Religion & Law

Hawaii: Petitions opposing civil unions delivered to the legislature

Posted on May 07, 2009
HonoluluAdvertiser.com: "Hawaii Family Forum today presented state lawmakers with petitions bearing more than 10,000 signatures of people opposed to same-sex civil unions."

Senate panel OKs stem cell research reporting bill

Posted on May 07, 2009
The Dallas Morning News: "The bill drew praise from Jonathan Saenz, legislative director of the Free Market Foundation. The conservative group opposes embryonic stem cell research, saying work with adult stem cells is sufficient to find cures and therapies for chronic disease...

Pakistan: Lawyer threatens to kill Christian charged with ?blasphemy?

Posted on May 07, 2009
Compass Direct News: "A Pakistani Christian charged with abetting blasphemy against Islam was denied bail for his own safety last week after an Islamist lawyer allegedly threatened his life in a court hearing . . . 'If the judge does not punish Aleem according to the law, then [we] will kill him ourselves,' said Tariq Dhamal, an attorney for the unnamed complainant, according to a report by the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS)...

Protesters Blast Congress for Axing D.C. Vouchers While Sending Own Kids to Private School

Posted on May 07, 2009
Fox News: "An estimated 1,000 parents, children and community leaders attended the afternoon protest in Washington's Freedom Plaza, where they called on D.C. politicians to help preserve a federal school choice program that currently assists more than 1,700 students with scholarships worth up to $7,500...

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North Carolina Public Parks Settle for Free Speech and Allow Sharing of the Gospel

Posted on May 07, 2009
Liberty Counsel: "After several members of Grace Baptist Church of Wilson gathered at Fort Macon State Park to play group games, swim in the ocean, and picnic, they shared about Jesus Christ with some park visitors. Ranger Richard Crocker approached the group and explained that they were not allowed to communicate with others unless they first obtained a permit...

African Archbishop backs Pope?s condom comment

Posted on May 07, 2009
Christian Today: "The Archbishop of Abuja in Nigeria, John Onaiyekan said in a letter to Catholic news agency Zenit, 'I know that the Pope is speaking the truth . . . It is so much easier to distribute gadgets, especially at other people's expense. What reduces infections is less casual sex, not more condoms,' said the Archbishop who is also the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria...

President Issues National Day of Prayer Proclamation

Posted on May 07, 2009
As we observe this day of prayer, we remember the one law that binds all great religions together: the Golden Rule, and its call to love one another; to understand one another; and to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth.

National Organization for Marriage to Join Maine Marriage Coalition

Posted on May 07, 2009
"The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today announced that it will join the Maine Marriage Coalition to push for a People's Veto of the same-sex marriage bill signed into law by Governor John Baldacci."

New Hampshire: ?No word on when Lynch will see gay marriage bill?

Posted on May 07, 2009
The AP reports that it is unknown how long it will take the legislature to send the marriage redefinition bill to Governor. After the governor receives it, he will have five days act.

Mainers to get final say on ?gay marriage?

Posted on May 07, 2009
Baptist Press: "Technically, Maine is the fifth state to redefine marriage to include homosexuals, but because of the state's unique constitution, citizens can gather signatures and place the law on the ballot. If that happens -- approximately 55,000 signatures are required (10 percent of the total vote of the most recent gubernatorial election) -- the law would not go into effect until the people vote...

Indiana Resident: Sex shop to attract ?sickos?

Posted on May 07, 2009
JournalGazette.net: "'These places bring predatory-type people in there, sickos, people we don?t desire to have here in our neighborhood and around the kids,' neighbor William Blanton said. 'God forbid nothing ever happened to these kids.' . . . The mayor plans to introduce an ordinance in June that would restrict locations of future sex-related businesses...

?Gay-Activist Tim Gill Pours Money into New Hampshire?

Posted on May 07, 2009
CitizenLink: "New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has yet to touch the same-sex 'marriage' bill that is sitting on his desk. But if he does sign it, some of the 'credit' will go to gay-activist Tim Gill, who has poured massive amounts of money into the state...

Utah Rep. hopes to undo D.C. marriage law

Posted on May 07, 2009
UPI: "Jason Chaffetz, who was elected to Congress in 2008, is the ranking Republican on the subcommittee supervising the district, which consists entirely of the city of Washington, The Salt Lake Tribune reports."

Taliban Threatens Pope with ?Serious Consequences? if Christianity is Spread in Afghanistan

Posted on May 07, 2009
LifeSiteNews: In the lead-up to his coming trip to the Holy Land, Pope Benedict XVI has been warned by Islamic extremists that he must stop any attempts to convert Muslims to Christianity or face "the consequences of a severe reaction."

