Religion & Law

California: No invocations for HUSD school board for now

Posted on January 13, 2010
Hesperia Star: "The Hesperia Unified School District won't be opening school board meetings with a prayer in the immediate future . . . In July, the conservative Christian non-profit Alliance Defend Fund sent the district a legal opinion on the legality of government agencies holding invocations and included their template for an invocation process that would pass legal muster ...

Jordan Lorence, Bishop Harry Jackson, Andrew Pugno on CBN News Video: Marriage Battles in Cal. and DC

Posted on January 13, 2010
The CBN video (MP4) runs just over 5 minutes. CBN News (Print and Video)

Greg Baylor: American Philosophical Association and Christ-centered colleges

Posted on January 13, 2010
"The American Philosophical Association conditions use of 'Jobs for Philosophers' upon compliance with a rule banning discrimination on the basis of religion and 'sexual orientation,' among other things. The rule essentially exempts religious colleges and universities from the ban on religious discrimination ...

Religious freedom does not exist in Egypt, says Coptic lawyer

Posted on January 13, 2010
EWTN: "In the wake of the Christmas Eve shootings of Egyptian Coptic Christians by a group of Muslims, Coptic attorney Caroline Doss has planned a rally at the United Nations in protest, telling CNA that religious freedom 'does not exist' in Egypt. 'Technically speaking, the Constitution does allow freedom of religion but practically speaking it does not exist,' she said Tuesday...

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UK: Catholic Church backs Tories? ?free schools?

Posted on January 13, 2010
Via The Telegraph's Damian Thompson: "The bishop in charge of Catholic education has backed a flagship Tory reform that would make it easier for parents to set up their own state schools. Bishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham, chairman of the bishops? Department of Catholic Education and Formation, said the idea of Swedish-style 'free schools' replicates exactly how Catholic schools were founded in the 19th century...

Court TV and judicial powers

Posted on January 12, 2010
. . . the U.S. Judicial Conference ? the policymaking arm of the federal courts ? wrote to Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, reminding him that the Conference has a policy against any 'public dissemination' of TV . . .

Obama Focuses on Three Judge Nominees for Chicago

Posted on January 12, 2010
Law.com (The National Law Journal): "Judge Susan Coleman, Sidley Austin partner Gary Feinerman and Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym partner Mary Rowland all made the short list and are being screened by the American Bar Association, said James Holderman, chief judge of the U...

?Gay Marriage: The case from the left?

Posted on January 12, 2010
Newsweek: "The defense argues that Prop 8 is plainly constitutional on majoritarian grounds. 'In America, we respect the results of fair elections,' read a press release by the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, which submitted a brief in support of the defense...

Tuesday: Federal marriage trial resumes in SF

Posted on January 12, 2010
AP: "Testimony in a groundbreaking legal challenge to California's same-sex marriage ban resumes Tuesday with testimony from two Ivy League historians who will discuss the nation's experience with matrimony and anti-gay discrimination . . . "

Florida: Christian group to sue district over school prayer

Posted on January 12, 2010
Newsherald.com: "The Santa Rosa County School District has submitted a scathing written argument in federal court against a Christian organization?s bid to join the debate about prayer?s place in local schools . . . The Liberty Counsel filed a motion to intervene last July on behalf of several members of the Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) who work for the school district ...

Cert. Denied In Establishment Clause Challenge To Sheriff?s Christian Speaker

Posted on January 12, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday denied certiorari in Milwaukee Deputy Sheriff's Association v. Clarke, Docket No. 09-460 (Jan. 11, 2010), refusing to review the 7th Circuit's decision in the case . . . "

U.S. Chamber warns of ?double-dip? recession because of Dem policies

Posted on January 12, 2010
The Hill: "U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue warned the U.S. faces a double-dip recession because of the taxes and regulations under consideration by the Democratic Congress and President Barack Obama."

UK moves to ban controversial Islamist group

Posted on January 12, 2010
AP: "Britain's government said Tuesday it will ban an Islamist group whose proposed protest march through a town known for honoring British soldiers killed in Afghanistan drew national outrage. The group, Islam4UK . . . "

Malaysian Christians stand firm on use of ?Allah?

Posted on January 12, 2010
"Christian leaders in Malaysia refused Tuesday to stop using the word 'Allah' for God despite attacks on churches in a religious crisis that has raised concerns about the erosion of minority rights in the Muslim-majority country."

Neb. bill would let stores scan driver?s licenses

Posted on January 12, 2010
AP: "On Monday, state lawmakers gave first-round approval to a bill (LB261) that would allow retailers to electronically scan the bar codes on the backs of state-issued drivers' licenses to determine buyers' ages."

