Religion & Law

WI: DOJ refuses release of abortion protest report

Posted on April 13, 2010
Wisconsin Radio Network: "The Wisconsin Justice Department is refusing to release its copy of a threat assessment regarding groups participating in an abortion protest that occurred last year in Middleton. The report was compiled by US Homeland Security and shared with state DOJ and local law enforcement...

Jeremy Tedesco on the Janet Mefferd Show: University ?speech codes? in 3rd Circuit

Posted on April 13, 2010
ADF Attorney Jeremy Tedesco appeared on the Janet Mefferd Show to discuss university "speech codes" in the Third Circuit. | The mp3 runs just over 12 and a half minute. | ADF News Release: ADF to five universities: ?Speech codes? give officials too much latitude to define ?offensive? conduct

David French on AFR Focal Point: Professor?s opinion columns unprotected by First Amendment

Posted on April 13, 2010
ADF Attorney David French appeared on Focal Point with Bryan Fischer to discuss Adams v. The Trustees of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. University of North Carolina-Wilmington Mike Adams was denied promotion to full professor "because of his religious beliefs and political viewpoints, as espoused through nationally syndicated opinion columns that he has written...

Pedophilia is not linked to celibacy, but homosexuality, says Vatican Secretary of State

Posted on April 13, 2010
". . . asked about the possible abolition of clerical celibacy following the revelations of pedophilia among some priests. The cardinal answered by explaining that research shows these two issues to be unrelated, however studies prove that there is a connection between pedophilia and homosexuality ...

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Celibacy or ?Gay? sex at fault? Vatican slammed by Italian ?gay rights? supporters

Posted on April 13, 2010
"ITALIAN gay rights supporters lashed out at the Vatican today over remarks by its foreign minister shifting blame for Catholic Church's child sex abuse scandal from celibacy to homosexuality."

?Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Resolution Opposing Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009?

Posted on April 13, 2010
HRC Backstory Blog: "The Senate Resolution [S. Res. 409], introduced by Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, expresses the United States government?s ?unequivocal? opposition to the proposed Ugandan bill ...

Canada: ?Gay foster parents sought?

Posted on April 13, 2010
The Windsor Star: "A new campaign will encourage adoptive and foster parenting in Windsor's gay and lesbian community. Organized in partnership between Windsor Pride and the local Children's Aid Society, the project seeks to promote awareness that families come in diverse forms...

Kenya: Party threatens to oppose draft constitution

Posted on April 13, 2010
Daily Nation: "A group of ODM-Kenya members have threatened to oppose the proposed constitution unless contentious issues are changed ahead of the referendum . . . Mr Maithya said there was need to consider the views of people at the grassroots before endorsing the draft ...

Wisconsin Department of Justice won?t release report on Madison abortion protest

Posted on April 13, 2010
Greenbay Press Gazette: "The Wisconsin Department of Justice is refusing to release its copy of an intelligence report about abortion protesters that was improperly gathered."

N.J. Elementary School Cancels ?Cross-Dressing? Fashion Show After Complaints

Posted on April 13, 2010
FoxNews: "A school superintendent in New Jersey says a 'misunderstanding' led an elementary school teacher to mandate that all students -- including young boys -- dress as women in a now-canceled fashion show to honor Women's History Month."

City zoning officials to churches: ?Show me the money!?

Posted on April 12, 2010
Speak Up Church Blog: "In Yuma, Arizona, city officials denied Centro Familiar Cristiano a permit to operate a church in a building it had purchased on Main Street. The reason for the denial? According to the city, a downtown church was inconsistent with the economic development the city was trying to obtain in that area...

Philippines: Constitution forbids sex education in schools, senatorial bet claims

Posted on April 12, 2010
GMA News: "Only parents should teach children about sex and reproductive health because the 1987 Constitution says so. This was claimed on Monday by Jo Aurea Imbong, a senatorial candidate of the Ang Kapatiran Party, who has been vocal about her opposition to the controversial reproductive health bill which allows sex education in schools starting Grade 5...

Donated frozen embryos spawn dueling lawsuits

Posted on April 12, 2010
San Francisco Chronicle: "Two frozen embryos and two gut-wrenching lawsuits have added up to a national controversy pitting a Pleasanton family against a suburban St. Louis family over control of what both call their 'pre-born children."

Alberta Minister: Boissoin human rights case should never have gone to Commission

Posted on April 12, 2010
LifeSiteNews: "The Alberta minister in charge of the province's human rights commission is saying now that the human rights complaint against Red Deer pastor Stephen Boissoin shouldn't have ever gone to the commission. '[The commission's] not there to mediate hurt feelings caused by some words or not,' Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett told CBC...

?Red Cross reviews ban on gay men?s blood?

