Religion & Law

Delaware: Ruling in prayer suit could have wide reach

Posted on February 23, 2010
"A federal judge in Delaware ruled Monday that it is constitutional for the Indian River School Board to open its meetings with Christian prayers . . . "

EU Court Advisers at Odds Over Gambling Restrictions

Posted on February 23, 2010
Wall Street Journal(paid subscription only): "Advisers to Europe's highest court delivered different responses Tuesday in conflicts over gambling restrictions in European Union countries."

UK Secretary: ?Faith schools will not be able to opt out of statutory lessons on sex and relationship education?

Posted on February 23, 2010
Times Online: "Faith schools will not be able to opt out of statutory lessons on sex and relationship education when the legislation comes into effect in September 2011. This includes education about contraception and the importance of stable relationships, including marriage and civil partnerships...

Fine tuning DADT versus embracing open homosexual behavior

Posted on February 23, 2010
Jeff Lukens writes at the Post Chronicle: "There is a big difference, however, between fine-tuning existing DADT policy to see that fewer gay discharges occur, and declaring that open homosexuality acceptable within the ranks."

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Canadian Premier defends having heart surgery in the U.S.

Posted on February 23, 2010
The Canadian Press: "An unapologetic Danny Williams says he was aware his trip to the United States for heart surgery earlier this month would spark outcry, but he concluded his personal health trumped any public fallout over the controversial decision...

Military brass doubt wisdom of approving open homosexual behavior

Posted on February 23, 2010
Reuters: "The chiefs of staff of the U.S. Army and Air Force raised doubts on Tuesday about lifting restrictions on homosexuals in the military, weighing in on a debate in Congress over whether to back President Barack Obama's effort to let gays serve openly ...

Lisbon pact failing to lift the E.U. on global stage

Posted on February 23, 2010
New York Times: "Three months after the European Union introduced a new rule book that was supposed to elevate its status on the global stage, an awkward question is unavoidably being asked within the bloc: Has the Lisbon Treaty actually made things worse?"

TN: Shelby County Commission to limit adult businesses

Posted on February 23, 2010
Memphis Daily News: "The Shelby County Commission today will take the first of three votes on a city-county ordinance designed to further restrict adult entertainment businesses . . . The ordinance sponsored by commissioner Mike Ritz specifies that such businesses can?t operate within 1,500 feet of family recreation centers or parks...

Florida: Lawsuit over proposed strip club settled

Posted on February 23, 2010
Northwest Florida Daily News: "The city?s first topless bar may open by the end of the summer, according to The Oasis operator Terry Stephenson. The Destin City Council voted 5-2 last week to approve a settlement of a lawsuit brought by Stephenson over his right to operate a strip club in the city...

David Cameron?s ?secret plan to kill off party dinosaurs?

Posted on February 23, 2010
Daily Mail: "A confidential blueprint for David Cameron's controversial bid to impose more women, gays and ethnic candidates on reluctant party activists has come to light."

The civic failure of American higher education

Posted on February 23, 2010
R.R. Reno writing at First Things, On The Square: "Why academia is so relentlessly homogeneous is a difficult question to answer . . . Once we strip out the natural scientists, who rarely weigh in on cultural and political issues, the percentage of self-described conservatives in academia drifts down to around 4 percent of all faculty ...

Washington Times: A new battle of Hastings

Posted on February 23, 2010
Washington Times Editorial: "The school's stance is unacceptable. As a religious organization, CLS has a constitutional right, confirmed in a series of court cases, to determine its own standards of conduct and rules for membership. This right also applies to nonreligious groups by virtue of the right of 'expressive association,' but the protection for religious groups is arguably stronger...

WV: House Republicans plan to force votes on marriage, other issues

Posted on February 23, 2010
Charleston Gazette: "State Republican delegates say they're tired of waiting on Democratic legislative leaders to open debate on issues like gay marriage and certain tax breaks. House Republicans plan a series of procedural motions this week to force floor votes on proposals they say Democrats have allowed to die in committees...

UK: ?Clerics call for gay ceremonies at religious venues?

Posted on February 23, 2010
BBC: "Senior Anglican clergy have called for gay couples to be allowed to hold civil partnership ceremonies in churches, synagogues or other religious venues."

?Army to oppose immediate suspension of gay firings?

Posted on February 23, 2010
Washington Post: "The Army's top uniformed officer said Tuesday that he has 'serious concerns' about efforts to overturn a 17-year policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military and supports a yearlong study into the matter before any changes are made...

