Religion & Law

Vietnam releases Christian prisoner, allows U.S. evangelist to address pastors

Posted on March 31, 2010
Charisma: "A Protestant prisoner of conscience who had called for democratic freedoms in Vietnam was released earlier this month after serving a three-year sentence for 'propagandizing to destroy the Socialist Republic of Vietnam' . . . While Christians in several parts of Vietnam are still subject to abuse from local officials, the country's national authorities have continued to allow high-profile Christian events...

UK: Innocent Christian hoteliers forced to sell their business

Posted on March 31, 2010
". . . The prosecution was brought against them after a female Muslim guest accused the couple of insulting her during a debate about religion."

UK: Police question MP over Islamic veil comments

Posted on March 31, 2010
"An MP who criticised the Islamic burka during a Parliamentary debate has been subjected to a police investigation after a complaint from an equality group . . . "

Scotland: Christian preacher fined for speaking on homosexuality

Posted on March 31, 2010
"The accusation was that he had used 'homophobic remarks' that were 'aggravated by religious prejudice.'"

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EU will let citizens offer laws ? but on condition

Posted on March 31, 2010
New Europe: "It?s been said that you don?t want to see laws or sausages being made because the process is rather ugly, but now the European Union says it will let citizens sign online petitions asking for new laws to be drafted, but only under certain conditions and with a line of safety features ? and they still might be advisory only...

UK: Compulsory sex education undermines free society

Posted on March 31, 2010
The Christian Institute: "Over 2,000 people have signed a letter to The Sunday Telegraph calling on Parliament to 'decisively' oppose Government plans contained in the Children, Schools and Families Bill."

MN: 4 Bloomington massage parlors lose licenses

Posted on March 31, 2010
WCCO: "The business licenses for four massage parlors in Bloomington, two of which had been accused of being involved with prostitution, have been pulled."

MD: Move rejected to impeach AG over same-sex ?marriage?

Posted on March 31, 2010
AP: "A committee on Wednesday rejected a resolution to impeach the state attorney general over his opinion that gay marriages legally performed elsewhere must be recognized in Maryland. The state House Judiciary Committee, by a 14-6 vote, turned down the measure introduced by Delegate Don Dwyer, R-Anne Arundel, earlier in the day to the state's House of Delegates...

Australia: Court to rule on religious schooling

Posted on March 31, 2010
Sydney Star Observer: "The National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) is to face a High Court challenge. Parent Ron Williams believes the NSCP breaches Section 116 of the Constitution which states, 'the Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth...

UK: Kids? mobile phones need porn filters, says report

Posted on March 31, 2010
Network World: "Mobile phones should be fitted with porn filters to stop children accessing inappropriate content from their handsets, says Professor Tanya Byron. The government's internet safety advisor said phones that use a Wi-Fi connection to access the web posed the biggest threat, as kids can bypass any parental control set up on the phone...

UK: Crucifix banned at hospital where Muslims allowed to wear headscarves

Posted on March 31, 2010
Daily Caller: "A Christian nurse was ?forced to choose between her job and her faith? after being ordered to remove her crucifix at a hospital where Muslim staff wore headscarves unchallenged, a tribunal heard yesterday."

FL: Sex Store, City At Odds Over Peepshows

Posted on March 31, 2010
News4jax.com: "The owners of Inserection, a Southside adult novelty and video store, said the city should pay them $170,000 for trying to shut the business down three years ago. In 2007, police arrested numerous customers for having sex in the booths at the store and also arrested the manager for operating the video booths...

Charity defends Christian-only hiring

Posted on March 31, 2010
"[Religious nonprofits] can hire and fire employees based on their religion or sexual orientation . . . Civil rights groups like the ACLU, and some religious groups like the United Methodist Church, want to see those exemptions outlawed."

Proposed Belgian Burqa Ban ?A Concern? For European Commission

Posted on March 31, 2010
New Europe: "European Commission officials reacted cautiously to news that Belgium's Interior Affairs Committee has unanimously backed a bill that will outlaw the wearing of the burqa and over face coverings from streets, parks and public places."

Tenn. bill to require abortion coercion signs

Posted on March 31, 2010
Tennessean: "A Democratic senator opposed to a measure that would require abortion clinics in Tennessee to post anti-coercion signs said Wednesday the legislation is intimidating . . . Read SB3812/HB3301 at http://capitol.tn.gov?"

