Religion & Law

Oklahoma Becomes 22nd State to File Lawsuit Against Pro-Abortion Health Care

Posted on April 21, 2010
LifeNews: "Oklahoma became the 22nd state to file a lawsuit seeking to overturn the government-run health care bill President Barack Obama signed into law that funds abortions. Because state Attorney General Drew Edmondson refused to file suit, the Oklahoma legislature took it upon itself to do so...

The basic economics of contraception

Posted on April 21, 2010
Economist Timothy Reichert writing at First Things: "With this essay, using the language and tools of modern social science, I will articulate the position that contraception is socially damaging. I will also demonstrate that contraception is in fact a sexist practice...

1803 NH Supreme Court ruling highlights importance of freedom of conscience

Posted on April 21, 2010
At the Volokh Conspiracy, Eugene Volokh brings our attention to this opinion: ". . . Muzzy v. Wilkins, 1 Smith?s (N.H.) 1 (1803) ? a little-cited but very interesting case that illustrates how strong religious freedom and separation-of-church-and-state rhetoric and belief coexisted in at least some judicial minds of the era with strong support for certain kinds of government funding of religion ...

India: ?Rush hour for the gods?

Posted on April 21, 2010
William Dalrymple writing in The National Interest: "Much has now been written about the way that India is moving forward to return the subcontinent to its traditional place at the heart of global trade, but so far little has been said about the way these huge earthquakes have affected the diverse religious traditions of South Asia...

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Steve Jobs Reiterates: ?Folks who want porn can buy an Android phone?

Posted on April 21, 2010
TechCrunch: "When questioned about Apple's role as moral police in the App Store, Jobs responds that 'we do believe we have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone.' Better, is what he said next: 'Folks who want porn can buy and [sic] Android phone...

UK: Council calls on David Cameron to expel Conservative councillor for ?homophobic? remarks

Posted on April 21, 2010
Wirral News: "Wirral Council has demanded that David Cameron expel a Tory councillor ? accused of making an allegedly homophobic comment on the internet ? from the Conservative party."

UK: No right to run lap-dancing clubs

Posted on April 21, 2010
Guardian: "They may be unlikely human rights campaigners, but the owners of lap-dancing clubs have threatened to use the Human Rights Act, and if need be to go to the European court of human rights in Strasbourg, to protect their business . . . [F]rom this month, when the Policing and Crime Act 2009 amended local government legislation in England comes into force, councils can assume new regulatory powers over 'sexual entertainment venues', as the law now calls lap-dancing and pole-dancing clubs...

U.S. Sentencing Commission Incorporates New Hate Crimes Law Into Sentencing Guidelines

Posted on April 21, 2010
Religion Clause Blog:  "The U.S. Sentencing Commission announced on Monday that it has voted to send to Congress for promulgation several amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines."

Ohio High Court Says No Tax Exemption For Church?s Low-Income Apartments

Posted on April 21, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "In NBC-USA Housing, Inc.?Five v. Levin, (OH Sup. Ct., April 12, 2010), the Ohio Supreme Court held that a federally subsidized apartment complex for low-income tenants operated by the National Baptist Convention (NBC) and a local church does not qualify for the property tax exemption under Ohio Rev Code 5709...

Austin R. Nimocks on CBN News: The ENDA religious freedom

Posted on April 21, 2010
ADF attorney Austin R. Nimocks appears in this CBN News Video along with Tony Perkins of FRC and Regent Law Professor Bradley Jacob to discuss the threat that ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act), legislation pending in Congress, poses to religious freedom...

US Supreme Court restricts ?performance enhancement? attorney fee awards

Posted on April 21, 2010
The Court rules that the calculation of an attorney?s fee may be increased if the lawyer has provided a superior performance but only in 'extraordinary circumstances.'

South Africa: Government wants to ban porn on Internet

Posted on April 21, 2010
Legalbrief: "Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba said the SA Law Commission had been asked to investigate the possibility of such a ban. Gigaba said the Film and Publications Amendment Act would assist the government in stamping out child pornography, especially during the World Cup...

Will Christians swing the 2010 UK election?

Posted on April 21, 2010
BBC: "[W]ith a closely fought election in the offing and a desperate fight taking place for marginal seats, might candidates become more open about their beliefs if it means a few more votes? . . . Christian Party leader George Hargreaves said: 'Most of our general election candidates are in marginal seats...

