Religion and the First Amendment: Abortion Law, Free Speech, and Saving Lives (March 18, 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 Joseph Clement explain why abortion cannot be justly deemed a religious right, a lawsuit challenging Texas' ban on sexually oriented performances in public spaces in the presence of minors, and Wyoming's new Heartbeat Bill.In this episode, we discuss:0:57 Is abortion access a religious right? An Indiana judge recently ruled that the states Religious Freedom Restoration Act invalidates the state's ban on abortion. 16:34 Can Texas prevent sexually explicit "drag shows" from being performed in public spaces in front of minors? The Fifth Circuit recently upheld the state's ban and remanded a lawsuit challenging the law.25:35 Will Wyoming's new Heartbeat Bill be upheld? The state recently banned nearly all abortions after an unborn child's heartbeat can be detected. Pro-life advocates worry that the state's courts will again overrule this effort to save lives.For more about Napa Legal and our work, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.orgFor more of the Napa Legal podcast, visit our site here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastTopics: Religious freedom, what is religion, First Amendment, Miller, free speech, abortion.The Napa Legal Podcast, March 18, 2026.#freedomofreligion #religiousliberty