Religion & Law

Court refuses to hear challenge to FCC rule

Posted on June 15, 2009
AP: "The Supreme Court won't stop the Federal Communications Commission from setting rules making it easier for new cable TV competitors to gain local franchises . . . The case is Alliance for Community Media v. FCC, 08-1027."

DC board rejects marriage referendum effort

Posted on June 15, 2009
"Referendum proponents will file an appeal Tuesday in D.C. Superior Court, said Brian Raum, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which represents supporters of a ballot measure on the issue."

NY City revokes same sex ?marriage? license

Posted on June 15, 2009
Newsday: The city Clerk's Office will no longer accept state-issued benefit cards from couples wanting to wed after two men - one dressed like a woman - duped the agency and obtained a marriage license, a city spokesman said.

NY Senate splits 31-31, power share still sought

Posted on June 15, 2009
AP: "A dissident Democrat who helped Republicans seize power in the New York Senate a week ago has returned to the Democratic fold and declared that Democrats must retake the majority he cost them."

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Neb. regulators consider therapists? conscience

Posted on June 15, 2009
Associated Press: "Nebraska's rules for licensed psychologists might change because of concerns about conflicts between religious convictions and sexual orientation."

Oregon: ?Anti-bullying, sex-ed bills become law?

Posted on June 15, 2009
Peter Wong reports in the Statesman Journal: "House Bill 2599 requires school districts to be more specific in anti-bullying policies, which a 2001 law requires them to have . . . House Bill 2509 requires age-appropriate sex education as part of the health curriculum in public schools...

AK: Student?s Association calls for ?sex-ed?

Posted on June 15, 2009
LifeSteNews reports: "The Alaska Association of Student Governments has called for ?mandatory? and ?comprehensive? sexual education for high school. They plan to bring the proposal to the state legislature, where, if enacted into law, private schools and homeschooled children will be forced to enter the program into their curricula, reports the Catholic Anchor...

Utah Transit Authority to issue fines for viewing ?inappropriate? websites

Posted on June 15, 2009
Laura Hancock reports in the Deseret News: "An ordinance recently adopted by the Utah Transit Authority will fine passengers for 'inappropriate use of Internet services,' including pornography, gambling and gaming sites."

WA: Woman opposed to Planned Parenthood in Pasco next to elementary school

Posted on June 15, 2009
Joe Chapman reports in the Tri-City Herald: "'To put such a highly volatile business right next to an elementary school, ... I'm concerned about the impact it's going to have on the community,' said Deeana Hoyt, who operates a day care on Pearl Street, on the other side of the school from where the clinic would be...

Former Republican N.Y. Senate leader backs ?gay marriage?

Posted on June 15, 2009
Washington Blade: "Former New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said he now supports legalizing same-sex marriage in New York, a change of heart that could influence the measure's chances in the state Senate."

?Errant Exercise: Louisiana Amendment Could Jeopardize Health Care, Civil Rights?

Posted on June 15, 2009
Ilana Stern writes at Americans United for Separation of Church and State: "While Americans United has always supported providing strong protection for those who wish to exercise their religion freely, we are extremely concerned with the overly broad language of HB 340...

Pakistan: Christian murdered, drank from Muslim cup

Posted on June 15, 2009
Mats Tunehag writes at Varldenidag.se: "When Ishtiaq went to pay for his tea, the owner noticed that he was wearing a necklace with a cross and grabbed him, calling for his employees to bring anything available to beat him for violating a sign posted on the stall warning non-Muslims to declare their religion before being served...

Ohio: Man shot in the arm outside North Dixie Drive strip club

Posted on June 15, 2009
Dayton Daily News: "A man was shot in the arm Friday night, June 12, during a suspected attempted robbery outside a North Dixie Drive strip club . . . "

Report: Missouri charter school students outperform peers

Posted on June 15, 2009
Kansas City Star: "Missouri charter school students, on average, do better in reading and math than students in their peer traditional public schools, according to a national study released today. The report done by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University ...

Georgia church fights neighborhood sex-trafficking

Posted on June 15, 2009
Macon.com (AP): "Members of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta learned in 2005 that worship wasn't the only thing going on in the neighborhood: teenage prostitutes had begun working within a few steps of the church's doors, according to a mayor's report...

Religious Liberty Stops at the Schoolhouse Door

Posted on June 15, 2009
Ken Connor writes at the Christian Post: The increasing boldness with which teachers, administrators, and the courts that support them are suppressing students' legitimate expressions of faith reflects the growing predominance of an ideology within the American education system committed to eradicating all traces of traditional religious influence on public life in America...

