Religion & Law

Hospital chaplain?s free-speech rights restored

Posted on September 15, 2009
OneNewsNow: "A chaplain at a Michigan veterans' hospital has been invited to return and minister to patients . . . 'One day back in February he was just summarily thrown out of the hospital because he had a Bible in his hand and he had been meeting with a patient,' Blomberg explains...

David French: The ugly face of student resistance

Posted on September 15, 2009
David French, Director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom, writing at National Review: "With the latest research showing that four in ten college students are binge drinkers, and with the ?hookup culture? continuing unabated, it may be time for conservatives to recalibrate their campus critiques...

Ohio: Lakewood moves to protect, preserve ornate St. James Catholic Church as closure looms

Posted on September 15, 2009
Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Even if the Cleveland Catholic Diocese goes ahead with the planned closing of St. James Church, the twin-towered building may be protected. Proposed legislation in Lakewood City Council would prohibit the diocese or any future owner from tearing down the church or gutting its ornate interior...

Colorado Charter Schools

Posted on September 15, 2009
The Jim Pfaff Show: "Colorado Charter Schools were on The Jim Pfaff Show docket on Monday. Today I talked with James Griffin, President of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, about the past, present and future of Charter Schools in Colorado and the surprising support for them from the Obama administration...

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Louisiana: Religious marker up on city property

Posted on September 15, 2009
2theAdvocate.com: "A private citizen paid to have a molded-concrete depiction of tablets bearing the Ten Commandments erected on city property Wednesday, Mayor Harold Rideau said."

Center for Arizona Policy vigorously opposes Planned Parenthood lawsuit

Posted on September 15, 2009
Center for Arizona Policy Press Release: "Center for Arizona Policy will be vigorously working to oppose the lawsuit filed today by Planned Parenthood to challenge Arizona's new abortion laws."

Christian group targets colleges over religious freedom

Posted on September 15, 2009
azcentral.com LiveWire blog: "The Alliance Defense Fund, an alliance of Christian attorneys, has received a $9.2 million anonymous donation earmarked for the fight against free speech in higher education. The alliance will match the gift, bringing the total to just under $20 million...

Student Learning Styles Theory Is Bunk

Posted on September 15, 2009
he Big Idea behind learning styles is that kids vary in how they learn: Some learn best by looking (visual learners), some by listening (auditory learners), and some by manipulating things (kinesthetic learners).

NOW Supports Legislation to Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act

Posted on September 15, 2009
NOW: "The National Organization for Women is proud to stand with Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) in support of legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) -- a discriminatory law that is deceptive and harmful . . . "

GOP?s Wilson faces rebuke Tuesday from House Dems

Posted on September 15, 2009
Google News (AP): "Democratic aides said House leaders were preparing to introduce a resolution of disapproval Tuesday afternoon, with a vote likely later in the day."

Newly-Confirmed Obama Regulatory Czar Cass Sunstein Pro-Abortion, Pro-Cloning

Posted on September 15, 2009
LifeNews: "Sunstein was confirmed by the Senate last week as administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Now, reports indicate Sunstein holds pro-abortion and pro-human cloning views that are upsetting for the majority of Americans who are pro-life...

US credit shrinks at Great Depression rate prompting fears of double-dip recession

Posted on September 15, 2009
Telegraph: "Both bank credit and the M3 money supply in the United States have been contracting at rates comparable to the onset of the Great Depression since early summer, raising fears of a double-dip recession in 2010 and a slide into debt-deflation...

Specter tells AFL-CIO he backs organizing bill

Posted on September 15, 2009
Specter tells AFL-CIO he backs organizing bill

Poll: Conservative and Progressive Religious Activists in 2009

Posted on September 15, 2009
Public Religion Research: First Ever Polls Comparing Conservative and Progressive Religious Activists Show Divergent Identities and Strategies, Common Commitment to Political Involvement Faithful, Engaged, and Divergent: A Comparative Portrait of Conservative and Progressive Religious Activists in the 2008 Election and Beyond Public Religion Research, John C...

Resolution against Wilson for outburst passes 240-179

Posted on September 15, 2009
The Hill: "The House passed a 'resolution of disapproval,' considered the mildest form of punishment for a member, by a 240-179 vote that fell largely along partisan lines. Seven Republicans voted to rebuke Wilson, while 12 Democrats voted against the measure...