Arizona: Time-limit ban for abuse victims to sue attackers OK?d

Posted on February 23, 2010
AZ Daily Sun: "Ron Johnson, who lobbies on behalf of the state's three Catholic bishops, acknowledged he has been working to limit the measure from its original scope. But Johnson said it is not designed to shield those responsible. He said there is a 'public policy' reason to ensure that businesses -- including churches and schools -- be able to purchase insurance...

3 Indiana School Districts Sue State

Posted on February 23, 2010
Theindychannel.com: "'School districts are using taxpayer dollars to sue the taxpayers in order to get more of the taxpayers' money,' Hakim-Shabazz said."

Miss Beverly Hills Lauren Ashley Opposes Same Sex ?Marriage?

Posted on February 23, 2010
FoxNews: "Former Miss California Carrie Prejean isn't the only beauty queen open to expressing her objection to same-sex marriage. Miss Beverly Hills 2010 Lauren Ashley is also speaking out in support of traditional nuptials."

?Pastors take the law into their hands?

Posted on February 23, 2010
The Columbus Dispatch: "[In 2008] 45 central Ohio religious leaders complained to the IRS that a Scottsdale, Ariz., nonprofit group that champions conservative Christian causes, the Alliance Defense Fund, was sponsoring Pulpit Freedom Sunday to urge churches to take sides in political campaigns ...

NC: Forsyth commissioners vote 4-3 to appeal ruling on prayer

Posted on February 23, 2010
Winston-Salem Journal: "The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 tonight to appeal a federal judge's decision to ban sectarian prayer before board meetings . . . A conservative Christian legal group, the Alliance Defense Fund, has paid all the county's legal costs and had promised to pay for the county's appeal, even as far as to the U...

Video shows Tenth Planned Parenthood abortion center hiding sexual abuse

Posted on February 23, 2010
LifeNews (links to video): "The video shows staff at a Wisconsin facility counseling a purportedly 14-year-old girl to not divulge how a 31-year-old man impregnated her."

?Social conservative faces tough battle for state ed board seat?

Posted on February 23, 2010
The Dallas Morning News: "Critical board decisions loom, including how new science textbooks cover evolution and which political figures are included in new history books. The two GOP candidates are slugging it out in a primary contest that will signal what those decisions might be...

NC: Majority at meeting jubilant over appeal decision

Posted on February 23, 2010
Winston-Salem Journal: "Loud cheers broke out at the county's Government Center when the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners decided last night to appeal a federal judge's decision to ban sectarian prayer before board meetings . . . Several in the crowd quietly criticized Commissioner Walter Marshall when he defended his position against the appeal and attacked the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian legal group who had paid the county's legal costs and promised to pay for the county's appeal...

Commissioners appealing sectarian prayer decision

Posted on February 23, 2010
WXII: "Forsyth County commissioners voted Monday night to appeal a federal judge's decision to ban prayer at public meetings . . . Lawyers for the Alliance Defense Fund said they will file an appeal on Thursday on behalf of the county. It could take a year before a judgment is made, during which time, prayer will remain banned...

D.C. voters may not have final say on marriage

Posted on February 23, 2010
CitizenLink: "A Washington, D.C., judge denied another request, on Friday, to allow voters to have a say in whether the District will recognize gay marriages . . . 'A new definition of marriage should not be imposed upon the people of D.C. without their consent, and the majority of D...

University of Wisconsin documents reveal taxpayer funding of abortion: Pro-life group

Posted on February 23, 2010
LifeSiteNews: "An open records request has revealed that the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) has been funding medical students? rotations at Planned Parenthood for training in abortion procedures, say Pro-Life Wicsonsin and Alliance Defence Fund...

Video: Hundreds turn out to support prayer at Forsythe Commission meeting

Posted on February 23, 2010
WXII-12 News reports in this MP4 that runs just over 2 minutes. ADF attorney Mike Johnson appears in the video.

NIH Redefines Embryonic Stem Cells

Posted on February 23, 2010
FRC Blog: "Last Friday the National Institutes of Health announced that they were proposing a 'technical change' in their Guidelines for destruction of human embryos, a.k.a. Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research."

?Foundation Calls Out Detroit Council on Prayer?

Posted on February 23, 2010
Freedom from Religion Foundation: "Public boards may not legally 'pray in Jesus' name,' even ones governing municipalities in dire economic straits like Detroit. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has written a letter on behalf of a Detroit-area complainant to City Council President Charles Pugh and the council objecting to sectarian prayers opening council meetings...

Indiana: Clarksville to appeal Theatair X ruling

Posted on February 23, 2010
News and Tribune: "The Clarksville Town Council voted unanimously to appeal a ruling that struck down an ordinance regulating adult businesses at its Monday meeting."

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