Alan Sears: Elmira Man Arrested for Standing ? and Lying Down ? for the Truth

Posted on March 31, 2010
ADF President and General Counsel Alan Sears writes at the ADF website, "Inside the Issues": "Just two weeks ago, I told you about Julian Raven, an Elmira, New York man who, along with his wife and several friends, was arrested in a city park when they quietly lay down to silently pray for, and amid, a crowd of people celebrating homosexual behavior ...

FL: School Prayer Support From A Jackson County Lawmaker

Posted on March 31, 2010
WJHG.com (NBC): "A bill to protect students who prayer at school functions like football games is gaining traction in the state House. This comes after complaints about a new Santa Rosa County policy that keeps teachers from participating in student-led prayer...

Online Muslim sex shop launched in the Netherlands

Posted on March 31, 2010
AFP: "Candid but demure, an online sex shop for Muslims has been launched in the Netherlands to tap into a demand for erotica that does not offend Sharia law."

FL: Lawmakers want ?sexting? penalties eased to remove porn charge

Posted on March 31, 2010
AP: " . . . Bills filed in the Florida Senate by Aronberg (SB 2560) and in the House (HB 1335) by Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, take a somewhat parental approach. The measures would specifically address sexting by minors and apply an escalating series of punishments that the sponsors say will make enforcement more likely...

VA: AG talks ?gay rights?, health care at Liberty U.

Posted on March 31, 2010
WSLS10 (includes video): "Cuccinelli has grabbed the national spotlight in his two months at Attorney General, which is usually a lower profile state government position. That attention came with his recommendation to the state?s public universities and colleges to remove anti-discrimination clauses about sexual orientation...

Thomas More Law Center Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Review School Policy Banning Christmas Music

Posted on March 30, 2010
Thomas More Law Center: "The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, yesterday filed a petition in the United States Supreme Court, requesting the Court review the constitutionality of a New Jersey school district policy that banned the performance of traditional Christmas music in the district?s public schools...

Whitewater Resident Challenges Wisconsin Campaign Finance Laws

Posted on March 30, 2010
A lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in Wisconsin challenging the same portions of that state?s campaign finance laws that a federal judge ruled unconstitutional in similar circumstances in 2009. The suit surrounds a another local referendum in the town of Whitewater that will be voted on April 6...

California adoption bill embraces ?gay? agenda

Posted on March 30, 2010
One News Now: "The bill would force adoption agencies to consider placing children in same-gender households, even it if violates that group's moral and religious beliefs."

NV: Governor threatens to side-step attorney general to sue feds

Posted on March 30, 2010
KTNV.com: "Governor Gibbons is threatening to side-step Nevada's attorney general if she fails to act on his request to sue the federal government over health care reform."

Ohio AG Won?t Sue Over New Federal Health Care Law

Posted on March 30, 2010
NY Times: "Ohio's attorney general says he won't join other states in a lawsuit challenging the federal government's sweeping new health care law."

Ariz. Lawmakers Intro Bill to Sue Over Health Care

Posted on March 30, 2010
NY Times: "Republican lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow Arizona to participate in a lawsuit challenging the federal health care overhaul, a move that was criticized by Democrats who said the Legislature should instead focus on restoring cuts to children's health care...

GOP senators say they can work with Dems despite healthcare battle

Posted on March 30, 2010
The Hill: "Republican senators say they can work with Democrats, despite dire predictions that the healthcare fight would make cooperation impossible . . ."

Illinois Pro-Lifers Get a Court Victory

Posted on March 30, 2010
Citizen Link (3/29): "Parents are one step closer to being notified if their underage daughter is considering terminating her pregnancy, after a judge dismissed a challenge to the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act today."

TX: Students want ?Our Lord? phrase off diplomas

Posted on March 30, 2010
San Antonio Express: "A group of students at Trinity University is lobbying trustees to drop a reference to 'Our Lord' on their diplomas, arguing it does not respect the diversity of religions on campus."

N.Y. School District Settles With Justice Dept. On ?Gay? Student?s Suit

Posted on March 30, 2010
NPR: "Federal prosecutors have used a novel interpretation of the Title IX statute, which prohibits discrimination against students on the basis of gender, to help broker a settlement in a lawsuit brought by a gay teen against his upstate New York school district, NPR's Ari Shapiro tells us ...

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