Religion & Law

PA: Policy changes end abortion shirt lawsuit in West Shore

Posted on January 22, 2010
The York Dispatch: "Policy changes will end a lawsuit against West Shore School District in a freedom of speech case about a student's T-shirt with 'Abortion is not healthcare' scrawled on it . . . The New Cumberland boy had already received temporary permission to wear the shirt, according to the boy's legal representatives from the Alliance Defense Fund...

Delaware House approves table games

Posted on January 22, 2010
AP: "A bill that would add table games such as poker, blackjack and craps to Delaware's gambling options was approved by House lawmakers on Thursday."

Filibuster reform headed for Senate floor; measure faces uphill battle

Posted on January 22, 2010
The Hill: "Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) intends to introduce legislation that would take away the minority?s power to filibuster legislation."

Analysis Shows 52 Million Abortions Since Supreme Court?s Roe v. Wade Decision

Posted on January 22, 2010
". . . 52 million unborn children have been killed in abortion since the Roe decision . . . "

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Proposals designed to expand gambling in Kansas

Posted on January 22, 2010
AP: "Supporters of expanded gambling in Kansas hoped Thursday that the promise of new revenues for the state would overcome legislators' reluctance to tinker with an existing law allowing casinos and slot machines at racetracks."

Calif. Democrats revive single-payer health care

Posted on January 22, 2010
AP: "A key legislative committee in California revived a bill Thursday to create a government-run health care system in the nation's most populous state, two days after Massachusetts elected a senator who opposes the president's national health care plan...

UK Churches Warned About Proposed Equality Bill

Posted on January 22, 2010
CBN (includes video): "Churches across the United Kingdom will interrupt their worship this Sunday to watch a three-minute video warning about Britain's proposed equality bill."

Prop. 8 trial witnesses make ?troubling? attack on religion and Catholic teaching

Posted on January 22, 2010
Catholic News Agency: "Court witnesses arguing against California?s Proposition 8 have described religious beliefs of those who believe marriage is between a man and a woman as biased and a 'chief obstacle' to homosexuals' 'political progress.' The comments were part of a 'troubling' attack on religion, Proposition 8 defenders say ...

ADF Update on Prop 8 Trial: Day 7

Posted on January 22, 2010
Christian Post: "The assault on the people?s voice continued Wednesday. After addressing a couple of procedural matters, the plaintiffs called to the witness stand Mr. Ryan Kendall . . . Mr. Kendall was called to testify exclusively to disparage (a) Christianity, and (b) conversion therapy ...

Marriage testimony in California calls religion a ?hindrance?

Posted on January 22, 2010
CitizenLink: "'Dr. Segura was brought in to basically testify that the gay and lesbian community in California somehow lacks political power,' he said, 'even though they out-raised the Yes on 8 campaign. They raised $43 million for their campaign.'"

Blogs for Life Webcast

Posted on January 22, 2010
More information available at the Family Research Council website.

PA: Prosecutors struggle with lack of sexting law

Posted on January 22, 2010
WHPTV: "There is no law on the books right now, that strictly deals with sexting, forcing local district attorneys to make tough decisions. District attorneys, like Ed Marsico in Dauphin County, say they would like state lawmakers to draw up one, clear law that strictly deals with sexting and has a less severe punishment...

EU considering ?enhanced cooperation? to develop cross-border divorce laws

Posted on January 22, 2010
Jurist: "European Union (EU) justice ministers considered Friday whether to use 'enhanced cooperation' to enable some EU countries to work together to create uniform marriage laws for mixed-nationality couples."

Porn industry is no longer recession-proof

Posted on January 22, 2010
CNBC: "The latest financial crisis, mixed with rampant piracy problems, has taken its toll. Profits are down and porn production studios are folding at a pace faster than anyone would have imagined two years ago."

7th Circuit clarifies application of Fourth Amendment to searches of computer hard drives

Posted on January 22, 2010
Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog: "In United States v. Mann

Italian anti-crucifix judge loses office

Posted on January 22, 2010
The Daily Caller (AP): "An official of the watchdog body for Italy?s judiciary says a judge who refused to hear cases because there are crucifixes in the nation?s courtrooms has been effectively barred from continuing in his job. For years, Judge Luigi Tosti has insisted religious symbols have no place in courtrooms...

