Religion & Law

Appeal Filed In Challenge To Texas Agency?s Neutrality on Creationism

Posted on August 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "In her appellate brief filed with the 5th Circuit on Aug. 5 (full text), Chris Comer argues that TEA's policy of equating creationism with science violates the Establishment Clause."

Sri Lanka Proposes Ban On Religious-Themed Political Parties

Posted on August 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "The Island today reports that the proposal calling for the Election Commissioner to deny legal recognition to such parties is an attempt to create a national identity in the multi-ethnic, multi-religious country."

Failure to count Mormon missionaries could cost Utah a House seat

Posted on August 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: Sunday's Salt Lake (UT) Tribune reported that, as in past years, the 2010 census will not count the estimated 11,000 Mormon missionaries living overseas . . . The issue is of great concern to the state of Utah. In the 2000 census, it would have been entitled to an additional seat in the House of Representatives if it had 857 more people.

Some scientists still seeking truth on homosexual therapy

Posted on August 18, 2009
The Family Policy Council of West Virginia and the North Carolina Family Policy Council discuss a recent study "challeng[ing] the traditional APA (American Psychological Association) premise that it is not possible to change sexual orientation, specifically, homosexual orientation, and that attempting to do so is harmful...

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The Fairness Doctrine ? its? about free speech, unless they disagree with your content

Posted on August 18, 2009
Josh Geldrich writes at the Examiner: "The Obama administration has stepped in to circumvent obstacles to reinstitution of the Fairness Doctrine and halt dissemination of truthful information to the American people. The information which is detrimental to the furthering of his political agenda is all apparently from one source ? conservative talk radio...

Wisconsin Medical Society rejects resolution supporting euthanasia

Posted on August 18, 2009
LifeSiteNews: "The Wisconsin Medical Society has rejected a proposal tabled within its ethics committee to remain neutral on legalizing assisted suicide. By a vote of 13-5 the medical society came down strongly on the side of protection of the elderly and disabled...

Anchorage ?sexual orientation? measure vetoed

Posted on August 18, 2009
Jim Minnery, president of the Alaska Family Council, says Sullivan's decision was a good one, and says the law would do more harm than good because it would infringe on people's religious beliefs.

4th Circuit: Petition for Full Court Rehearing Filed in Real Truth About Obama v. FEC

Posted on August 18, 2009
Yesterday, The Real Truth About Obama (?RTAO?) asked the full Fourth Circuit to rehear an appeal after a three-judge panel of the Court upheld the denial of a preliminary injunction that would have permitted RTAO to engage in planned issue advocacy.

Maine same-sex ?marriage?: ?Yes? vote will correct lawmakers? mistake

Posted on August 18, 2009
"But marriage is more than a right. It is the most public of our obligations not only to each other, but to our society and our culture."

Columnist Robert Novak dies after cancer battle

Posted on August 18, 2009
Chicago Tribune: "Conservative columnist Robert Novak has died after a battle with brain cancer." Human Events has published this tribute.

Top Senate Republican Fears FCC?s ?Diversity? Chief May Use ?Back Door? to Regulate Talk Radio

Posted on August 18, 2009
RsrcID=52633">CNSNews: "Grassley wrote. 'I am concerned that despite his statements that the Fairness Doctrine is unnecessary, Mr. Lloyd supports a backdoor method of furthering the goals of the Fairness Doctrine by other means.'"

Justice civil rights hire to handle ?gay liaison?

Posted on August 18, 2009
Politico: "On the same day that the Justice Department softened its position in a gay-marriage lawsuit, word is emerging that the department has hired a liaison to the gay community. Matt Nosanchuk, a former adviser to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) . . ...

?Anti-gay lobby angered by Obama?s DOMA defense?

Posted on August 18, 2009
On Top Magazine: "Lawyers for the Christian-based Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) said Monday that President Obama's defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was not 'optimal' . . . 'It is very disappointing that the [Justice Department] has rejected the idea that kids do best in homes with a married mother and father,' ADF attorney Brian Raum told Baptist Press...

Obama follows through, files to repeal DOMA

Posted on August 18, 2009
OneNewsNow: "A new brief filed yesterday by Justice Department lawyer Scott Simpson declares that the Obama administration 'does not support DOMA as a matter of policy' . . . 'It's really troubling that the federal government has taken a position that federal policy is bad policy,' says [Brian Raum]...

Coulter, Gingrich inspire students at YAF Conference

Posted on August 18, 2009
Human Events: "Held at The George Washington University, YAF?s conference attracted such conservative heavy weights as syndicated columnist Ann Coulter, Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Mike Pence, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich . . . The rest of the conference presented many other great speakers, including Young America's Foundation vice president Kate Obenshain, former Godfather's Pizza CEO and radio show host Herman Cain, Kangaroo Millionaire author Marc Hrisko, Alliance Defense Fund's David French, Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute President Michelle Easton, and noted pundit Bay Buchanan...

