Religion & Law

Baucus: ?No idea? how he?ll vote on Sotomayor

Posted on July 31, 2009
The Hill: "Baucus had an A rating from the NRA in 2008, as did two other Senate Democrats who ran last year: Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Mark Warner of Virginia. Johnson supports Sotomayor?s nomination. Warner told The Hill on Thursday he intends to support Sotomayor ? and that he was 'very disappointed' in the gun lobby ...

For Midlevel Associates, a Year to Forget

Posted on July 31, 2009
Rachel Breitman at the American Lawyer: "Annual survey shows morale plunged as midlevels worried about whether they'd be the next to go, or whether they'd have any work to do if they stayed."

Wall street banker files to run against Reid

Posted on July 31, 2009
The Hill: "Wall Street baker John Chachas has filed the paperwork to run for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) seat, according to the Wall Street Journal . . . "

N.Y. nurse sues after forced to aid abortion

Posted on July 31, 2009
Washington Times: "A Roman Catholic nurse who says she felt 'violated and betrayed, liked I had been raped' after being forced to take part in a second-trimester abortion is suing a New York City hospital on charges of violating her rights . . . When asked why she didn't simply walk out of the building, one of her attorneys, Matt Bowman of the Alliance Defense Fund, said the plaintiff 'strenuously protested to the point of tears...

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Infidelity and Its Implications

Posted on July 31, 2009
Christopher O. Tollefsen writes at Public Discourse: "As recent polls and recent events show, Americans remain morally opposed to sexual infidelity in marriage. At the same time, Americans show broad acceptance of premarital sex. But an examination of the reasons why infidelity within marriage is detrimental to human flourishing reveals sexual infidelity prior to marriage to be just as harmful...

?A daring Baltic ban on gay propaganda?

Posted on July 31, 2009
Mercator Net: "In fact, to pass the law the ruling coalition had to override a veto by the outgoing president, and the new one signed it reluctantly, noting the constitution gave her no choice. Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius insists the law does not violate anyone?s rights...

Planned Parenthood executive denounces Orange County officials

Posted on July 31, 2009
LA Times: "In a scathing letter to Orange County officials, Planned Parenthood accused them of having 'gerrymandered' the process for doling out health grants and having imposed obstacles to prevent it from running a breast-health program."

MA: Ruling backs strip club developer in Westport wetlands dispute

Posted on July 31, 2009
South Coast Today: "A state Department of Environmental Protection hearing officer has ruled in favor of strip club developer Deutche Donn in a wetlands dispute with the town's Conservation Commission."

UK: ?Right-to-die? law to be clarified

Posted on July 31, 2009
The Guardian: "In a unanimous ruling, five law lords backed a call by Purdy for the DPP to draw up a policy that would spell out when prosecutions would and would not be pursued. It is the first time that the DPP has been asked by the courts to outline the circumstances under which he would prosecute...

Rwanda: MPs demand legalization of abortion

Posted on July 31, 2009
The New Times: "Members of Parliament yesterday expressed deep concerns over the continued government stand of keeping abortion illegal, with some calling for the total withdrawal of the article from the amended Penal Code."

ND: Judge set to act quickly on challenge to abortion law

Posted on July 31, 2009
Bismarck Tribune: "A judge says he will act quickly on a constitutional challenge to a state law set to take effect Saturday that would require an abortion clinic to give women the chance to view ultrasounds 24 hours before getting an abortion."

Liberal and conservative senators unite on D.C. voucher bill

Posted on July 31, 2009
CNSNews: "A bipartisan group of senators announced Thursday that they plan to introduce legislation to revive the District of Columbia?s recently terminated D.C. Opportunity Scholarship school-voucher program. "

Australia: Labor party debates same-sex ?marriage?

Posted on July 31, 2009
WA Today: "The issue comes up for debate on Saturday and is shaping as one of the more passionate discussions at the Labor conference, which has to date been unusually restrained."

Porn prosecution fuels debate

Posted on July 31, 2009
Politico: "President Barack Obama?s Justice Department has quietly agreed to move a pornography prosecution out of socially conservative Montana to more urbane New Jersey ? fueling perceptions by some attorneys that the new administration is stepping back from the aggressive approach the Bush administration took to prosecuting obscenity ...

?Rep. Murphy?s (LGBT) law for the military?

