Religion & Law

USA Today: ?Business, morality and gay marriage: A buzz word bonanza?

Posted on May 18, 2009
Cathy Lynn Grossman has this post at USA Today comparing and contrasting comments by RNC Chairman Michael Steele with comments by ADF attorney Austin R. Nimocks. Michael Steele saying marriage redefinition will harm small businesses: "Now all of a sudden I've got someone who wasn't a spouse before, that I had no responsibility for, who is now getting claimed as a spouse that I now have financial responsibility for...

Full Text: Obama?s Notre Dame Speech

Posted on May 18, 2009
WhiteHouse.gov: THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 17, 2009 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME University of Notre Dame South Bend, Indiana 3:06 P...

Pro-Life Law Grade Boycotts Obama Notre Dame Address

Posted on May 18, 2009
The NY Daily Post quotes new Notre Dame Law Grad. and Blackstone Fellow Anna Franzonello : I wouldn't be able to approve them handing him [an honorary] degree," said Franzonello, 27, of upstate Endwell. She also said, "Your commencement speaker is supposed to be someone you emulate, and they're supposed to be sending you off into the world...

?Study: Gay marriages pump $111 million into Mass?

Posted on May 18, 2009
The AP continues to circulate this Williams Institute propaganda: "A study says the over 12,000 same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts since 2004 have pumped over $111 million into the state's economy." This information has been touted and selectively released by the AP in numerous states.

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

ACLU settles suit: Cal. schools can?t encourage heterosexuality

Posted on May 18, 2009
". . . a high school student who faced anti-gay harassment and discrimination from teachers and school staff and was required to participate in a school-sponsored 'counseling' group designed to discourage students from being lesbian, gay, bisexual, for transgender...

U.S. House: Baldwin, Nadler Frank, and Polis Introduce Resolution Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall

Posted on May 15, 2009
Cong. Tammy Baldwin press release: "Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barney Frank (D-MA) and Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to recognize the 40th anniversary of Stonewall. Stonewall is an essential piece of American history that catalyzed the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement for equal rights...

New Monograph Traces Limits On Government Funding of Religion

Posted on May 15, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life announced yesterday that it has issued a new report titled: Shifting Boundaries: The Establishment Clause and Government Funding of Religious Schools and Other Faith-Based Organizations...

?Pa. grants domestic-partner benefits?

Posted on May 15, 2009
Philadelphia Gay News: "Pennsylvania state employees in same-sex relationships will now be able to obtain the same medical benefits for their partners as heterosexual married employees. The Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund, a non-governmental agency that oversees the state benefits programs, will offer medical, prescription drug, dental, vision and hearing-aid benefits to the same- and opposite-sex domestic partners of all PEBTF-eligible employees, which amounts to about 81,000 individuals...

Tennessee AG Says Specialty Plate For Church Is Unconstitutional

Posted on May 15, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "On Wednesday, the Tennessee Attorney General's Office issued Opinion No. 09-82 finding that a proposed bill to create a specialty license plate honoring the Church of God in Christ would violate the Establishment Clause."

?Church Sues Radical Gay Activist Group?

Posted on May 15, 2009
CBN: "I think churches need to be vigilant and be careful, but unfortunately that's the response a viewpoint in support of marriage garners," Schowengerdt said. "That's why this group attacked this church because they supported marriage and we've seen it in California...

Thomas More Law Ctr. Asks Secretary of State Clinton to Intervene on Behalf of Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage

Posted on May 15, 2009
Thomas More Law Center: "The British government?s ban of conservative talk show host Michael Savage from entering the United Kingdom prompted a formal appeal to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to call upon that government to rescind the ban as being arbitrary, capricious, and a violation of international law and treaties...

New York Civil Liberties Union Defends Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Posted on May 15, 2009
Public Broadcasting: "The New York Civil Liberties Union is weighing in on claims made by religious groups and others that are opposed to the same-sex marriage bill. "

Florida: Hold schools in contempt over prayer, ACLU pleads

Posted on May 15, 2009
PNJ.com: "Michelle Winkler violated the order by having her husband, who is not a School Board employee, offer prayer at the non-instructional employee of the year banquet" on Feb. 20, said Benjamin Stevenson, an ACLU of Florida staff attorney. "We filed a motion for the federal court to issue an order for her to show cause or explain herself...

?New York state split over gay marriage: poll?

Posted on May 15, 2009
AFP: "The poll by Quinnipiac University shows that 46 percent of New York state voters opposed same-sex marriage, while 46 percent supported it."

?Scotus prospect draws criticism from gay groups?

Posted on May 15, 2009
AP: "Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, considered a potential nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, has drawn criticism from gay rights groups after announcing plans to join a think tank whose founder is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage."