Plaintiffs wrap up challenge to same-sex ?marriage? ban

Posted on January 22, 2010
Wall Street Journal: "'We're pleased with the way it has gone,' said David Boies, an attorney for the gay couples that want to wed. He said he set out to prove that marriage was an important right, that gays were harmed by being denied it and that marriage wouldn't be hurt by extending it to same-sex couples...

UNESCO official: Cuba a paradigm for sex education

Posted on January 22, 2010
Escambray: "Mary Guinn Delaney, advisor of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office on HIV/AIDS Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, said today in this capital that Cuba is a paradigm in sexual education...

Canada: ?Former sex worker challenges prostitution laws?

Posted on January 22, 2010
CBC News: "A former Vancouver sex-trade worker was at the B.C. Court of Appeal Thursday fighting for the right to challenge the constitutionality of Canada's prostitution laws."

Egyptian court: Ban on full veils violated women?s rights

Posted on January 22, 2010
World Bulletin: "Egypt's High Administrative Court overturned on Wednesday a ban on female students wearing the niqab, or full face veil, in university examinations, saying it violated women's constitutional rights."

Does bigamous marriage need annulment?

Posted on January 22, 2010
UPI: "A Michigan judge must decide how to deal with the marriage of a businessman who allegedly wed a woman without telling her he already had a wife and children."

Guam: How do adult shops feel about a red light district?

Posted on January 22, 2010
KUAM News: "It could be political suicide for the Democrat lawmaker to take this one on, but Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz is no stranger to controversy. He says Bill 314, which paves a path for relocating adult entertainment establishments out of Tumon and into an industrial area, is imperative to preserving the family friendly environment for Guam's largest industry - tourism...

Berlusconi vs. Google: Will Italy censor YouTube?

Posted on January 22, 2010
Time: "Hot on the heels of the Google vs. China censorship dispute, a new front in the showdown between state power and Internet freedom is opening in Italy. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government is pushing through new measures that would give the state control over online video content and force anyone who regularly uploads videos to obtain a license from the Ministry of Communications...

OH: Arrival of adult shop leaves city scrambling

Posted on January 22, 2010
Mansfield News Journal: "Remy said he is pursuing several possibilities to reduce negative effects on the city from the new Adultmart near Interstate 71 and Ohio 13. Among the potential options is an ordinance requiring operating licenses for sexually oriented businesses -- 'similar to what taxicabs are required to have or to the vendor's licenses that the county issues,' Remy said...

Department of Defense to recognize same-sex ?unions? in overseas transfers

Posted on January 22, 2010
Stars and Stripes: "Department of Defense schools will now recognize same-sex relationships when transferring overseas teachers to new assignments, according to an agreement this month between the department?s Education Activity and two teachers? unions...

Spike in anti-Christian violence feared before Burma elections

Posted on January 22, 2010
Compass Direct News: "Mungpi Suangtak, assistant editor of a New Delhi-based news agency run by exiled Burmese journalists, the Mizzima News, said the Burmese junta has 'one of the world?s worst human rights records' and will 'definitely' attack religious and ethnic minorities more forcefully in the run-up to the election...

?BBC to ask public about its portrayal of gay people?

Posted on January 22, 2010
BBC: "The BBC has commissioned a wide-ranging investigation into how lesbian, gay and bisexual people are portrayed on TV, radio and online. The research will ask a variety of people across the country what they think about subjects such as jokes, dramatic storylines and stereotyping...

?At Calif. gay marriage trial, marriage is not the only flash point?

Posted on January 22, 2010
Christian Science Monitor: "Since the trial began Jan. 11 in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, lawyers for the two couples have called to the stand psychologists and historians to try to show a pattern hostility that limits the political power of gay and lesbian Americans ...

Catholic League: Role of Religion Skewed in Prop 8 Trial

Posted on January 22, 2010
Catholic League: "Lawyers for the anti-Prop 8 side are touting Stanford University professor Gary Segura?s testimony that religious groups which supported Prop 8 constituted 34 percent of the nation?s population, while only 2 percent of religions opposed it...

Florida bill would ban adoption agencies from asking about gun ownership

Posted on January 22, 2010
News Service Florida: "Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, said he and his wife are dealing with a "mountain" of paperwork as they attempt to adopt a child through the Children's Home Society of Florida, which assists with adoptions in the Orlando area . ...

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