Religion & Law

Catholic League: Time is Ripe for Conscience Rights

Posted on January 20, 2010
Catholic League: "It is important to recognize that one of the issues which hurt Martha Coakley in Massachusetts was her adamant rejection of conscience rights: she effectively told Catholic doctors and nurses that they either perform abortions or look for another job...

Special sitting tomorrow, opinion(s) due ? Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Posted on January 20, 2010
SCOTUS Blog: "If the Court is planning to issue the ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (08-205) on Thursday, rather than waiting, say, until Monday, one possible reason is that one of the Justices who will be discussing an opinion from the bench plans to be absent on Monday...

Cert. Denied In Kindergarten Bible Reading Ban

Posted on January 20, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Busch v. Marple Union School District, (Docket No. 09-315, 1/19/2010)."

British Proposal Would Permit Religious Same-Sex Commitment Ceremonies

Posted on January 20, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "Currently under Britain's Civil Partnership Act 2004, same-sex commitment ceremonies can only be conducted by civil registrars."

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

British Equality Commission Opens Consultation on Equality Guides

Posted on January 20, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "Last week, Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission opened its consultation on drafts of three guides under Britain's Equality Bill."

Louisiana revokes license of Gentilly clinic over abortion law violations

Posted on January 20, 2010
WWLTV.com: "He said the clinic was operating without a nurse on staff, without a site-specific Louisiana controlled dangerous substance license and without a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration controlled substance registration."

South Miami approves benefits for domestic partners

Posted on January 20, 2010
Miami Herald: "At Tuesday's meeting, most commissioners voted to allow city employees' domestic partners, whether straight or gay, to enjoy the same benefits and rights an employee's spouse would get."

Middle East churches can teach Europe how to live with Muslims, says leader

Posted on January 20, 2010
Christian Today: "There is much that the church in Europe can learn from Middle East churches about how to live side by side with Muslims, the General Secretary of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe has said."

Hawaii: Senate will deal with civil union bill immediately; a vote is likely Friday

Posted on January 20, 2010
"'It is my understanding that it will be put on the Order of the Day (agenda) Thursday and put it up for a vote on Friday,' said Sen. Brian Taniguchi, chairman of the Judiciary Committee."

Durbin: No attempt to push healthcare bill through before Brown certified

Posted on January 20, 2010
The Hill: "Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said leaders would not make any attempt to pass a final healthcare reform bill through the Senate before state Sen. Scott Brown (R) is certified the winner of the special election."

UK couple plans to take same-sex ?marriage? case to European Court of Human Rights

Posted on January 20, 2010
Islington Gazette: "Civil servants Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle, of North Road, Holloway, are to sue Islington Council after being turned down for a 'gay marriage' last November . . .  Now they are searching for another straight couple and two gay couples to back their stance as they prepare to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg...

Malta: Labour Party seeks review of definition of obscenities

Posted on January 20, 2010
Times of Malta: "The Opposition has called on the government to set up a committee - already provided for in the Criminal Code - to advise the minister responsible for culture on definitions of obscenities and pornography."

Mosul: targeted execution of Christians continues in media and government silence

Posted on January 20, 2010
AsiaNews.it: "Yesterday an armed group killed a 45 year-old businessman. It is the second murder in less than 24 hours. Witnesses said security forces were at the scene but did not intervene. AsiaNews sources: they blame al Qaeda, but Christians are victims 'of the power struggle' between Arabs and Kurds...

Poll: Anti-Christian hostility set to rise in UK

Posted on January 20, 2010
The Christian Institute: "Three quarters of churchgoers say the risk of anti-Christian persecution in the UK is greater than five years ago and 80 per cent expect it to get worse, a new survey shows. And two thirds think there is more negative discrimination against Christians than any other faith group in the nation...

OH: New sex toys shop worries council, watchdog group

Posted on January 20, 2010
Mansfield News Journal: "A highway sign installed Monday trumpeted the opening of the new Adultmart store to motorists on Interstate 71 and Ohio 13. The shop, behind Taco Bell off Hanley Road, sells lingerie, adult DVDs and sex toys. It already has attracted attention from some City Council members...

Guam: Legislature to discuss same-sex bill

Posted on January 20, 2010
"A controversial bill that will allow same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships may finally reach the Legislature floor this week, but even the senator who introduced the bill isn't confident it will pass."

KY Gov proposes budget using expanded gaming revenue

Posted on January 20, 2010
Wave 3 (NBC): "In a surprising move, the budget Gov. Steve Beshear presented to legislators includes spending money made from expanded gaming even though legislation has not been approved . . . The Family Foundation released a statement saying the Governor is 'out of control...

