Religion & Law

DC Council votes to redefine marriage

Posted on May 05, 2009
The D.C. Council has voted to recognize same-sex "marriages" performed in other states.

Pennsylvania: Claims By Chuch Founder Against City Employees Dismissed

Posted on May 05, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "In Kovalev v. City of Philadelphia, (ED PA, April 29, 2009), a Pennsylvania federal district court dismissed a series of constitutional claims brought by Sergei Kovalev against the city and several city employees challenging inspection attempts and the refusal of a building permit for a small additional structure on property that contained his home as well as operations of his 'International Church of Eternal Revival ...

Maine House begins marriage debate

Posted on May 05, 2009
Follow the debate live online through the House streaming video or streaming audio. (Video and audio require Windows Media Player)

Hungary: Socialists to push constitutional amendment on hate speech

Posted on May 05, 2009
Politics.hu: "Hungary's governing Socialist party will initiate an amendment to the Constitution so as to ban Holocaust denial and hate speech and make them punishable by law . . . "

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

?Al Jazeera Video Shows U.S. Soldiers Who Want To Proselytize In Afghanistan?

Posted on May 05, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: "Al Jazeera yesterday reports on a video, filmed a year ago, showing evangelical Christian soldiers at Bagram air base in Afghanistan with Bibles printed in Pashto and Dari that they hoped to distribute to local residents."

White House Has ?Tight Timeline? For Court Pick

Posted on May 05, 2009
U.S. News and World Report: "The Politico reports Senate Judiciary Committee member Orrin Hatch, who spoke with President Obama by telephone on Monday, 'says he believes the White House will move swiftly on its Supreme Court nominee, perhaps making an announcement by the end of this week...

Michael Savage banned from UK

Posted on May 05, 2009
The Independent: The list of the 16 "least wanted" includes radio talk show host Michael Savage, real name Michael Weiner. "This is someone who has fallen into the category of fomenting hatred, of such extreme views and expressing them in such a way that it is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence if that person were allowed into the country," Ms Smith told BBC Breakfast.

Oregon: City accused of promoting Christianity

Posted on May 05, 2009
Keizertimes.com: A group promoting separation of church and state is objecting to the city of Keizer's role in the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, set for Thursday, May 7. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Mayor Lore Christopher complaining ...

NC: Last filings in prayer suit expected Monday

Posted on May 05, 2009
Winston-Salem Journal: Several residents sued the county [for] . . . allowing prayer-givers to include references to Christ in the prayers given before meetings of the county board. The county's defense is being handled by the Alliance Defense Fund, which is handling court costs under an agreement with the county...

Religious Expression and the Penal Institution: The Role of Damages in RLUIPA Enforcement

Posted on May 05, 2009
Missouri Law Review: "This Summary focuses on RLUIPA's institutionalized persons provision and whether, under its remedial provision, an inmate plaintiff can receive compensatory damages. First, this Summary looks at key decisions dealing with the availability of compensatory damages in individual and official capacity claims under RLUIPA...

McConnell to leave Tenth Circuit, join Stanford Law faculty

Posted on May 05, 2009
The Wall Street Journal Law Blog reports: "According to a release by Stanford Law School, Tenth Circuit Judge Michael McConnell has agreed to join the Stanford Law faculty ? and step down from the bench. At Stanford, McConnell will direct the Stanford Constitutional Law Center...

Oregon sex indoctrination bill gets Senate committee approval

Posted on May 05, 2009
Statesman Journal: "All public elementary and secondary schools would have to provide age-appropriate human sexuality education courses under a bill approved by the Senate Education Committee on Monday."

UK: Artists object as hospital bans pictures of churches

Posted on May 05, 2009
The Christian Institute: "An East London council has angered local artists by requesting paintings to brighten up a bare ward with the condition that they must not be of churches."

University of Chicago Faculty Blog hosts discussion of civil unions in Illinois

Posted on May 05, 2009
The University of Chicago Law School Faculty Blog is "hosting a conversation between Geof Stone, Martha Nussbaum, Notre Dame's Rick Garnett, and Michigan's Douglas Laycock. The starting point for discussion will be Professor Stone's recent Chicago Tribune article on Illinois' proposed Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act...

Governor limited in choices for AZ Supreme Court

Posted on May 05, 2009
East Valley Tribune: "Brewer, a foe of what has been called 'merit selection' of judges, is slated to get a list of at least three names from the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments on who panel members believe are the most qualified to sit on the state high court...

