cruces via eminent domain. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 25, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

  7. Jun 17

    Compelled Speech, Pro-Abortion Legislation, and Boys Wrestling Girls: June 17, 2026

    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 Alexa Kawlewski discuss an appeal of a Colorado law that censors and compels speech regarding so-called gender identity, a lawsuit in Michigan concerning yet another attempt to smuggle abortion into protection against sex-based discrimination, and a new lawsuit in Washington state concerning an alleged sexual assault as a result of a boy playing girls sports. In this episode, we discuss:1:59 Apparel company and Christian bookstore in Colorado file appeal in the 10th Circuit to stop compelled speech. 10:58 Two Michigan prolife groups seek an order blocking a law that would require them to hire and retain employees opposed to the mission of the prolife groups. 19:17 Washington state’s policies led to a high school girl allegedly being sexually assaulted during a wrestling match with a boy who identifies as female. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 17, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

  8. Jun 9

    Springfield Diocese & Pro-Life Center Appeal Problematic Employment Law to 7th Circuit: June 9, 2026

    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 Alexa Kawlewski discuss a religious freedom issue regarding employment discrimination law in Illinois, a California childcare licensing law that interferes with the religious rights of parents, and a lawsuit against the USDA alleging a (spurious) Establishment Clause violation. In this episode, we discuss:2:00 The diocese of Springfield, Illinois and a pro-life center appeal problematic employment law to the 7th Circuit.12:28 California childcare licensing requirements undermine the religious rights of parents. 29:00 U.S. Department of Agriculture sued over an Easter message from Secretary Brooke Rollins. For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastThe Napa Legal Podcast, June 9, 2026#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty

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About

Listen to Napa Legal's Senior Counsel and Director of Content Frank DeVito discuss key legal and policy updates relevant to faith-based nonprofits with Marketing and Content Manager Kyle Nazareth each week.

Information

  • Creator
    Napa Legal Institute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Napa Legal Institute
  • Show Website
    The Napa Legal Podcast

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