Posted on April 12, 2010
Sydney Morning Herald: "Australia's Red Cross Blood service will review its policy which prevents many homosexual men from donating blood. Currently, a man who has had homosexual sex within the past 12 months is excluded from being an eligible blood donor...

Cameron: Tories ?happy? to mull over full same-sex ?marriage?

Posted on April 12, 2010
The Christian Institute: "David Cameron would be 'very happy' to consider changing the law to allow full homosexual marriage, George Osborne has said. The shadow chancellor made the remark in a private meeting with homosexual activist, Peter Tatchell, and others ahead of a pro-homosexual demo to be held outside Tory HQ...

Complaints dismissed against Maine counselor who supported marriage

Posted on April 12, 2010
"A state licensing board in Maine Friday dismissed two complaints filed against public school counselor Don Mendell, represented by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund."

Finland: ?Complaints of gay discrimination in Lutheran Church?

Posted on April 12, 2010
Helsingin Sanomat: "Openly homosexual members the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church are complaining of widespread discrimination at the congregation level."

Austin Pregnancy Resource Centers Forced to Post Sign Saying No Abortions

Posted on April 12, 2010
LifeSiteNews: "Austin's city council on Thursday voted unanimously to become the second city in America to force pregnancy resource centers to post signs saying that they do not provide or refer for abortions or emergency birth control. The other city is Baltimore, Maryland, which passed a similar ordinance last year...

Woman rejects pressure from employer to have abortion

Posted on April 12, 2010
CNA: "A criminal court in the Spanish city of Gerona has sentenced a restaurant owner to 19 months in prison and ordered him to pay over $6,000 for pressuring a waitress to undergo an abortion in order to keep her job."

Liberal Leah Ward Sears Mentioned as Another Supreme Court Pick for Obama

Posted on April 12, 2010
LifeNews: "As President Barack Obama considers various potential replacements for retiring pro-abortion Justice John Paul Stevens, media outlets and political observers are floating the names of those most likely on his short list of nominees. Today, ABC News indicated former George Supreme Court chief justice Leah Ward Sears is another possibility...

Neb. lawmakers pass new pre-abortion requirements

Posted on April 12, 2010
Yahoo News (AP): "The bill passed Monday now goes to Gov. Dave Heineman, who says he supports it. The bill requires women to be screened by doctors or health professionals to determine whether they've been pressured into having abortions. Women also must be screened for risk factors ...

Macedonia anti-discrimination law criticised

Posted on April 12, 2010
Eurasia Review: "Macedonia has failed to adopt an anti-discrimination law that is completely harmonised with European norms and standards, with explicit protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation a crucial missing element, local human rights experts commented after the country?s parliament adopted its first law on the subject...

White House denies Israeli visa story

Posted on April 12, 2010
Politico: "The White House is denying a story in the Israeli newspaper Maariv, gaining traction today on the right, that Israeli nuclear scientists have been denied visas to visit the United States."

?Kagan foes cite gay-rights stand?

Posted on April 12, 2010
Wall Street Journal: "As talk of a possible Supreme Court nomination for Solicitor General Elena Kagan persists, conservative activists are homing in on a high-profile stand she took on gay rights as a centerpiece of their opposition, if she gets the nod...

Boehner: Repealing health bill GOP?s ?number one priority?

Posted on April 12, 2010
The Hill: "Repealing healthcare reform law will be Republicans' 'number one priority,' their House leader said Monday. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that repealing the healthcare legislation passed in Congress last month and signed into law by President Barack Obama would be the GOP's top priority if it wins back control of Congress this fall...

CA: Lancaster to vote Tuesday on prayer policy at city meetings

Posted on April 12, 2010
LA Times: "Ballot Measure I asks whether the city should continue its policy of randomly selecting clergy from different faiths to deliver the invocation at council meetings, 'without restricting the content based on their beliefs, including references to Jesus Christ...

Student to join lawsuit against Santa Rosa School district over prayer

Posted on April 12, 2010
NWF Daily News: "The Liberty Counsel has named a Milton High School senior as a plaintiff in a possible lawsuit against the Santa Rosa County School district. Chaz Riley, who regularly led the Lord?s Prayer at Milton?s football games, will join about 30 other people in the lawsuit against the district for allegedly violating the First Amendment rights of students and staff, according to Liberty Counsel Attorney Horatio Mihet...

Crawford: Obama Wants No Fight Over SCOTUS

Posted on April 12, 2010
CBS: "The White House will try to paint the Supreme Court as being 'out of touch' with everyday Americans, as President Obama considers nominees to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, but it doesn't want a fight over its nomination, CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford said Sunday on 'Face the Nation...

ADF appeals decision that ruled professor?s opinion columns unprotected by First Amendment

Posted on April 12, 2010
"The judge found last month that his columns are not protected by the First Amendment simply because he made reference to them on a promotion application."

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