Spanish teen undergoes sex change

Posted on January 12, 2010
AP: "A doctor says a 16-year-old boy has become Spain's first minor to undergo a sex change operation."

Texas school board keeps ban on boy?s long hair

Posted on January 12, 2010
AP: "The parents of a 4-year-old boy disciplined for having long hair have rejected a compromise from a Texas school board that agreed to adjust its grooming policy."

NJ bill relaxes some casino contractor regulations

Posted on January 12, 2010
AP: "New Jersey lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow state officials to get jobs working for firms that work for casinos immediately after leaving office."

Jennifer Roback Morse: The dangerous Olsen and Boies precedent

Posted on January 12, 2010
"Lurking in the shadows of this case is a breathtaking expansion of judicial interference with perfectly valid elections. Whatever your views about Proposition 8, we surely should be able to agree that special interest groups can?t go into court to overturn elections they don?t like...

UK: ?Labour?s secular tyranny torments faith schools?

Posted on January 12, 2010
Telegraph Editorial: "At a time when too many of Britain's schools suffer from abysmal standards of management, teaching and discipline, it seems incredible that the Government should devote resources to harassing some of the most successful state schools in the country...

Wash. lawmaker wants to banish negative language

Posted on January 12, 2010
AP: "Democratic State Sen. Rosa Franklin says negative labels are hurting kids' chances for success and she's not a bit concerned that people will be confused by her proposed rewrite of the 54 places in state law where words like 'at risk' and 'disadvantaged' are used...

?Gay couples testify as marriage case starts?

Posted on January 12, 2010
The Recorder, Law.com: "Brian Raum of the Alliance Defense Fund tried to frame those ads as not anti-gay, but in favor of allowing parents to morally instruct their children as they see fit. 'Nothing in this ad says to protect children against you because you're bad, right?' Raum asked...

Constitutionality of California marriage amendment to be decided

Posted on January 12, 2010
CitizenLink: "The challenge is to Proposition 8, which California voters approved in November 2008. There already has been an unusual twist, according to Jordan Lorence, an attorney defending the amendment. 'What is significant, and somewhat unusual, is that the judge asked a lot of questions,' Lorence said...

Colo. officials unveil Internet safety program

Posted on January 12, 2010
Findlaw (AP): "Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has joined Democratic Rep. Nancy Todd, the Entertainment Software Association and Web Wise Kids to unveil an Internet safety program to help parents keep their children safe online . . . " Visit: Web Wise Kids

?Day 1 of high profile marriage equality trial?

Posted on January 12, 2010
Speak Equal: "Raum started by playing a video from the Proposition 8 campaign featuring a Massachusetts heterosexual couple decrying how their second-grader was exposed to teachings about homosexuality at school. Raum is asking Katami about whether he believes it is acceptable for sexuality and homosexuality to be taught to first- and second-graders; Katami is taking a measured approach, pointing out that without children, it is hard to fully evaluate what is appropriate to teach young children about such issues at certain ages...

?Federal trial on same-sex marriage ban begins in California?

Posted on January 12, 2010
DemocracyNow: "Jordan Lorence, Alliance Defense Fund: 'This is where the people listen to discussions, listen to the debates, and find and reach some sort of decision on their own. And the court should basically leave those decisions alone and let?and if people want to change it over time, it?s up to them...

Couples tell of toll from state ?gay marriage? ban as Prop. 8 trial begins

Posted on January 12, 2010
Sacramento Bee: "Paul Katami, who testified along with his partner, faced cross-examination from defenders of the measure, who wondered why parents shouldn't have the right to weigh in on the content of sex education for their children. 'You believe parents can disagree about same-sex marriage,' but that 'they can't do anything about it?' asked Proposition 8 attorney Brian Raum of the Phoenix-based Alliance Defense Fund...

Televising of Prop. 8 trial paused

Posted on January 12, 2010
OneNewsNow: "'We're very happy about this order because the broadcast of this trial would threaten the integrity of federal court proceedings and unnecessarily expose marriage supporters to more of the kinds of threats and violence we saw during and after the Proposition 8 campaign,' says Austin Nimocks, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund...

?California gay marriage ban goes on trial?

Posted on January 12, 2010
Crosswalk: "'What's at stake in this case is not only the definition of marriage in California but the potential that Americans will be forced to forfeit the core of our democracy by allowing a small group of wealthy activists to impose their will on a state - or an entire nation - through the courts,' Austin R...

Sex sells? or does it?

Posted on January 12, 2010
One News Now: "A new study by the American Psychological Association reveals that sex doesn't necessarily mean bigger profits on the big screen . . . "

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