Religion & Law

Steven Aden: ??Safe and Effective?: How Does It Feel to Be Lied to By Planned Parenthood??

Posted on March 16, 2010
ADF attorney Steven Aden writes at the Church Report: "Increasingly, though, Planned Parenthood affiliate abortion clinics are pushing the so-called 'chemical abortion' option with the dangerous RU-486 drug, now re-labeled Mifepristone or 'Mifeprex' for easier marketing...

British Humanists urge end to Bishops in House of Lords

Posted on March 16, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "The British Humanist Association yesterday released a new briefing paper titled Religious Representatives in the House of Lords."

Threatened, arrested pro-lifers reach settlement

Posted on March 16, 2010
OneNewsNow: "Two pro-life counselors' lawsuits against York, Pennsylvania, have been settled . . . Attorney Randall Wenger of the Independence Law Center and Alliance Defense Fund reports that the men ran into frequent problems because police made up the rules as they went along ...

Gilbert looks to ease rules on meetings

Posted on March 16, 2010
Arizona Republic: "'When the Town Council became aware of this, it was an immediate reaction that this was not right,' [Mayor John Lewis] said. 'It is not Gilbert to say that we do not allow groups to get together, faith groups that just want to have worship services' ...

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City that banned Bible studies has Judgment Day

Posted on March 16, 2010
WorldNetDaily: "Officials in Gilbert, Ariz., today told WND in an e-mail that the changes apparently were in the works even as the city continued handing out warnings . . . The ban had prompted the Alliance Defense Fund to launch an appeal with the city over the decision ...

?Freedom for the thought that we hate?

Posted on March 16, 2010
Andrew Sullivan writing at The Daily Dish: "Wendy Kaminer, who supports marriage equality, chides the ACLU: 'Not surprisingly, the right wing, anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund is perhaps the primary defender of First Amendment rights in cases involving the anti-gay speech and belief of conservative Christians...

Gilbert promises change to code banning religious meetings

Posted on March 16, 2010
ABC 15: "Gilbert officials have promised to makes changes to a town code barring religious assemblies in private homes after a national group claimed it was unconstitutional . . . 'We hope the City of Gilbert will recognize that this is a bad law on the books, and will repeal it or rewrite it to protect people?s rights in their own home to practice their faith,' said [ADF Attorney Doug] Napier...

Church fights back after Arizona town bans home Bible study

Posted on March 16, 2010
FOX News (AP): "The national Alliance Defense Fund says a town code that bars religious assemblies in private homes in the Arizona community of Gilbert is unconstitutional . . . The Alliance Defense Fund's Doug Napier says no neighbors complained."

Arizona home church has door closed, then opened again

Posted on March 16, 2010
CitizenLink: "The Oasis of Truth Church has seven members and meets at the pastor?s home. The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has filed an appeal with the zoning board. Mayor John Lewis and the Planning and Development Services quickly backtracked when the situation was brought to their attention, and said they would not enforce the code until they can officially put an exemption in for the home church...

Church groups can meet in Gilbert homes

Posted on March 16, 2010
Arizona Republic, Joanna Allhands' blog: "On Monday afternoon, the Town Council sent out an urgently worded message saying it has asked town staff to change the code and not enforce the current one until said changes are made . . . According to the note, town employees had asked Oasis of Truth Church to stop meeting in a Gilbert home...

D.C. ?gay marriage? law could be reversed

Posted on March 16, 2010
Baptist Press: "Opponents of the law, though, hope to take advantage of a section in the D.C. Charter that allows citizens to gather signatures to place the issue on the ballot . . . they were heartened March 2 when Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts -- while turning back their long-shot emergency appeal to prevent the law from taking effect -- said in a three-page opinion that their 'argument has some force' ...

Ireland To Hold Referendum On Blasphemy Provision In Constitution

Posted on March 16, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: “Ireland’s Justice Minister announced Sunday that the country will hold a referendum this fall on removing a blasphemy ban from the Constitution.”

Ron Prentice: ?Grace and Mercy on a Soul: Senator Roy Ashburn?

Posted on March 16, 2010
". . . the fact that Ashburn ? as a homosexual ? voted against the legalization of same-sex marriage does not suggest bigotry or homophobia. The issue is whether man-woman marriage serves the common good of children and society, and virtually all research affirms that it does ...

Campaign: 298 Babies Spared from Abortion

Posted on March 16, 2010
Christian Post: "The 40 Days for Life campaign recorded hundreds of lives saved since it kicked off its prayer and fasting initiative on Feb. 17."

