Religion & Law

?No more pro-choice protestors on the high seas?

Posted on July 28, 2009
Marcel Haenen reports at Spiegel Online: "Nearing its 10th anniversary, the controversial Dutch 'abortion boat' has suspended all further sailings because of recent scrutiny from government authorities. But the abortion rights activist who started it all has another plan and she says that her pro-choice campaign will continue -- on the Web...

Catholic nurse forced to help in abortion sues hospital

Posted on July 28, 2009
Bess Twiston-Davies writes at Faith Central (Times Online): "A native of the Philippines, Cenzon-DeCarlo says: 'I emigrated to this country in the belief that here religious freedom is sacred. Doctors and nurses shouldn't be forced to abandon their beliefs and participate in abortion in order to keep their jobs...

Nurse forced to participate in abortion speaks out

Posted on July 28, 2009
Catholic News Agency: "Now, the Alliance Defense Fund is representing Cenzon-DeCarlo in a lawsuit that seeks to force Mount Sinai to surrender their federal funding because it has violated a federal rule protecting employees who morally object to controversial procedures...

Lawsuit: Catholic nurse forced to assist in late-term abortion

Posted on July 28, 2009
Emily Miller reports at Politics Daily: "The Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance of Christian attorneys, filed the lawsuit against Mount Sinai Hospital on behalf of DeCarlo, who is still working there."

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?Exploitation? of the Poor is a Poor Reason to Ban Organ Markets

Posted on July 28, 2009
Illya Somin writes at the Volokh Conspiracy: "The arrest of Brooklyn Rabbi Levy Izhak Rosenbaum for trying to broker the sale of a kidney has rekindled public debate over the possibility of legalizing organ markets. This is an issue I teach every year in my Property class...

Alienation of Affections ? Still Alive

Posted on July 28, 2009
Eugene Volokh writes at the Volokh Conspiracy: "Alienation of affections basically consists of a defendant?s (1) wrongfully (2) causing plaintiff (3) to lose the affection and often company of the plaintiff?s spouse . . . The related tort of criminal conversation basically consists of a defendant?s having adulterous sex with plaintiff?s spouse, though of course such conduct may also often lead to an alienation of affections claim ...

Nigerian Rebels Demanding Sharia Expand Attacks On Security Forces

Posted on July 28, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "Toronto's National Post reports that in Nigeria, the Muslim rebel group Boko Haram on Monday expanded its attacks against Nigerian security forces to in Yobe, Kano and Borno states."

To NEA: Use Power Indifferently

Posted on July 28, 2009
John Jensen writes at EdNews.org: "At the national NEA meeting in early July, Bob Chanin, its outgoing general counsel, asserted (http://www.nea.org/grants/33242.htm#) that power was the source of the NEA's success?the outcome of long years of union activity?and that pursuing its other goals at the cost of sacrificing power is 'too high a price to pay...

Senate Panel Endorses Sotomayor in 13-6 Vote

Posted on July 28, 2009
"As expected, all 12 Democrats on the judiciary panel voted for Judge Sotomayor. But among the seven Republicans on the committee, only Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted in favor."

At Washington Meeting With Chinese, Obama Raises Religious Freedom Issue

Posted on July 28, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "In his remarks opening the Conference yesterday (full text), President Obama made reference to human rights and religious freedom concerns: 'Just as we respect China's ancient and remarkable culture, its remarkable achievements, we also strongly believe that the religion and culture of all peoples must be respected and protected, and that all people should be free to speak their minds...

Author Criticizes Religious Views of Nominee For Head of NIH

Posted on July 28, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "Author Sam Harris published an op-ed in yesterday's New York Times criticizing President Obama's nomination of Francis Collins to head the National Institutes of Health."

Indiana: Atheist group wins battle to put ads on city buses

Posted on July 28, 2009
Fox28 (AP): "An atheist group can post 'You can be good without God' ads on Bloomington city buses."

Seniors Groups Say Claims False That Health Care Bill Promotes Euthanasia

Posted on July 28, 2009
LifeNews: "Seniors groups are taking issue with claims from a conservative health care advocate and House Republicans who say the health care bill in Congress could be used to promote euthanasia."

It?s all settled: Atlanta Public Schools officially recognizes Christian student club

Posted on July 28, 2009
Alliance Defense Fund attorneys secured a settlement Monday with Atlanta Public Schools that will result in official recognition of a Christian student club that was repeatedly denied access to the same rights, benefits, and privileges given to all other student clubs at Sutton Middle School.

New York Court Says It Has Jurisdiction to Dissolve a Vermont Civil Union

Posted on July 28, 2009
Leonard Link: "A New York Supreme Court Justice has ruled that the Supreme Court?s general equity powers can be used to dissolve a Vermont civil union. While dismissing the divorce petition filed in B.S. v. F.B., 2009 Westlaw 2195786 (N.Y. Supreme Ct...

