Religion & Law

Dutch Christian fundamentalist party blocks women

Posted on April 09, 2010
AP: "A fundamentalist Christian political party led entirely by men was told by the Netherlands' Supreme Court on Friday that it must accept women in leadership roles."

Rep. Bart Stupak to retire, putting seat in play

Posted on April 09, 2010
Politico: "Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who had a central role in the health reform fight as the leader of anti-abortion Democrats, plans to announce Friday that he will not run for reelection, a Democratic official said."

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens retiring

Posted on April 09, 2010
"Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the court's oldest member and leader of its liberal bloc, is retiring. President Barack Obama now has his second high court opening to fill."

Same-Sex ?Marriage? Unexpectedly Debated In Legislature

Posted on April 09, 2010
WBALTV.com: "A debate over marriage license fees unexpectedly turned into a dramatic discussion over same-sex marriage in the Legislature on Friday. . . "

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Arkansas adoption act back in court

Posted on April 09, 2010
CitizenLink: "Arkansas' Act 1 that limits foster care adoptions to married heterosexual couples was in court recently. ... [Byron Babione], with the Alliance Defense Fund, is defending the law. ... 'I think it will be quick, because we do have a trial date scheduled in this case for May 10,' he said...

ME: Complaints against Don Mendell are dismissed

Posted on April 09, 2010
WCSH6: "The State Board of Social Worker Licensure has dropped the two complaints against Don Mendell because of lack of sufficient evidence. Mendell, a social worker and school counselor at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, came under fire after appearing in a "Yes on One" ad last fall...

Primary care physicians nationwide face clinical ethical conflicts with religious hospitals

Posted on April 09, 2010
University of Chicago Medical Center: "Nearly one in ten primary care physicians in the United States has experienced a conflict with a religiously-affiliated hospital or practice over religious policies for patient care, researchers from the University of Chicago report in a paper published early online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine...

China?s religious head says house churches must register

Posted on April 09, 2010
The Baptist Standard: "The Chinese government?s new head of religious affairs has downplayed the role of house churches during his first official visit to Hong Kong, saying they must be registered with the government for their own protection."

Mary Anne Layden Discusses Harms of Pornography

Posted on April 09, 2010
Citizen Link: "Layden is a psychotherapist at the University of Pennsylvania who treats sexual violence victims, perpetrators, sex addicts and members of the sex industry"

Obama?s Controversial Justice Nominee Withdraws Amid GOP Protests

Posted on April 09, 2010
"Dawn Johnsen said she was dropping out of the process . . . "

IL: Federal Lawsuit Challenges Capital Appropriations To Religious Organizations

Posted on April 09, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "Chicago activist Rob Sherman has taken another step in his campaign to challenge the state legislative appropriations to houses of worship, parochial schools and religious institutions that were placed in last year's Illinois capital budget...

?Iceland Preparing To Legalize Gay Marriage?

Posted on April 09, 2010
On Top Magazine ("gay advocacy website"): "The tiny island nation of Iceland (pop. 32,000) is preparing to legalize gay marriage. The government introduced its gender-neutral marriage bill on March 23, CarnalNation.com reported."

Advocacy groups split on Hastings law school policy

Posted on April 09, 2010
Tony Mauro writes at the National Law Journal (Law.com): "On April 19, the Court will hear arguments in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, which will make the University of California Hastings College of the Law the next law school in the spotlight...

Mo., Calif. couples sue over control of embryos

Posted on April 09, 2010
San Diego Union Tribune (AP): "A Missouri couple who recently gave birth to twin daughters and a California couple who donated the embryos they used are suing each other for control of two remaining frozen embryos . . . "

China: Uyghur Christian?s appeal denied

Posted on April 09, 2010
Radio Free Asia: "Authorities in the troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang have rejected an appeal from an ethnic minority house church leader who was sentenced to 15 years? imprisonment on charges of revealing state secrets to overseas organizations...

N.M. School District Draws Fire for Fetus Doll, Bible Verse Ban

Posted on April 09, 2010
Christian Post: "School district officials in Roswell, N.M., said religious discrimination was not a factor in their decision to stop Christian high school students from distributing baby dolls resembling fetuses on campus."