Chinese Embassy Responds Regarding Kidnapped Christian Attorney Gao Zhisheng

Posted on June 15, 2009
Christian Newswire: The core paragraph in the Ambassador's reply, released by Senator Dorgan's office, states that, according to his inquiry, "Gao received a three-year sentence, with five-years probation, and one-year deprivation of political rights on December 26, 2006 for violation of the Criminal Law...

Future of feminist movement an issue in NOW leadership

Posted on June 15, 2009
One News Now (AP): "Despite having a pro-feminist president in the White House, the nation's leading feminist group, the National Organization for Women, heads into its own leadership contest this week mindful of the need to energize its ranks."

California pro-life group backs petition to stop gov?t-funded abortion

Posted on June 15, 2009
LifeNews: "A California pro-life group is sponsoring a new petition to call on state government officials, specifically pro-abortion Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to stop using state money to pay for abortions. The California Pro-Life Council says paying for abortion is wrong, especially in this current difficult economic climate...

New Planned Parenthood Declaration: ?Sexuality Is an Essential Part of Humanity?

Posted on June 15, 2009
AlterNet: In an effort to promote the free enjoyment of human sexuality, separate from reproduction, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) launched the world's first declaration of sexual rights in the Argentine capital on Wednesday. Sexual Rights: An IPPF Declaration

Wis. Democrats elect nation?s youngest chair, an advocate for marriage redefinition

Posted on June 15, 2009
AP: "Tate also led the Fair Wisconsin campaign in 2006 that attempted to defeat a constitutional ban on gay marriage."

?Civil Disobedience for Gay Marriage on June 17th in San Francisco?

Posted on June 15, 2009
Gay Marriage Watch Blog: "Gays United Network is organizing civil disobedience actions at the San Francisco Marriage License Office on Monday June 17 at 8am, exactly one year after the Calif. Supreme Court upheld same-sex marriage rights."

Why pay for religious schools when charter schools are free?

Posted on June 12, 2009
Black Christian News Network: "This mix of charter and after-school tutorial is the model that presents a real challenge to private, religiously focused day schools. One variation on the model may soon be attempted in Englewood, N.J., where a coalition of parents has proposed a program that would inject Hebrew-language instruction into the public-school system and offer supplementary religious education to families who are interested ...

Religion News in Brief

Posted on June 12, 2009
Google (AP): Student Christina Popa's statement read, in part, "I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The student affairs adviser for the department objected to the Jesus reference and asked her to substitute it with "I want to thank God" instead, according to the Alliance Defense Fund, a religious-freedom group that took up Popa's cause.

Indian Government: Sex Education ?Has Absolutely No Place? in Our Schools - It ?Promotes Promiscuity?

Posted on June 12, 2009
LifeSiteNews: "The Indian government has rejected western-style sex education programs, saying they do nothing to solve the problem of teenage pregnancy but only exacerbate the problem by promoting sexual promiscuity.

Love Connection: Hamas gets into matchmaking biz

Posted on June 12, 2009
Washington Post: "Many single women in Gaza say it's becoming more difficult to find a husband as a economic hardship in Gaza increases amid a harsh Israeli blockade of the territory. They are relying more on matchmakers, and the Tayseer Association, run by Hamas loyalists, is the best in the business...

An intellectual history of judicial activism

Posted on June 12, 2009
Emory Law Journal: "Over the past six decades, the term 'judicial activism' has become an immensely popular tool for criticizing judges' behavior. Despite the term's prominence, however, its meaning is obscure, and its origins have been forgotten. This article seeks to correct such deficiencies through a detailed conceptual and historical analysis of judicial activism...

Pot advocates want Calif. to vote on legalization

Posted on June 12, 2009
AP: "Californians could legally possess up to one ounce of pot and cities could sell and tax the drug under an initiative marijuana advocates want to place on the state's 2010 ballot. The Control, Regulate and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 . . . " www.taxcannabis2010...

NY Time: ?First Comes [Arranged] Marriage?

Posted on June 12, 2009
Farahad Zama writes at the New York Times: "Economics and social acceptability must be big factors in its galloping rate of marital breakdowns. But dashed expectations must play a large part, too. I think that in arranged marriages one starts with lower expectations and realizes the need for compromise that is essential in a successful bond, and that is probably its biggest benefit...

New York Stem Cell Research Board Agrees to Pay for Women?s Eggs for Science

Posted on June 12, 2009
LifeNews: "The Empire State Stem Cell Board has agreed to a new plan, that has been soundly criticized by pro-life advocates, using taxpayer funds to pay women who allow for the extraction of their eggs for research purposes. The board will use money from the $600 million in state taxpayer funds it oversees...

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