(Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of a Christian group who sued Boston for refusing to allow them to fly a flag with the cross-shaped image outside City Hall. This was one of many cases that the justices have heard over the course of their nine month term involving religious freedom.

In recent years, the court and its conservative bloc have taken a wide view of religious freedom in many cases. The following is an overview of some cases concerning religious rights that were argued in the current term. It began October.

BOSTON V. SHURTLEFF

On Monday the court ruled that Boston infringed on free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. The case was brought by Camp Constitution, a Christian organization. Its director Harold Shurtleff. Boston argued that the raising of the cross flag, as Camp Constitution asked under a flag-raising programme aimed at encouraging diversity and tolerance within the city might violate another section of the First Amendment which prohibits government endorsement of any particular religion.

RAMIREZ V. COLLIER

On March 24, the court ruled that Texas had to grant John Henry Ramirez, a condemned murderer sentenced to death row, his request for his Christian pastor to lay hands on him during execution and pray aloud. This decision was made in support of prisoners’ religious rights. John Henry Ramirez was convicted of murder. He appealed against the decision by a lower court and requested pastoral touch and prayer as he died from lethal injection. Ramirez was sentenced in the death penalty for his fatal stabbing attack outside of a convenience store.

MAKIN v. CARSON

The court’s conservative majority of 6-3 appeared to be ready to expand public funding for religiously-based entities. This was in response to two Christian families challenging a Maine tuition aid program that exempts religious schools from being included. They appealed against a decision of a lower court rejecting their claims that Maine’s tuition assistance program discriminated against them in violation the First Amendment right to free expression of religion. The decision is expected by the end June.

KENNEDY V. BREMERTON SCHOOLSCHOOL DISTRICT

During April 25 oral arguments, the court seemed open to making it easier to public school staff to freely express religious opinions. This was in response to a Washington State Christian ex-high school football coach who refused to give up leading prayers after each game. Even though it could have been interpreted as coercion to students, or as a government endorsement of a certain religion in violation the First Amendment, the conservative justices seem to be open to such religious expression in public school settings. A decision is expected by June’s end.