Obama Offers D.C. Voucher Program Extension for Existing Students

Posted on May 06, 2009
Washington Post: "President Obama will seek to extend the controversial D.C. school voucher program until all 1,716 participants have graduated from high school, although no new students will be accepted, according to an administration official who has reviewed budget details scheduled for release tomorrow...

Lawmakers Bet on Internet Gambling Legislation

Posted on May 06, 2009
FoxNews: "Lawmakers are rolling the dice on Internet gambling. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Peter King, R-N.Y., unveiled legislation Wednesday that would enable Americans to legally gamble online...

Schwarzenegger: Time to study legalization and taxation of marijuana

Posted on May 06, 2009
Sacramento Bee: "As California struggles to find cash, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday it's time to study whether to legalize and tax marijuana for recreational use. The Republican governor did not support legalization ? and the federal government still bans marijuana use ? but advocates hailed the fact that Schwarzenegger endorsed studying a once-taboo political subject...

Canadian Human Rights Commission Refuses To Hear Case Of Anti-Catholic Discrimination

Posted on May 06, 2009
LifeSiteNews: "MacDonald alleged in his original complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) that he was 'discriminated against and harassed based on my religious beliefs' by the Treasury Board, who refused his request to re-direct his union dues to avoid PSAC's support for 'same-sex marriage' and 'zero-tolerance' policy for what they term 'heterosexism,' which the union describes as 'the presumption that everyone is heterosexual and that heterosexuality is superior to other forms of loving...

Concord Monitor: ?Congress should repeal marriage law?

Posted on May 06, 2009
Concord Monitor Editorial: "The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted out of fear and bigotry and cynical politics. It may well have saved us from a more onerous constitutional amendment at the federal level, but it has outlived its usefulness. It should be repealed...

Obama Admin Spends Billions on Africa Family Planning, Claims No Abortion Funds

Posted on May 06, 2009
LifeNews: "According to a press release LifeNews.com obtained, Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew said the Obama budget increases the money that will be spent promoting birth control and contraception."

Barney Frank seeks to roll back online gambling ban

Posted on May 06, 2009
Reuters: "U.S. Representative Barney Frank will unveil legislation on Wednesday to roll back a U.S. ban on online gambling, he said in a statement on Tuesday. The new bill would exempt operators that are licensed and regulated from the ban enacted in 2006, Frank said...

Ohio lawmakers weigh reduced sexting penalties

Posted on May 06, 2009
Marc Kovac reports in the News Leader: "Teens would be prohibited from sending nude photos of themselves to others via cell phones but would face lesser potential penalties for doing so, under legislation introduced at the Ohio Statehouse."

Marriage threatened in Minnesota

Posted on May 06, 2009
The Minnesota Family Council has issued an alert detailing the threat that marriage faces in Minnesota and arguing for a Minnesota Marriage Amendment.

National Day of Prayer: Meet at City Hall Plaza flags, Thursday, May 7, 12:20pm

Posted on May 06, 2009
Brookfield Now: This year, the National Day of Prayer is being threatened by the Freedom from Religion Foundation. (By the way, the Constitution does not guarantee the freedom FROM religion; they guarantee the freedom OF religion.) The Alliance Defense Fund is fighting this suit...

Cambodia sees higher sex trafficking during crisis

Posted on May 06, 2009
Reuters: "Cambodia expects an increase in prostitution and human trafficking as the unemployment rate climbs during the economic downturn, the country's secretary of state said on Wednesday."

La. House committee passes bill at odds with federal ruling on birth certificates

Posted on May 06, 2009
Bill Barrow reports in the Times-Picayune: "A House committee agreed today with the state attorney general that Louisiana should not have to issue a new birth certificate listing two fathers for a child adopted in another state, a position that would leave the state at odds with a federal court ruling...

Prison Awaiting Hostile Bloggers

Posted on May 06, 2009
Wired: "Proposed congressional legislation would demand up to two years in prison for those whose electronic speech is meant to 'coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person.' Instead of prison, perhaps we should say gulag...

Texas House passes ?Choose Life? license plate bill

Posted on May 06, 2009
Robert T. Garrett reports in the Dallas Morning News: "The House tentatively voted Tuesday to authorize customized license plates in Texas that feature the phrase 'Choose Life,' though it also agreed to offer others saying, 'Choose Adoption.'"

Panel: Law Schools Must Adapt to New Post-Grad Reality

Posted on May 06, 2009
The Legal Intelligencer: "Law schools across the country may soon feel the push toward making their curricula more real-world oriented, according to one panel of law school deans."

NH House to vote again today on marriage redefinition

Posted on May 06, 2009
" . . . The House is handling less controversial legislation in the first part of today's session before the same-sex marriage bill returns to the floor."

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