Religion & Law

Christians Refuse to Allow Officials to Close Church in Indonesia

Posted on March 12, 2010
Christian Post: "Efforts by local officials in this city in West Java to close a church met with stiff resistance this month, as a defiant lawyer and weeping women refused to allow it . . . The church had applied for a worship building permit in 2006, but local officials had yet to act on it, according to the church?s pastor, the Rev...

Nigerian Women Carry Bibles, Protest Massacre

Posted on March 12, 2010
Christian Post: "Thousands of Nigerian women dressed in black and carrying Bibles, wooden crosses, pictures of victims, and branches symbolizing peace marched in a central Nigerian state on Thursday to protest the massacre of about 500 villagers, who were mostly women and children...

KC Schools, A Case Study in Liberal Stupidity

Posted on March 11, 2010
"The court decision that brought about KC schools' demise was not the 1954 decision, but a 1985 one."

Nationwide, State Court Systems Continue to Feel the Pinch

Posted on March 11, 2010
Law.com (National Law Journal): "Court systems in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Texas and Virginia are facing slashed budgets, higher fees and fewer resources or demands to curtail spending. Court systems in the District of Columbia and Maryland, in contrast, are faring comparatively well...

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Girl Scouts Distribute Planned Parenthood Sex Guide at UN Meeting

Posted on March 11, 2010
C-FAM: The World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides hosted a no-adults-welcome panel at the United Nations this week where Planned Parenthood was allowed to distribute a brochure entitled ?Healthy, Happy and Hot.? The event was part of the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which concludes this week.

Idaho House Committee OKs Bill for Conscience Rights for Pro-Life Medical Staff

Posted on March 11, 2010
LifeNews: "The House State Affairs Committee voted today along party lines in favor of a bill that would create statutory protections for health care professionals in specific areas of medical practice. " SB 153

9th Circuit: Teacher-led recitation of the pledge of allegiance is constitutional

Posted on March 11, 2010
". . . the Pledge is constitutional."

Virginia Court: Adoption Over Parent?s Objection Requires Showing That Continued Parent-Child Relationship Would Be Detrimental to the Child

Posted on March 11, 2010
At the Volokh Conspiracy, Eugene Volokh reports on this ruling: Todd v. Copeland, No. 0823-09-3 (Va. Cir. Ct. Mar. 9, 2010)

2nd Circuit: Courts must consider ?adequacy of alternative sites? at time of challenge to SOB ordinance

Posted on March 11, 2010
Community Defense Counsel has posted an asbtract of the ruling in TJS of New York, Inc. v. Town of Smithtown, No. 08-2789-cv (2nd Cir. March 10, 2010)

Virginia first state in nation to pass anti-mandate health reform bill

Posted on March 11, 2010
". . . no resident of the commonwealth shall be required to obtain or maintain individual insurance coverage . . . "

Half of Kansas City?s schools to close by fall

Posted on March 11, 2010
AP: "The school board narrowly approved the plan Wednesday night to close 29 of the district's 61 schools to try to stave off bankruptcy."

Serious Question or Likelihood of Success on the Merits? 2nd Circuit rules on standards for obtaining a preliminary injunction

Posted on March 11, 2010
How Appealing reports that the 2nd Circuit has issued a ruling that impacts the standards for obtaining a preliminary injunction. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. v VCG Special Opportunities Master Fund Limited, f/k/a CDO Plus Master Fund Limited, No. 08-6090-cv (2nd Cir...

ACLU files complaint against SD police for reporting lesbian to the Air Force

Posted on March 11, 2010
KOTARadio.com: "The ACLU has filed a complaint against the Rapid City Police Department, after two officers had a hand in getting an Air Force sergeant kicked out of the military for being in a same-sex relationship."

President nominates Raymond Lohier to 2nd Circuit and Kate O?Malley to Federal Circuit

Posted on March 11, 2010
WhiteHouse.gov: "Today, President Obama nominated Raymond Lohier, Jr. to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Kate O?Malley to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Lohier currently serves as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; O?Malley currently serves as a U...