TX: Spring nightclub forced to shut its doors after judge?s ruling

Posted on September 15, 2009
KHOU: "A nightclub in Spring had to shut its doors after a judge?s ruling. The judge said D.B. Cooper?s Mansion, located on I-45 near Spring Stuebner Road, is an unlicensed sexually oriented business."

?DOMA repeal: a learning curve?

Posted on September 15, 2009
Bay Windows: "'We have pending four major pieces of [LGBT] legislation which have a serious chance to pass,' Frank said Sept. 14 in a phone interview. Those, he noted, are the Matthew Shepard hate crimes bill, attached to a bill authorizing defense spending; the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA); a bill to give equal benefits to the partners of gay federal employees as provided to straight spouses; and a bill to repeal the military?s "don?t ask, don?t tell" (DADT) policy...

Uzbek Baptist head, two other leaders face 3-year prison term

Posted on September 15, 2009
ABP: "The head of Uzbekistan's Baptist union and two colleagues face up to three years in prison on charges of tax evasion and teaching children about religion without permission from their parents -- a crime in the predominantly Muslim Central Asian country...

Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill Passes Ohio House

Posted on September 15, 2009
Columbus Dispatch: "Five Republicans joined all Democrats in attendance in backing the measure, 56-38. It now goes to the Senate." H.B. 176

Is Catholic-Orthodox Unity in Sight?

Posted on September 15, 2009
NCRegister: "The Catholic Archbishop of Moscow has given a remarkably upbeat assessment of relations with the Orthodox Church, saying unity between Catholics and Orthodox could be achieved 'within a few months.'"

Obama campaigns for Specter in Pa.

Posted on September 15, 2009
Boston Globe (AP): "President Barack Obama urged Pennsylvania voters on Tuesday to support the re-election bid of Sen. Arlen Specter in a personal appearance here for the Republican-turned-Democrat who represents an important test of the White House's political apparatus...

?See You At the Pole? set for Sept. 23

Posted on September 15, 2009
Baptist Press: "More than 3 million teenagers in 20 countries are expected to participate Sept. 23 in the 19th annual 'See You At the Pole' school prayer rally . . . Resources for planning and conducting both emphases are available on the event's website at www...

Michigan: House bill would expand sex ed in schools

Posted on September 15, 2009
Petoskey News-Review: "A House bill would soon require every school district to teach students more about sex education than just abstinence. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, would mandate that public schools teach contraceptive techniques as a method of birth control...

NJ: Corzine ?looks forward to signing marriage equality legislation?

Posted on September 15, 2009
Press of Atlantic City: "During the Q-and-A, Corzine was asked about gay marriage. He smiled and put his hand to his forehead before answering. 'I look forward to signing marriage equality legislation,' Corzine said. 'I think that will be this year.'"

Stop legislation to repeal DOMA (Rep. Paul Broun, Dem ? Ga.)

Posted on September 15, 2009
The Hill: "I urge the Speaker not to bring any legislation to the floor that will repeal DOMA and instead consider my Marriage Protection Amendment so that the American people and their elected officials determine the law of the land ? not activist liberal judges...

Utah: New sex education bill pushes abstinence-only aside

Posted on September 15, 2009
The Spectrum: "During a recent pub­lic meeting at the Murray library, [Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Salt Lake City] shared his reasons for writing the bill. He states that chang­ing the law to allow teach­ers to educate students on methods of birth control is important because of the rise in sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnan­cies in the state...

Judicial Pay Increase: Still a Priority for Congress

Posted on September 15, 2009
Blog of the Legal Times: "Congressional leaders today told the Judicial Conference today that increasing judicial salaries is still a 'serious and pressing issue' that deserves the attention of Congress even at a time of economic woe for the nation."

Pledge of Confusion? Schools Wrestle With Flag Policy in Classroom

Posted on September 15, 2009
FoxNews: "It's a new school year, but an old fight is brewing in American classrooms. Teachers and administrators around the country are scratching their heads once again over the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chai Feldblum nominated to EEOC

Posted on September 15, 2009
The Bilerico Project: "The White House announced Monday that it will nominate Chai Feldblum, LGBT rights scholar and advocate, to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . . . Jesse Helms is long gone, but the Alliance Defense Fund already has set its sights on Feldblum...

Florida Investigation Finds No Credible Threat to Teen Christian Convert

Posted on September 15, 2009
FoxNews: "Florida authorities' investigation into a teenager's claims that her life is in danger for converting from Islam to Christianity found no credible threats to 17-year-old Rifqa Bary, according to a newly unsealed report."

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