Posted on July 31, 2009
Human Events: "Murphy has replaced former Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) as the new lead sponsor of H.R. 1283, a bill that would repeal the 1993 law stating that homosexuals are not eligible to serve in the military. That law, Section 654, Title 10, frequently is mislabeled 'Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell...

Does Ga. need its own hate crimes law?

Posted on July 31, 2009
Southern Voice: "With a federal hate crimes law poised to pass in Congress, the question arises as to whether or not Georgia will still need a state hate crimes law. The answer is, quite simply, yes, according to law enforcement officials as well as a state lawmaker and Georgia Equality, the state?s largest gay advocacy group...

RU-486 abortion drug to be allowed in Italy

Posted on July 31, 2009
Tampa Bay Online (AP): "Italy has approved the use of the abortion drug RU-486, drawing fierce protests by the Vatican."

UK: Quakers ?to allow gay marriages?

Posted on July 31, 2009
BBC: "One of the UK's oldest Christian denominations - the Quakers - looks set to extend marriage services to same-sex couples at their yearly meeting later."

WA: Referendum 71 could be close

Posted on July 31, 2009
The Olympian: "David Ammons of the Office of the Secretary of State said the actual number is 137,689, about 800 fewer than the 138,500 estimated at Saturday?s turn-in of signatures by the Protect Marriage Washington campaign, which is led by Christian faith groups...

Nurse sues, claims coercion in abortion

Posted on July 31, 2009
Baptist Press: "'Requiring a devout, Catholic nurse to participate in a late-term abortion in order to remain employed is illegal, unethical and violates her rights of conscience,' ADF legal counsel Matt Bowman said in a written release. 'Federal law requires that employers who receive funding from tax dollars must not compel employees to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs, but this nurse's objections fell on deaf ears...

Reconciling religion and infertility

Posted on July 31, 2009
Medill Reports: "Yet the advent of increasing fertility options raises moral concerns that vary widely by religion, said researchers and theologians at the second annual Oncoferility Summit that the consortium hosted last week in Evanston."

IRS backs off audit of pastor?s preaching on political candidates ? for now

Posted on July 31, 2009
LifeSiteNews: "'Pastors have a right to speak freely from their pulpits. Something is very wrong in America when free speech is held hostage by bungling bureaucracies,' said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. 'This latest action from the IRS continues to leave churches in limbo when it comes to speaking freely from their pulpits...

Catholic Church issues excommunication warning after Italy approves abortion pill

Posted on July 31, 2009
Euro News: "The Roman Catholic Church has warned it will excommunicate anyone who takes the abortion pill, following the decision by Italy?s drugs regulation agency to authorise its use."

Appeal Planned In 10 Commandments Ruling

Posted on July 31, 2009
CBS-4 (AP): "ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot says there is no difference between the Haskell County Ten Commandments display and one upheld at the Texas state capitol."

Appeal planned in 10 Commandments ruling

Posted on July 31, 2009
KTUL (AP): "ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot says there is no difference between the Haskell County Ten Commandments display and one upheld at the Texas state capitol."

ADF plans to appeal Okla. Ten Commandments case to U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on July 31, 2009
In a 6-to-6 decision, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit Thursday narrowly decided not to review a three-judge panel?s determination that a Ten Commandments display at the Haskell County, Oklahoma, Courthouse is unconstitutional. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund plan to appeal the case to the U...

Tonight! ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven Aden on O?Reilly to discuss NY nurse forced to participate in abortion

Posted on July 31, 2009
Tonight! ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven H. Aden will be on the O'Reilly Factor to discuss the case involving a New York nurse forced to participate in an abortion. Laura Ingraham is hosting.

U.S. Bishops warn against using ?abortion rights? agenda in health care reform

Posted on July 31, 2009
Catholic News Agency: "The U.S. Bishops' Pro-life Committee chairman, Cardinal Justin Rigali, is calling on the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to amend the health care reform legislation so that it will not cover abortion and will protect the consciences of medical personnel...

Woman handed victory in UK assisted suicide case

Posted on July 30, 2009
Boston Globe (AP): "Debbie Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis, sued the government to find out whether her husband will be charged if he helps her end her life."

HRC Launches New Grassroots Campaign: ?No Excuses?

Posted on July 30, 2009
HRC Back Story Blog: "Today the Human Rights Campaign launched a national, grassroots campaign called ?No Excuses? to demand action from Congress on key issues of equality. Designed to take advantage of the Congressional summer recess . . . "

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