Virginia Governor Exec. Order says Constitution prohibits ?sexual orientation? discrimination

Posted on March 11, 2010
Executive Direct 1 (2010): "The Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits discrimination without a rational basis against any class of persons. Discrimination based on factors such as one?s sexual orientation or parental status violates the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution...

Democrats May Use Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Without Vote

Posted on March 11, 2010
LifeNews: "As Democratic leaders in Congress plot their next move on how to get the pro-abortion Senate health care bill through the House, a new strategy has developed apart from the reconciliation plan that has pro-life advocates concerned they could pass the bill without taking a vote on it...

Special delivery gets USPS attention

Posted on March 11, 2010
OneNewsNow: "'[Michael Shanton] was situated on a public sidewalk in front of the post office, and one day a postal official came out and said, 'No, you can't distribute literature here. You're not allowed to distribute literature anywhere on the property of the federal government,' and he essentially was threatened with arrest,' explains Jonathan Scruggs, attorney with Alliance Defense Fund (ADF)...

?Minnesota House member favors church electioneering?

Posted on March 11, 2010
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The Wall of Separation Blog: "Bachmann called for Congress to repeal the federal law that prevents all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing candidates ...

?Group wants same military benefits for gay spouses?

Posted on March 11, 2010
Washington Times: "'Gay people serving in the military, defending our country, should have the same rules and same opportunities as any other Americans, no more and no less,' Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, told The Washington Times ...

?Will gay military spouses receive benefits after repeal??

Posted on March 11, 2010
LezGetReal: "Austin R. Nimocks, a lawyer with the Alliance Defense Fund, told The Washington Times, 'It?s most likely under the current scenario that the military would follow DOMA because the marriage license held by a same-sex couple is a state-conferred right and not a federal-conferred right...

Revised Supreme Court Rules

Posted on March 11, 2010
SCOTUS Blog: "Effective February 16, 2010, the Court adopted revised Rules of the Supreme Court. A complete copy of the updated rules can be found here. The revisions, which are summarized in this memorandum from the Court, include . . . "

Poll: Many in US oppose Internet, sports betting

Posted on March 11, 2010
AP: "The Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll found two-thirds of those surveyed oppose changing the law to allow bets to be placed over the Internet, and 53 percent oppose allowing bets on the outcome of professional or college sporting events...

Vatican criticizes condom machines in Rome school

Posted on March 11, 2010
AP: "A Rome high school has decided to install vending machines selling condoms for its students, sparking angry reaction from the Catholic Church which claims the move will only encourage youths to have sex."

China orders reporters trained in Marxist theory

Posted on March 11, 2010
AP: "China will toughen requirements for reporters by launching a new certification system that requires training in Marxist and communist theories of news, a media official said, citing problems with the current crop of mainland journalists."

Group Attempts to Entrench Parental Rights

Posted on March 11, 2010
Citizen Link: "A new Web site, parentalrights.org, was created to advocate for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would support parental rights."

Not an endorsement of religion: Court should uphold tax-credit program for donors to scholarships of their choice.

Posted on March 11, 2010
"How can giving taxpayers a choice evince a governmental motive to advance religion?"

Reid vows to seek changes to filibuster next Congress

Posted on March 11, 2010
The Hill: "After hearing growing frustration within his party, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is promising to pursue changes to the filibuster. Reid (D-Nev.) met with nearly 20 freshman and sophomore Democratic senators Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to respond to Republican use of the rule to stall President Barack Obama?s agenda ...

NYC federal judge: Govt must stop blocking money to ACORN

Posted on March 11, 2010
Google News (AP): "A federal judge who found it unconstitutional that Congress tried to cut funding to the activist group ACORN has rejected a government request to change her mind and has ordered government agencies to make it clear the funding isn't blocked...

Poll: 60% of Americans say textbooks are too PC

Posted on March 11, 2010
WorldNetDaily: "A new poll shows 60 percent of Americans with children in elementary or secondary school say most school textbooks are more focused on being politically correct than ensuring accuracy."

Miss. school prom off after lesbian?s date demands

Posted on March 11, 2010
"An 18-year-old student says a Mississippi school board that canceled a high school prom did so in retaliation for her request to bring a same-sex date."

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