Greek court rules first same-sex ?weddings? invalid

Posted on May 05, 2009
Reuters: "A Greek court ruled the country's first homosexual weddings, celebrated last year despite official warnings, were invalid, the couples' lawyer said Tuesday."

?An openly gay justice for the Supreme Court??

Posted on May 05, 2009
Steve Sanders writing at the Sexual Orientation and the Law Blog: "Kathleen Sullivan, a top New York appellate lawyer, constitutional scholar, and former dean of Stanford Law School, has landed on most people's lists of possible Obama Supreme Court appointees...

AP: ?Utah prime location for gay-rights movement?

Posted on May 04, 2009
The Salt Lake Tribune has posted this AP propaganda: "Utah 'is the perfect place in the country' to have the gay rights conversation, said Larabee, noting the church's own history. The Mormon church has struggled for mainstream acceptance and once fought for an alternative to traditional marriage -- polygamy...

Ala. judge: No court power to let kids miss school

Posted on May 04, 2009
AP: "A mother and father wanted a judge to force school officials to let their two sons do their school work from home because of the swine flu scare, but the judge said no."

Maine town revises nudity ban

Posted on May 04, 2009
Boston Herald: "The board of selectmen in the town where a topless coffee shop raised eyebrows when it opened earlier this year has revised its anti-nudity ordinance."

Iowa: Dubuque strip club settles lawsuit with city

Posted on May 04, 2009
Chicago Tribune (AP): "The owners of a Dubuque strip club have reached a tentative settlement in their lawsuit with the city and have agreed to close the business by July 1. "

NC: More adult businesses coming to Jacksonville

Posted on May 04, 2009
JDNews.com: "Adam & Eve, a retailer with 32 franchises across the country, is opening a new location on Wilmington Highway, according to the city planning department and a representative from the corporation. Another adult-themed business, Intimate Bliss, is set to open even sooner on Workshop Drive...

Michael Farris: UN Treaty on Children?s Rights Legally Binding and Absurd

Posted on May 04, 2009
Michael Farris writes at Townhall: "The ultimate question is: Who should make our public policy on parents and children? Our elected state legislators? Or, an international treaty regime headed by a committee of 18 international ?experts? sitting in Geneva...

The first female solicitor general talks about the high court and her new role

Posted on May 04, 2009
Tony Mauro has this interview at The National Law Journal with the new Solicitor General, Elena Kagan.

Pro-lifers Put up Billboards on Indiana Toll Road Decrying Obama?s Notre Dame Appearance

Posted on May 04, 2009
LifeSiteNews: "The billboards, to go up May 4 on the Indiana Toll Road, Interstate 80/90, will read, 'NOTRE DAME: Obama is pro abortion choice. How dare you honor him,' along with a picture of a baby in utero sucking its thumb. They also will list a Web address, NotreDameProtest...

Sarah Palin Backs Parental Notification on Teen Abortions Ballot Measure in Alaska

Posted on May 04, 2009
LifeNews: "Former vice-presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is backing a statewide ballot measure that would require parental notification before a minor teen can get an abortion."

Slovak Republic faces lawsuit after police clamp-down on pro-life rally

Posted on May 04, 2009
CBR Europe, represented by attorney Dr. Alan Bohm and Alliance Defense Fund attorneys, held its ?Stop Genocide? rally to inform people about the atrocities of genocide, including abortion, but Slovak police asserted the signs displayed by participants were too graphic for the general public.

Indiana: No law against abortion protest photos

Posted on May 04, 2009
Sue Lowe and Margaret Fosmoe report in the South Bend Tribune: "South Bend Police Capt. Phil Trent said the department has taken 'dozens' of calls from people upset about the images. He said police are telling callers that no law prevents the displays, which are protected by freedom of speech...

?Minnesota gay couples head to Iowa to get married?

Posted on May 04, 2009
Julianna Olsen reports at KARE 11 News: "Ten gay couples from Minnesota boarded a bus headed for Davenport, Iowa Sunday afternoon, so that they could make a legal trip down the aisle."

IWF reports global decrease in child sexual abuse websites

Posted on May 04, 2009
Internet Watch Foundation Press Release: "The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has published its Annual Report 2008 revealing a fall of nearly 10% in the number of international websites with child sexual abuse content. The report warns against complacency, pointing to the serious nature of the images which are often carried on commercial websites...

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