Religion & Law

?Powerful churches target Kenya?s Constitution over abortion?

Posted on May 14, 2010
Christian Science Monitor: "Kenya's churches are opposing a draft Kenyan Constitution they see as encouraging abortion. Three US lawmakers ? targeting the abortion issue ? have also sent a letter to the State Department questioning US support of the constitution process in Kenya ...

Babies left in limbo as India struggles with demand for surrogacy

Posted on May 14, 2010
"There are more than 1000 IVF clinics in India, but no laws govern assisted reproductive technology (ART), which includes surrogacy, and no watchdog has been authorised to police it. 'Most of the ART clinics in this country are not following these guidelines because they do not have any legal strength,' said R...

Assassination plot by radical Muslims against Pope prevented

Posted on May 14, 2010
CNA: "Two Moroccan students who attended a university in the central Italian city of Perugia were expelled from the country last month after it was discovered that they were conspiring to kill Pope Benedict. One of them allegedly said he wished to 'earn a place in Paradise...

Christian schools have ?right? to exclude those who undermine religious values, says FRC member

Posted on May 14, 2010
CNA: [Peter Sprigg of FRC] . . . said in a statement Friday that ?is well established that the freedom of association includes the freedom of private organizations not to associate with those who do not share the goals of the organization.? 'This is especially true for religious organizations,' he added, 'which have every right to exclude people whose beliefs or lifestyle contradict the moral and theological teachings of that organization...

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Missouri passes expanded abortion-consent requirement

Posted on May 14, 2010
"A woman wanting an abortion in Missouri must be given the chance to view an ultrasound image and listen to the heartbeat of her fetus under legislation given final approval Friday to expand the state's 24-hour consent law . . . "

Review of Vischer, ?Conscience and the Common Good: Reclaiming the Space Between Person and State?

Posted on May 14, 2010
Michael Perry writes at the Mirror of Justice Blog: "In the new issue of AMERICA, here. . . . Particularly rich is the author?s analysis of the current 'pharmacist wars.'"

Justice questions way court nominees are grilled

Posted on May 14, 2010
Breitbart (AP): ". . . Justice Anthony Kennedy said lawmakers should not try to figure out how high court nominee Elena Kagan would rule on specific questions. He said they should instead look at whether her temperament, commitment and character make her suitable for the job ...

UK: National Secular Society launches ?No to Council Prayers? campaign

Posted on May 14, 2010
National Secular Society: "The NSS?s campaign to remove prayers from council meetings entered a new phase last week when a lawyer?s letter ahead of action was sent to Bideford Council setting out the grounds under which we believe the practice to be illegal...

MD: Pr. Geo.?s drops appeal of discrimination suit, owes church $3.7M

Posted on May 14, 2010
Washington Post:"Prince George's County officials have decided not to seek further appeal in a court battle against a Laurel church that was awarded $3.7 million from a jury in 2008. Reaching Hearts International, a Seventh-day Adventist church, claimed the county unfairly tried to thwart its plan to build a sanctuary on 17 acres in Laurel...

India Census: Christian council appeal inclusion of religious minorities

Posted on May 14, 2010
Sakaal Times: "The All India Christian Council on Friday demanded that in the Census 2010 format, provision should be made for religious monorities ? as the same has been done for respective castes."

UK: Five year plan to ?tackle homophobia? among Liverpool youth

Posted on May 14, 2010
Crosby Herald: "The Anti-Homophobic Bullying Strategy will be unveiled at St George?s Hall on May 17, which is also the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). The strategy ? one of the first of its type in the country ? is backed by local church leaders, representatives from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and the National Union of Teachers...

Missouri General Assembly passes strip club regulation bill

Posted on May 14, 2010
"The General Assembly passed a controversial bill regulating strip clubs and other adult entertainment businesses Thursday night . . . The bill outlaws nudity at strip clubs, restricts alcohol sales and requires the clubs to close at midnight. It also limits the clubs and other adult entertainment businesses from locating within 1,000 feet of a school, church or public park...

Azerbaijan: ?Unpleasantness with the law? for worshipping?

Posted on May 14, 2010
Forum 18: "Religious communities punished for meeting for worship in Azerbaijan, or who have had religious literature confiscated, continue to formally appeal against these human rights violations, they have told Forum 18 News Service. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses and Muslim readers of the works of Said Nursi have demanded the return of confiscated literature...

UK: Charges dropped against Christian preacher who said homosexual behavior is sinful

Posted on May 14, 2010
CCFON: "Dale Mcalpine, 42, was arrested and hauled before the courts after a homosexual police officer arrested him on 20 April 2010 for saying that homosexuality is going against the word of God. He was held in a cell for several hours before being charged with a public order offence...

Irish Government plans to allow transsexuals to marry

Posted on May 14, 2010
The Christian Institute: "The Irish Government is planning to allow transsexuals to marry partners of the same sex . . . Ireland?s Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó?Cuiv, has confirmed that the Irish Government is committed to introducing 'legal recognition of the acquired gender of transsexuals' through the Renewed Programme for Government announced in 2009...