N.Y. fails to agree on charter schools for grant

Posted on January 20, 2010
Education Week (AP): "Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders failed Tuesday to reach a compromise on expanding charter schools by a federal deadline, with millions of dollars in education funding at stake."

David French: Is liberty a ?zero-sum game??

Posted on January 20, 2010
David French, Director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom, writing at Phi Beta Cons: "Yes, cases like Martinez are a 'zero sum game' . . . if the goal is to force private institutions to accept people who do not share the group's belief . . . But there is a path where both sides win, where there is not a "zero sum," and that path is to respect free association and free speech...

GoDaddy.com Provides Viewers with Two Very Good Reasons to ?Tune Out? its 2010 Super Bowl Commercials

Posted on January 20, 2010
Morality in Media on the Christian Newswire: "Morality in Media president Robert Peters had the following comments: 'It is no secret that GoDaddy.com loves to 'push the envelope' when it comes to the content of its ads; and it would appear that this year's Super Bowl ads may push as close to the indecency line as CBS Network 'censors' will allow, which could be as close as CBS thinks it can get away with...

New Mexico?s bishops oppose domestic partnership legislation

Posted on January 20, 2010
EWTN: "New Mexico?s bishops are opposing an effort by Gov. Bill Richardson, a Catholic, to create domestic partnerships for homosexual couples. 'The bishops are instructed by Catholic teachings not to give any ground that would lead to same-sex marriage,' said Allen Sanchez, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops...

Alaska pro-life group submits signatures for parental notification on abortion

Posted on January 20, 2010
LifeNews: "The group behind the effort to get a parental notification measure on the Alaska ballot has submitted what it says are enough signatures to make that happen. The Alaskans for Parental Rights campaign says the campaign has met the major requirements set forth by the state Division of Elections...

?Lesbian daughter changed view of San Diego mayor on same-sex marriage?

Posted on January 20, 2010
Pleasanton Weekly: "During cross-examination, Brian Raum, a lawyer for Proposition 8 sponsors, showed a 2008 campaign television advertisement that alleged that same-sex marriage advocates stole campaign signs, defaced a church and assaulted Proposition 8 donors...

Man arrested after sharing Gospel is exonerated

Posted on January 20, 2010
Christian Law Journal: "'Christians shouldn?t be arrested and charged as criminals for expressing their beliefs on public property. They have the same First Amendment rights as anyone else in America,' said Demetrios Stratis of Fair Lawn, a Alliance Defense Fund allied-attorney...

Delaware Child Welfare Law Used to Harass Homeschoolers

Posted on January 20, 2010
HSLDA: "Families conducting a ?multi-family homeschool? as defined in Delaware law find themselves squarely within the purview of this child welfare law if a parent is teaching children of others in the home and is being compensated for the instruction being provided...

Constitutional public invocations

Posted on January 20, 2010
Traverse City Record-Eagle: "Appropriately recognizing our nation's religious heritage and its diversity through invocations at public meetings is far from creating an unconstitutional entanglement. Secular or spiritual, it has long been recognized that public invocations serve to remind public officials of the solemn duty imposed by their offices, something worth inspiring ...

?How San Diego mayor shifted on gay marriage?

Posted on January 20, 2010
San Francisco Chronicle: "In cross-examination, Brian Raum of the Alliance Defense Fund, a lawyer for Prop. 8's sponsors, grilled Sanders about his assertion that he bore no ill will toward gays and lesbians during the years he opposed their right to marry...

Obama to seek $1.35B more for education

Posted on January 20, 2010
EducationNews.org: “President Obama will ask Congress for $1.35 billion in his 2011 budget proposal to extend an education grant program for states, although the Education Department remains months away from announcing its first round of awards, senior administration officials said...

Swedish Schools More American Than America?s

Posted on January 20, 2010
NCPA Daily Policy Digest: "Americans are ruggedly individualistic and savor competition, says the Swedish Wire. Our one-size-fits-all public education system leaves students in Dallas with less choice and opportunity than their counterparts in Stockholm...

NY Times: Same-Sex Marriage Case, Day 7: Choice

Posted on January 20, 2010
NY Times: "The legal team for the defense includes Brian Raum, Charles J. Cooper, David Thompson, Andrew Pugno, James Campbell, Jordan Lorence, Nicole Moss, Howard C. Nielson Jr. and Peter A. Patterson . . . Professor Gary Segura, a political scientist at Stanford University, said that no other minority groups in America ? including undocumented aliens ? have been the target of more restrictive ballot initiatives than gay men and lesbians...

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.