ADF providing support to lawsuit defending law that prohibits federal funding of embryo destruction

Posted on April 09, 2010
ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven H. Aden will be available for media interviews Monday following oral argument in the federal lawsuit Sherley v. Sebelius at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The suit contends that the Obama administration?s embryonic stem cell research policy is in violation of a law which prohibits federal funds from being used to destroy human embryos for research purposes.

Maine Commission Moves to Ban Gender Specific Bathrooms, Sports Teams in Schools

Posted on April 09, 2010
FoxNews: "The Maine Human Rights Commissions taking heat over a proposal to ban schools from enforcing gender divisions in sports teams, school organizations, bathrooms and locker rooms, saying forcing a student into a particular room or group because of their biological gender amounts to discrimination...

?Consensus: Law schools aren?t changing fast enough?

Posted on April 09, 2010
National Law Journal (Law.com): ". . . The conference, called 'Future Ed: New Business Models for U.S. and Global Legal Education,' is part of a year-long initiative sponsored by New York Law School and Harvard Law School to build on the findings of the Carnegie Foundation's influential 2007 report on legal education...

Researcher calls pornography detrimental to the male-female relationship

Posted on April 09, 2010
The Daily Princetonian: "Paul, the author of 'Pornified: How Pornography Is Damaging Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families,' spoke about what she uncovered while writing her book and challenged her critics in a candid lecture on Thursday in McCosh 46...

FL: House passes school-prayer bill

Posted on April 09, 2010
Pensacola News Journal: "At the urging of a recent Pace High School class president, and over the warnings of civil libertarians, a House panel this morning unanimously approved a watered-down school-prayer measure that sponsors hope will protect religious freedom...

Byron Babione on AFR Focal Point: The Arkansas adoption battle

Posted on April 09, 2010
ADF attorney Byron Babione appeared on AFR Focal Point with Bryan Fischer to discuss the legal battle over Arkansas' new law restricting adoption by cohabiting adults. More information here. The MP3 runs approximately 10 minutes.

Neb. Fetal Pain Bill Advanced: Late-Term Bills in Two States Could Limit Carhart?s Abortion Business

Posted on April 09, 2010
Christian Newswire: "Today, the Nebraska legislature gave final approval on a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks gestation, when pre-born babies are known to feel pain. This bill, which is expected to be signed into law, would severely hamper the late-term abortion business of LeRoy Carhart, and could force him to relocate his late-term abortion business to another state, or close it altogether...

Potential Obama nominees for the Supreme Court

Posted on April 09, 2010
AP: "Sketches of people likely to be considered by President Barack Obama as he decides on his second nominee to the Supreme Court in as many years. They are listed alphabetically along with pros and cons of their possible nominations . . . "

Top Tory apologizes for saying Christian B&B owners should have rights of conscience

Posted on April 09, 2010
"The shadow home secretary, Chris Grayling, today apologised for the offence caused by his comments in which he said that people who ran bed and breakfasts in their homes should 'have the right' to turn away gay couples . . . The remarks prompted a furious response from gay groups and other parties...

AZ: House gives abortion bill preliminary OK

Posted on April 09, 2010
East Valley Tribune: "The House gave preliminary approval Thursday to legislation making it illegal for state or local governments to include coverage for elective abortion in their health insurance plans for employees." | SB 1305

Bangladesh: High Court rules veil cannot be imposed on women

Posted on April 09, 2010
Asia News: "The Ministry of Education should ensure that women - employed in public institutions - are not required to wear the veil or hijab 'against their will.' This was ordered by the Bangladesh High Court, in a ruling issued yesterday of historical significance...

New Bioethics Commission Gets Members

Posted on April 09, 2010
FRC Blog: "The new Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, first announced over four months ago, is finally getting its member . . . "

Civil unions bill being readied in PA

Posted on April 09, 2010
On Top Mag ("gay advocacy website"): "A Pennsylvania lawmaker says he's preparing to introduce a bill in the House that would recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil unions. Representative Mark Cohen, a Democrat, says he expects to debut his bill by April 14, gay weekly Philadelphia Gay News reported...

Buenos Aires records first lesbian ?marriage?

Posted on April 09, 2010
Buenos Aires Herald: "Norma and Ramona got married in Buenos Aires city after having requested for legal protection within the framework of the campaign 'Same right, same names' the LGBT Argentine Federation has been carrying out for several months."

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