China?s selling U.S. debt but is still no. 1 holder

Posted on March 16, 2010
Wall Street Journal: "China remained a net seller of Treasurys, with its holdings falling $5.8 billion to $889.0 billion in January, following net sales of over $34 billion in December."

Courts Struggle With Same-Sex Divorce

Posted on March 16, 2010
WJLA.com: "Now that same-sex couples can legally marry in the District, a new issue is popping up: gay divorce."

Would Congressional bill force schools to allow homosexual prom partners?

Posted on March 16, 2010
At Edge Boston (homosexual news site), Killian Melloy mentions the ACLU's effort to force a Mississippi school district to allow lesbians to attend the school prom. Melloy writes: "Supporters of a bill sponsored by an openly gay Colorado congressman say that the case underscores the need for legislation that guarantees equal treatment for LGBT youth...

Petraeus: Wait for internal study before normalizing homosexual behavior

Posted on March 16, 2010
AP: "Petraeus told a Senate panel Tuesday that he wants to see the results of an internal study ordered by Defense Secretary Robert Gates before any changes are made."

Dems move closer to passing Senate bill without actual vote

Posted on March 16, 2010
The Hill: "The House Rules Committee on Tuesday morning released a memo defending the so-called 'deem and pass' procedure, which the memo said has a long precedent in the House and is used commonly."

CA: 23,000+ layoff notices issued to teachers statewide

Posted on March 16, 2010
Contra Costa Times: "Education budget cuts have prompted school districts across the state to send out more than 23,000 pink slips, notifying teachers and other certificated employees they may not have jobs next year."

US Israel criticism ignites firestorm in Congress

Posted on March 16, 2010
AP on MyWay: "The Obama administration's fierce denunciation of Israel last week has ignited a firestorm in Congress and among powerful pro-Israel interest groups who say the criticism of America's top Mideast ally was misplaced."

AZ homes forced to close doors to church events

Posted on March 16, 2010
OneNewsNow: "'It's a situation where a small house church that has been meeting in its members' homes on a rotating basis has been ordered to stop holding those meetings,' Blomberg explains. 'And they can't have any type of meeting, whether they be a church service or they be a Bible study or a church leadership meeting...

The Witherspoon Institute presents findings from the Social Cost of Pornography Project

Posted on March 16, 2010
PR Newswire: "The Witherspoon Institute released today "The Social Costs of Pornography: A Statement of Findings and Recommendations.' The consultation was the first multifaceted, multidisciplinary, scholarly exploration of pornography since the advent of the Internet...

RI lawmakers to raise limit on charter schools

Posted on March 16, 2010
Associated Press: "The number of charter schools permitted in Rhode Island could increase under legislation that state lawmakers were expected to approve Tuesday to boost the state's chances of winning millions of dollars in federal education aid."

VT: Use of state money for Boy Scouts comes under fire

Posted on March 16, 2010
Times Argus: "But gay rights advocates say the organization's "discriminatory" policies ? it prohibits gay and lesbian adults from volunteering as troop leaders ? should prevent the group from receiving any taxpayer money."

Abortion Debate Thwarts U.S. Fight Against China?s One-Child Policy, Activist Says

Posted on March 16, 2010
CNSNews: "Feminist and human rights activist Nicole Kempton says the contentious abortion debate in America partly explains why American leaders are reluctant to denounce China?s 'one child' population-control policy."

PA: Doylestown Council approves adult business zoning

Posted on March 16, 2010
PhillyBurbs.com: "Doylestown Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a zoning ordinance amendment that would limit the location of sexually oriented businesses to the retail commercial district ? the Doylestown Shopping Center on North Main Street...

Alaska State Senate to consider ?hate crimes? measure

Posted on March 16, 2010
HRC Back Story: "Tomorrow, the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding its second hearing on the Alaska Hate Crimes Bill (SB 202). Since the passage of the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act, some confusion has arisen over the role of state hate crimes legislation...

UK: Muslim students continue street protest over closure of prayer room

Posted on March 16, 2010
Times Higher Education: "The students declare that 'multi-faith' alternatives are unacceptable because 'a vast number of Muslim scholars throughout history believe it is impermissible for Muslims to offer prayers in a place where [a god] other than our Lord, Allah, is worshipped'...

FL: ADL says no to what it calls a ?school prayer? bill

Posted on March 16, 2010
Sun Sentinel: "The issue of school prayer is kicking up controversy once again. The Anti-Defamation League wants the Florida House?s education policy committee to reject a bill it calls 'divisive and unconstitutional.' House Bill 31 gives school districts the power to allow 'delivery of an inspirational message' at high school events, according to the Florida House of Representatives' website...

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