?Obama lawyers offer reluctant defense of gay marriage ban?

Posted on August 18, 2009
Los Angeles Times: "The Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed, but an Orange County couple's lawsuit against it should still be dismissed, administration lawyers say in court papers . . . 'I think it's unfortunate that the administration has taken a position seeking to repeal federal DOMA and now is in the precarious position of defending it in court,' said Brian Raum, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal organization...

?Domestic partner registry? draws ire

Posted on August 18, 2009
OneNewsNow: "A group of Christian attorneys has filed a lawsuit against the city of Cleveland, Ohio, for its new 'domestic partner registry' . . . 'Ohio voters amended their state's constitution by an overwhelming majority in the year 2004, using the democratic process to affirm the long-held legal definition of marriage and eliminate any attempts at counterfeits,' [Jim Campbell] points out...

Moms and dads not necessary, Justice Dept. says in brief

Posted on August 18, 2009
Baptist Press: "[T]he Obama Justice Department filed a legal brief Monday arguing that children do not necessarily need a mother and a father and that same-sex households are equivalent to traditional households for child-rearing . . . 'It is very disappointing that the [Justice Department] has rejected the idea that kids do best in homes with a married mother and father,' ADF attorney Brian Raum told Baptist Press...

Obama Administration makes clear its commitment to repeal DOMA

Posted on August 18, 2009
Christian Post: "The Justice Department on Monday said the Obama administration does not support the 1996 federal law that bans same-sex marriage . . . Traditional marriage supporter Brian Raum, senior counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund, isn't surprised by the administration's opposition to the marriage law but calls it a tragedy...

Crouse Appalled at Obama?s Attempts to Repeal DOMA

Posted on August 18, 2009
Concerned Women for America: "Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, a spokesperson for Concerned Women for America, said, 'The Obama Administration is at it again; they are saying one thing while doing another. While the President defends marriage publicly, his administration is working behind the scenes to undermine the DOMA through legal action ? filing court papers complaining that the bill discriminates against same-sex couples...

White House Insists Obama Not Backing Off Public Option

Posted on August 18, 2009
CNSNews (AP): "White House spokesman Robert Gibbs insists the Obama administration has not shifted its goals on health care reform or distanced itself from a government-run public insurance option."

Dennis Prager: Now Yale Embarrasses the Idea of the Western University

Posted on August 18, 2009
Dennis Prager writes at Townhall: "When I was a graduate student at Columbia University in the early 1970s, I came to the then-tentative conclusion that I would probably never encounter a morally weaker, more cowardly group of people than college administrators ...

Montana: Pushing contraception on children

Posted on August 18, 2009
One News Now: "A bill to grant carte blanche to teenagers failed in the last session of the Montana state legislature. But Planned Parenthood is now attacking the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which supposedly prohibits coverage of prescriptions of birth control...

Christian man free to share faith in New Haven without fear of arrest

Posted on August 18, 2009
"The city of New Haven has agreed to a court order, issued Monday, that will allow a man to resume expressing his Christian faith on public sidewalks. In 2005, Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a lawsuit against the New Haven Police Department after officers threatened to arrest the man for ?annoying? passersby...

Pro-choice interviewer surprised by her reaction to witnessing an abortion

Posted on August 18, 2009
LifeSiteNews: Newsweek's Sarah Kliff added her voice to the media campaign softening the image of late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart on Saturday with her report 'The Abortion Evangelist', but says she did not anticipate and has difficulty explaining her emotional reaction to witnessing Carhart actually take the life of an unborn child.

Oklahoma judge tosses abortion-ultrasound law on procedural technicality

Posted on August 18, 2009
LifeNews: "A state judge in Oklahoma has struck down a pro-life law that would allow women a chance to see an ultrasound of their baby before the abortion begins . . . The court determined that the law violated Oklahoma?s single-subject rule which requires legislation only deal with one issue at the time...

Christian leader hospitalized with meningitis

Posted on August 18, 2009
One News Now: "Rev. Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of the American Family Association, has been hospitalized in critical condition for treatment of meningitis"

Clean sweep for NY church in settlement with Broome Community College

Posted on August 18, 2009
lliance Defense Fund attorneys have reached a favorable settlement agreement with Broome Community College on behalf of North Pointe Church, which is now allowed equal access to campus facilities after being told it was no longer permitted to meet on campus.

Pennsylvania: ?Police: Man leaves strip club, ends naked in jail?

Posted on August 18, 2009
The Morning Call: "A 41-year-old man faces charges after police said he brandished a knife at a strip club early Sunday and then flooded a toilet and urinated throughout a Wilson police holding cell."

Supreme Court Clerk Hiring Watch: Justice Sotomayor

Posted on August 18, 2009
AbovetheLaw: "The complete, official list of Supreme Court clerks for October Term 2009 -- i.e., the clerks who recently arrived at One First Street -- will be released by the Public Information Office shortly, perhaps by the end of this week. We're previously listed many of the Court's OT 2009 law clerks (see here)...

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