Minn. man files appeal in free-speech case against National Parks

Posted on May 15, 2009
First Amendment Center (AP): Lawyer Heather Gebelin Hacker of the Alliance Defense Fund . . . "The national parks and their historical significance makes them very important areas for people to be able to exercise their rights," Hacker told the Associated Press...

Lawsuit bashes back at ?Bash Back?: Homosexuals who violated church sued for federal violations

Posted on May 15, 2009
WorldNetDaily: "The use of violent threats and criminal behavior to make a political point should never be acceptable in America," said Gary McCaleb, ADF senior counsel. "Bash Back! revealed how dangerous the homosexual agenda is to our first liberty, religious freedom...

?Mount Hope Church sues gay rights group?

Posted on May 15, 2009
Lansing State Journal: Church staff directed questions to the Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based nonprofit that filed the suit on the Delta Township church's behalf. "They don't have the right to come in and terrorize the congregation," said Kevin Theriot, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund...

ADF: Defense of Ariz. tax credit program continues

Posted on May 15, 2009
ADF attorneys argue that Arizona?s tuition tax credit program is fully consistent with the Constitution because individual, private choices--not government action--cause money to flow to the schools.

NH: Some Say Changes In Same-Sex Marriage Bill Won?t Be Enough

Posted on May 15, 2009
WMUR.com: "But in the civil marriage provision, there are no protections for officials or businesses that refuse to take part based on their personal or religious beliefs. Opposing lawmakers said it's an example of legislation that was put on rush. 'It's certainly a flaw, and it's something that came as a result of the last-minute nature of what came before the Senate, and then, last week, last-minute fixes,' said Sen...

Delaware Senate Committee Rejects Anti-Discrimination Bill

Posted on May 15, 2009
Insurance Journal: It is not antithetical in this country to be a business owner and a religious person,'' said Austin Nimocks, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian-oriented legal defense group. Nimocks said the exemptions in the bill for religious organizations were "grossly inadequate,'' and that passage of the bill would guarantee litigation.

New York: ?GOP Marriage Bombshell??

Posted on May 15, 2009
Sen. Tom Duane claims one of his Republican colleagues is on the cusp of publicly announcing his or her support for same-sex marriage, the DN's Frank Lombardi reports.

9th Circuit stays Boy Scouts Case versus San Diego

Posted on May 15, 2009
Barnes-Wallace v. City of San Diego, No. 04-55732 (9th Cir. May 15, 2009): On April 1, 2009, the California Supreme Court denied this court?s request for decision of certified questions without prejudice to renewal of the request after resolution of the issue of standing becomes final...

Cambridge students drop Jesus from mealtime prayers

Posted on May 15, 2009
Christian Today: “Students at Newnham College, Cambridge, have removed references to Jesus in a prayer of thanks before formal dinners and have introduced a secular ‘prayer’ to be said in its place.” Visit Site »

5-year-old Iraqi boy kidnapped, then killed

Posted on May 15, 2009
Baptist Press: "The body of a kidnapped 5-year-old Iraqi Christian boy was discovered riddled with gunshots May 11, according to a report issued May 13 by International Christian Concern, a Washington-based human rights organization."

?Harvey Milk Day? exposes children in schools to ?gay? activist agenda, critics say

Posted on May 15, 2009
Baptist Press: "California lawmakers are discussing the possibility of setting aside May 22 each year as a 'day of special significance' honoring Harvey Milk, an openly homosexual San Francisco alderman whose murder in 1978 made him an icon of the 'gay rights' movement...

Americans United for Life Announces Legal Prospectus on Probable Supreme Court Nominees

Posted on May 15, 2009
Americans United for Life: "Americans United for Life (AUL) announces today a new legal prospectus on the probable 'short list' of President Obama?s Supreme Court nominees, and their records on life issues. AUL is the nation?s first national pro-life organization and the leading legal and public policy organization in the pro-life movement...

Seventh Circuit Nominee David Hamilton?Written Answers

Posted on May 15, 2009
Ed Whelan writes at the National Review Bench Memos Blog: "In the aftermath of his confirmation hearing two weeks ago, Seventh Circuit nominee David Hamilton (whose record I?ve previously outlined here, here, here, and here) has provided answers to written questions submitted by various Republican senators...

Federalist Society Event: Politics in the Pulpit - May 20th

Posted on May 15, 2009
Federalist Society: This event is co-sponsored by The Alliance Defense Fund . . . Our panel will examine the application of the Johnson Amendment to religious ministers in their preaching duties during worship services. Does the Johnson Amendment constrain clergy from effectively imparting messages integral to their faith, or is it an appropriate safeguard to ensure that churches and government limit their respective activities? Panelists: Benjamin W...

Catholic University Health Plans and Abortion

Posted on May 15, 2009
Catholic Online: Ideally every professor should be a practicing member of the faith,? said Gary McCaleb, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund in Scottsdale, Ariz. ?If you are a truly religious college then your professors should be presenting a clearly religious world view...

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