Religion & Law

Texas considers law requiring women to see fetus, listen to heartbeat before abortion

Posted on February 07, 2011
TheStar.com: "Texas Senate committee will begin considering an anti-abortion measure this week that, if passed, would be one of the strongest in the nation. The bill mandates that pregnant women be shown an ultrasound of the fetus at least two hours before an abortion...

GA: Should non students be able to join school clubs, teams?

Posted on February 07, 2011
Maureen Downey writes at the Atlanta J. Constitution: Take a look at Senate Bill 55 and Senate Bill 34, both of which require public schools to allow children who are not enrolled to participate in extracurricular activities. I understand the impetus and the impulse, but at some point, don?t schools have the right to ask: How much more can we do?

As world population heads toward a peak, Malthusian worries reemerge

Posted on February 07, 2011
Christian Science Monitor: "We have about 40 years before the jury renders its final verdict on Malthus. The population of the planet is currently 6.9 billion. By 2050, it will hit 9.2 billion, according to the US Census Bureau. Because of declining birthrates, population specialists believe that will be the peak...

RI House panel will discuss marriage bill

Posted on February 07, 2011
Providence Journal: "Opponents of same-sex marriage will get a chance to push their own bid for a referendum at Wednesday's State House hearing on a bill co-sponsored by House Speaker Gordon D. Fox to allow same-gender nuptials in Rhode Island."

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

How should the church approach cohabiting couples? Two perspectives

Posted on February 07, 2011
Christian Today: "How should a Christian organisation, devoted to supporting marriage and family life, approach cohabitation? There is a juxtaposition between advocating strongly, and singularly for marriage, and supporting the millions of children in this country whose parents cohabit, and who could be left vulnerable to financial insecurity and homelessness should the relationship break down...

School voucher debate heats up in Pa. Legislature

Posted on February 07, 2011
GoErie.com: "Supporters call them a matter of choice, a lifeline for children stuck in broken schools. Opponents deride them as unconstitutional and unworkable and warn that they will erode conditions in some of Pennsylvania's most troubled schools."

Dem senators promise to block House abortion legislation

Posted on February 07, 2011
The Hill: "With House Republicans hosting two hearings on abortion legislation this week, two junior Democratic senators are promising to block efforts to place new restrictions on the practice."

Md. Senate to talk marriage on Tuesday

Posted on February 07, 2011
Washington Blade: "Maryland?s same-sex marriage bill gets its first hearing in the Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 8 beginning at 1 p.m. in Annapolis. Those interested in testifying have until 12:45 p.m. that day to register, but a Senate spokesperson today warned that large crowds are expected so anyone planning to attend should arrive early...

Air Force Academy officers defend prayer luncheon

Posted on February 07, 2011
Denver Post: "Four Air Force Academy officers defended an upcoming prayer luncheon in court filings Monday, after a lawsuit alleged the event is unconstitutional because it appears to be sponsored by commanders and some faculty members feel pressured to attend...

Boston: Rise of the charter schools

Posted on February 07, 2011
Boston Globe: ?It is a surge in growth unlike any we have ever seen,?? said Paul Grogan, president of the Boston Foundation, a charitable organization that urged the state to let more charter schools open. ?We have a very strong cadre of charter schools that are proven providers and ready to expand...

Same-sex ?marriage? and the incubation of Big Brother

Posted on February 04, 2011
"The fact is that the progression of laws allowing same-sex marriage requires the regression of laws that recognize and promote familial bonding between birth-parents and their children. Court rulings for same-sex marriage have already relegated children to a more peripheral role in defining the state?s interest in marriage...

71 Congressmen Ask Sebelius to Come Clean on Telemed Abortion Funding

Posted on February 04, 2011
Operation Rescue on Christian Newswire: "Rep. Steve King, (R-IA), has sent a letter signed by 71 Congressmen to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking for information about the extent to which Federal tax dollars may be funding "telemed abortions," which involves the distribution of the dangerous abortion pill, RU486 over the Internet, but denies women access to physical examinations or emergency care by licensed physicians...

California Elementary School Changes Course After Banning Christian Song From Talent Show

Posted on February 04, 2011
FoxNews: "Christian students shouldn't be censored at public elementary schools because district officials think that religious speech may be offensive, which isn't justified by the Constitution" said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. "The LAUSD did the right thing by recognizing the student's constitutional rights and lifting its censorship of religious speech at the talent show...