?Senate, House to negotiate gay hate crimes?

Posted on July 28, 2009
Baptist Press: "Senators' July 23 passage of the measure means select members of both chambers of Congress will meet in a conference committee to resolve differences between the defense authorization bills. The House of Representatives approved its version of the authorization legislation June 25 without hate crimes language...

Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on Sotomayor confirmation

Posted on July 28, 2009
CNN: "Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, faces her next hurdle Tuesday morning as the Senate Judiciary Committee votes whether or not to confirm her."

WWJD Lawsuit Dismissed With Prejudice

Posted on July 28, 2009
Liberty Counsel: "A federal class action lawsuit against Bullseye Collection Agency (Bullseye), which challenged Bullseye?s 'WWJD'? business motto, has now been dismissed with prejudice. The Plaintiffs in that suit, Mark and Sara Neill, claimed they were harassed and oppressed when they received a collection letter from Bullseye that contained the same 'WWJD' motto that Bullseye includes on all of its business communications...

Christian doctor reinstated to adoption panel over homosexuality row

Posted on July 28, 2009
Telegraph: "Dr. Sheila Matthews, a Christian doctor barred from an adoption panel after refusing to recommend that children live with homosexual couples, has been reinstated - but cannot vote on whether adoption goes ahead."

Did Student Speech Get Thrown Out With the Banner? Reading ?Bong Hits 4 Jesus? Narrowly to Uphold Important Constitution Protections for Students

Posted on July 28, 2009
Houston Law Review: "This Note argues that the Court ruled correctly in Morse and shows that, contrary to arguments that the decision could justify '[v]irtually all restrictive speech policies,' it actually 'threaten[s] student rights less than some initially feared...

An Opiate of the Masses: Religious Gerrymandering of Sacramental Intoxication

Posted on July 28, 2009
North Carolina Central Law Review: "Courts have not consistently applied religious exemptions among differing faiths, which leads an observer to question the distinction between one religion's permissible accommodations over another's."

China: ?1 Plus 1: Shanghai Tweaks Child Rules?

Posted on July 28, 2009
NY Times: "The new push, which aims to tackle growing worries about the country?s shrinking work force and aging population, is the most public effort yet to counter a policy that is considered both a tremendous success and a terrible failure. While it has kept population growth under control, it has also led to forced abortions...

Archbishop of Canterbury: Homosexuality and ?Two Styles of Being Anglican?

Posted on July 28, 2009
Archbishop of Canterbury: "It helps to be clear about these possible futures, however much we think them less than ideal, and to speak about them not in apocalyptic terms of schism and excommunication but plainly as what they are ? two styles of being Anglican, whose mutual relation will certainly need working out but which would not exclude co-operation in mission and service of the kind now shared in the Communion...

Call for Papers: ?Intelligent Design and the Constitution?

Posted on July 28, 2009
Legal Scholarship Blog: The University of St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy will be accepting papers for its fall and spring issues. The fall issue will pertain to ?Intelligent Design and the Constitution? and the spring issue will pertain to ?The Armenian Genocide?.

UK: Library won?t let church put up ?craft fair? poster

Posted on July 28, 2009
The Christian Institute: "A Sunday school teacher has been told she can?t put up a poster at her local library to advertise a church children?s event because it ?promotes religion?."

Anger after Bible defaced in British gallery

Posted on July 28, 2009
AFP: "Christians voiced anger and dismay Tuesday after a Bible, which was part of an exhibition inviting viewers to add their reflections, was defaced with offensive and foul-mouthed scrawl."

Austin R. Nimocks at FRC Action?s Conservative Training Day: Defending Marriage and Our Religious Liberties

Posted on July 28, 2009
ADF attorney Austin R. Nimocks appeared at FRC Action's Conservative Training Day to provide an excellent review of pending threats to Marriage and Our Religious Liberties. The Windows media file runs just over 28 minutes.

California: ?Lodi council prayers put city in the hot seat?

Posted on July 28, 2009
Sacramento Bee: "City leaders say the issue will be open to public debate at an upcoming, yet unscheduled, council meeting. 'This whole thing has taken on a life of its own,' said Mayor Larry Hansen. 'I'm getting e-mails from all over, mainly from people who tell us we better not take Jesus out of the City Council meetings...

Lesbians in China petition to donate blood

Posted on July 28, 2009
AP: "Lesbians in China have organized an online petition calling for gay people to be allowed to donate blood, state media reported Tuesday."

Norma McCorvey (Formerly Roe of Roe vs. Wade), Randall Terry, and Over 30 Anti-Abortion Activists from Seven States to Confront Nancy Pelosi Over ?Health Care? Reform

Posted on July 28, 2009
Randall Terry on the Christian Newswire: "Expect a tax revolt. If you think we will willingly surrender our money to pay for murder, you are insane."

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