Video: British police arresting preacher for preaching that homosexual conduct is a sin

Posted on May 14, 2010
"[Dramatic footage] recorded with a hidden camera shows the moment that a Christian street preacher was arrested by police in Cumbria, England, for saying homosexual conduct is a 'sin'."

Ten LGBT leaders win Harvard fellowships

Posted on May 14, 2010
GayPolitics.com: "The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute has announced its 2010 class of David Bohnett Gay & Lesbian Leadership Fellows, a group of 10 openly LGBT leaders who will receive scholarships to attend the Harvard Kennedy School this summer ...

House Pro-Life Caucus on shaky ground

Posted on May 14, 2010
Congress.org: "A bitter fight over the Democratic health care overhaul has left a bipartisan group of antiabortion lawmakers with poor vital signs. Lawmakers say a dispute over whether the landmark legislation would allow federal funding of abortion seriously damaged relations among Democratic and Republican members of the House Pro-Life Caucus, once known for its ability to cross party lines...

Titles of Nobility in America: ?Why Jews and Catholics on the Supreme Court??

Posted on May 14, 2010
"As for Jews and the Democrats, Yale was at least one-third Jewish when I attended . . . which is where all the Justices have come from since Clarence Thomas . . . "

Kagan Bad on Guns

Posted on May 14, 2010
Brian Darling of the Heritage Foundation writes at Human Events: ". . . the Senate should demand Clinton-era memos written by Kagan, so lawmakers can understand her view of the 2nd Amendment. After all, she was very much involved in many of the gun-control initiatives pushed by President Bill Clinton...

Homosexual lobby calls for new Government to stop MPs from voting according to personal conscience on matters relating to homosexuality

Posted on May 14, 2010
CCON: "Pink News, an homosexual online news source, has called MPs with conscientious objections ?unfortunate? and suggested that if the newly elected leadership really want to lead a progressive country ?they must think carefully? about changing the practice of ?free votes? when the issue of homosexuality is involved ...

Iraq: Christians bemoan targetted killings

Posted on May 14, 2010
Spero News (includes video): "After a recent bomb blast and gun attack in Iraq that targeted Christian students, a local bishop has criticized the government for failing to protect Christians, who are suffering from a series of violent attacks by terrorist groups ...

Jeff Ventrella on Kor Kast Radio with Ryan Dobson: The National Day of Prayer litigation

Posted on May 14, 2010
ADF attorney Jeffery J. Ventrella appeared on Kor Kast Radio with Ryan Dobson to discuss the National Day of Prayer litigation. | MP3 - 40:39 mins | Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Obama resource page

Texas Church fights to meet in its own building

Posted on May 14, 2010
CitizenLink: "Elijah Group, an Evangelical Christian Church, is fighting City Hall in Leon Valley, Texas. The city says it's fine for the church to use the facilities for a day care and counseling center, but it cannot meet in the building for worship on the weekends because of zoning laws...

Canadian pro-life students face expulsion

Posted on May 14, 2010
National Catholic Register: "Eight Canadian university students face expulsion for mounting a pro-life display with pictures of Nazi and Armenian genocides alongside photos of abortion . . . 'Canadian and American universities have very similar ideological mindsets, but in the U...

FL: Lawsuit helps library change its tune

Posted on May 14, 2010
OneNewsNow: "Last year, Anthony Verdugo asked permission to use Hart Memorial Central Library in Osceola County for his 'Religion in America' seminar, but he was turned down because of the religious content . . . 'Once their attorneys got wind of what was going on, they changed their policy to allow for religious uses of the room and to stop their discrimination,' [Joel Oster] reports...

Joe Infranco on KFUO: The Mojave Desert Cross war memorial

Posted on May 14, 2010
ADF attorney Joe Infranco appeared on KFUO with Roland Lettner to discuss the stolen Mojave Desert Cross. | MP3 - 23:46 mins.

Court of Appeals Denies ACLU?s Request to Remove Ten Commandments Display

Posted on May 14, 2010
Liberty Counsel: "Today, the Sixth District Circuit Court of Appeals denied the ACLU?s request to rehear ACLU v. Grayson County, Kentucky, in which the Court upheld a display including the Ten Commandments in Leitchfield, Kentucky. The display, entitled 'Foundations of American Law and Government,' was located on the second floor of Grayson County?s courthouse and includes the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Preamble to the Kentucky Constitution, Star-Spangled Banner, National Motto, and a picture of Lady Justice, with an explanation of the significance of each ...

Canada: Debate Over Permitting Stores To Open On Holidays Becomes Contentious

Posted on May 14, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "However the debate became contentious when North York council member Giorgio Mammoliti-- a candidate for mayor in the upcoming October elections-- pressed to still restrict stores from opening on Good Friday and Easter. He said: "Those of us that believe in God know that there are certain days that we're not supposed to be working and we are supposed to be with our families...

New al-Qaida in Iraq chief vows blood-soaked days

Posted on May 14, 2010
AP: "Al-Qaida in Iraq's new leader warned Shiites on Friday that "dark days soaked with blood" lie ahead and that a new campaign of attacks was under way . . . 'Wait for the long gloomy nights and dark days soaked with blood,' said Abu Suleiman, addressing Iraq's 'polytheistic rejecters,' an insulting term for Shiites common among extremist Sunnis ...

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