2nd imam is out at Islamic center near WTC site

Posted on February 04, 2011
FoxNews: "Shaykh Abdallah Adhami said Friday in a joint statement with the center's developer that he will no longer serve as a religious adviser to the center. Adhami says he wants to devote his time to completing a book on the Quran."

Pro-family group puts pressure on European Court over notorious homeschooling case

Posted on February 04, 2011
LifeSiteNews: The Alliance of Romanian Families (AFR) is intervening in the case of Domenic Johansson, the Swedish boy who was abducted by Gotland social services in 2009, asking that he be returned to his family, as international pressure increases on the Swedish government.

Utah lawmaker aims to up abortion clinic checks

Posted on February 04, 2011
Standard-Examiner: "Republican Representative Carl Wimmer of Herriman says House Bill 171 would increase the number of abortion clinic inspections to twice a year."

VA: House passes bill permitting prayers in schools

Posted on February 04, 2011
Gazette-Virginian: HJ 593 would add the following to the Virginia Constitution: ?Amends current free exercise of religion provisions of the Virginia Constitution to permit prayer and the recognition of religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including public schools in order to secure further the people?s right to acknowledge God...

Utah: Bill Says Marriage Ordained By God

Posted on February 04, 2011
KJCT8.com: And the Utah chapter of the ACLU says it worries the references to God "may be viewed as a state endorsement of religion.''

AP: ?Transgender activists face multiple challenges?

Posted on February 04, 2011
Boston Globe (AP): "Many transgender Americans face intolerance in almost every aspect of their lives, contributing to high levels of homelessness, unemployment and despair, according to a comprehensive survey being released Friday."

Unionizing TSA ?a pretty bad idea?

Posted on February 04, 2011
One News Now: "As Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees could vote as early as March on whether to unionize, the possibility is drawing a measure of criticism."

Prayers at government meetings in Marshfield under fire by Madison group

Posted on February 04, 2011
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: "A Madison organization is urging Marshfield leaders and residents to stop praying before City Council meetings."

Two die in prison and over 100 detained in church raids in Eritrea

Posted on February 04, 2011
Christian Today: "Two Christians are reported to have died in separate Eritrean prisons after being refused medical treatment amid a renewed crackdown by the authorities against unregistered churches."

Two Candidates for D.C. Federal Court Head to Full Senate

Posted on February 04, 2011
Blog of the Legal Times: "Among the nominations are two candidates for spots on the bench of Washington?s federal trial court. Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia Superior Court and Amy Jackson, a partner at Washington-based Trout Cacheris, have both been nominated for the U...

Albert Mohler, Jr.: Moral Collapse at Ms. Magazine ? Sex-Selection Abortion as a ?Problem?

Posted on February 04, 2011
Albert Mohler, Jr. writes at the Christian Post: The appearance of that article does come as something of a surprise. After all, Ms., and the feminist movement it represents, insist that a woman must have the right to abort a pregnancy for any reason or for no reason...

?Gay groups to release transgender bias study?

Posted on February 04, 2011
Pioneer Press: "The National Transgender Discrimination Survey will be released this morning. It was commissioned by the task force and the National Center for Transgender Equality." | Exec. Summary and Report

Senate panel OKs Santa Clara judge for U.S. court

Posted on February 04, 2011
San Francisco Chronicle: "Edward Davila, a Santa Clara Superior Court judge nominated by President Obama to the federal court in San Jose, won unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday for the second time in three months."

Virginia Senate Dems kill several pro-life bills

Posted on February 04, 2011
Richmond Times Dispatch: "The annual legislative debate between abortion-rights advocates and anti-abortion advocates played out Thursday as it has in previous years in the Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee."

Georgia: Legislator wants to ban abortions after 20 weeks

Posted on February 04, 2011
Examiner.com: Under HB 89, known as the ?Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,? physicians would be barred from performing abortions until after determining ?the probable gestational age.?

N.J. Assembly panel advances pilot school choice bill

Posted on February 04, 2011
NJ Star-Ledger: "Thousands of students in failing New Jersey public schools are one step closer to being able to transfer to private schools of their choice after an Assembly committee advanced a controversial school voucher bill tonight."

Justice Ginsburg Says She Won?t Retire Before 2012; Hints She May Stay Until 2016

Posted on February 04, 2011
CNSNews (includes video): "U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said on Thursday evening that she will not retire from the court before 2012 and hinted that she might serve until she's at least 83 years old in 2016."

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