Navy chief says no big resistance to women on subs

Posted on April 21, 2010
AP: "Navy Secretary Ray Mabus (MAY'-buhs) says he's getting little or no resistance inside the Navy since announcing he's going to let women serve aboard submarines."

Church warns against human trafficking during World Cup

Posted on April 21, 2010
The Botswana Gazette: "Roman Catholic Church, Botswana, has launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness against the likelihood of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children during the World Cup football tournament in South Africa...

Ontario to introduce more explicit sex education in schools

Posted on April 21, 2010
The Globe and Mail: "The revision, outlined in 208 pages that were quietly posted on the Ministry of Education?s website in January, will for the first time teach Grade 3 pupils about such topics as sexual identity and orientation, and introduce terms like 'anal intercourse' and 'vaginal lubrication' to children in Grades 6 and 7...

Sarkozy to submit bill banning Islamic face veils

Posted on April 21, 2010
Yahoo (AP): "French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday ordered legislation that would ban women from wearing Islamic veils that hide the face in the street and other public places."

Obama: No litmus tests on abortion for court pick, BUT

Posted on April 21, 2010
AP: "'I will say the same thing that every president has said since this issue came up, which is, I don't have litmus tests around any of these issues,' Obama told reporters when asked if he could nominate someone who did not support a woman's right to choose...

Australia: Judge warns of honor killing difficulties

Posted on April 21, 2010
Herald Sun: "Australian courts face difficulties in dealing with honour killing crimes and forced marriage cases, Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court James Spigelman says."

Macedonia: Islamic religious community accuses government of Islamophobia

Posted on April 21, 2010
Focus Information Agency: "The Islamic religious community in Macedonia (IVZM) accused the government of dividing people on religious basis, Macedonian Utrinski Vesnik reports on Wednesday."

Pakistani brothers threaten family of Catholic who wed Muslim

Posted on April 21, 2010
Compass Direct: "Family members of a Muslim woman who married a Roman Catholic here have threatened to kidnap the groom?s mother and sister and kill the newlyweds and other relatives, the Christian family members said."

UK authority: Western Wall not in Israel

Posted on April 21, 2010
"The British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) criticized Israel for including pictures of the Western Wall in a tourism advertisement, claiming that the holy site is technically not located within the country's borders, the Independent reported Wednesday...

The indispensable dad

Posted on April 21, 2010
MercatorNet interviews David Eggebeen: "My most recent research shows that children, both girls and boys, do get additional benefits from their father. They not only add to what mothers do, but there is also evidence that fathers make some unique contributions ...

Iowa Congressman backs ?hate crimes? lawsuit

Posted on April 21, 2010
WorldNetDaily: "U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, sent an unsolicited letter to a group of Christian activists and pastors to support their efforts in suing Attorney General Eric Holder over the 'hate crimes' law that President Obama signed into law late last year...

WA: ?Bisexual men say gay softball series discriminated?

Posted on April 21, 2010
Yahoo (AP): "Three bisexual men from the San Francisco area have filed a lawsuit claiming they were discriminated against during the Gay Softball World Series in the Seattle area two years ago."

TN: Bill to prohibit tax dollars for abortion services

Posted on April 21, 2010
Memphis Daily News (AP): "Legislation that would prohibit Tennessee tax dollars from being used for abortion services is headed to the governor for his consideration." | SB2686 / HB2681

University of Calgary may expel pro-life advocates

Posted on April 21, 2010
CBC News: "The University of Calgary is threatening to expel a group of students who refused to move a graphic anti-abortion display on campus. The eight students, who took part in a Campus Pro-Life display, received letters from the school earlier this month advising that they had violated the non-academic misconduct policy...

Canada: Governor General accepts pro-life activist?s resignation from Order of Canada

Posted on April 21, 2010
The Canadian Press: "Former police detective Frank Chauvin returned his medal in protest over the 2008 appointment of abortion-rights activist Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the order."

?Duke College Republicans chairman claims he was ousted because he is gay?

Posted on April 21, 2010
Daily Tar Heel: "Duke University junior Justin Robinette claims his sexual orientation was the reason for his impeachment Wednesday as chairman of Duke?s College Republicans."

City permanently enjoined from enforcing noise law against church bells

Posted on April 21, 2010
Religion Clause: "[A]n Arizona federal district court made the injunction permanent . . . [T]he court ordered the city to pay plaintiffs' attorneys, Alliance Defense Fund, fees of $25,000."

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