Religion & Law

Poll sponsored by NH Freedom to Marry Coalition: ?N.H. backs same-sex marriage?

Posted on April 29, 2009
Concord Monitor: "A University of New Hampshire Survey Center Poll found that 55 percent of New Hampshire residents support allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, while 39 percent oppose doing so. The poll surveyed 491 voters from April 13 to 22 and was sponsored by the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, which favors allowing same-sex marriage...

NH Senate rejects ?transgender rights?

Posted on April 29, 2009
Concord Monitor: "The Senate voted unanimously against adding transgender individuals to New Hampshire's anti-discrimination law, but only after Democrats condemned what they said were distortions by opponents."

NH Senate votes to legalize medical marijuana

Posted on April 29, 2009
WCAX.com: "The 14-10 vote on Wednesday sent the bill back to the House for review of an amendment."

Today: Maine Senate scheduled to consider bill to redefine marriage

Posted on April 29, 2009
NY Times: "The New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a same-sex marriage bill last month, and the Senate is scheduled to take it up Wednesday."

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Irish Justice Minister Proposes Blasphemy Law

Posted on April 29, 2009
The Religion Clause Blog: "Irish Times reports today that the country's Minister of Justice plans to introduce an amendment to a pending Defamation Bill to create a new crime of blasphemous libel."

Michigan Civil Rights Commission Opposes Proposed Rule On Niqabs In Court

Posted on April 29, 2009
The Religion Clause Blog: According to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission voted on Monday to oppose an amendment to the Rules of Evidence proposed by the Michigan Supreme Court that would give judges "reasonable control over the appearance of parties and witnesses so as to (1) ensure that the demeanor of such persons may be observed and assessed by the fact-finder, and (2) to ensure the accurate identification of such persons...

Parental rights already being lost

Posted on April 29, 2009
WorldNetDaily: "Alliance Defense Fund attorney Roger Kiska said such cases must be fought around the world 'to keep bad decisions overseas from being relied upon by activists who attack parental rights in America.'"

LA Times examines college student who films undercover videos at Planned Parenthood

Posted on April 29, 2009
Medical News Today: "The Times reports that Rose has not answered questions about who funds her work but that she received a $50,000 grant from the Gerard Health Foundation, which supports antiabortion-rights and abstinence-only sex education efforts...

Legal education and ABA accreditation requirements under fire by legal experts

Posted on April 29, 2009
Meredith Hobbs writes at the Fulton County Daily Report: "You're producing a product that very few people want. Firms have hiring freezes. Why not stop producing the product -- or create new markets for what you're producing?" one lawyer challenged the deans...

Specter?s Party Switch Creates Little Clarity for Judicial, DOJ Nominees

Posted on April 29, 2009
David Ingram writes at the Legal Times: "Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party brings his new colleagues a little closer to controlling 60 seats in the Senate, but it's not clear that the switch will have much of an effect on the fate of nominees for the federal bench and the Justice Department...

High Court Upholds FCC?s Right to Fine ?Fleeting Expletives?

Posted on April 29, 2009
CNSNews carries this lengthy report on yesterday's FCC ruling. It quotes several ADF allies and includes this: Pat Trueman, legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, said the question is sure to come back to the Supreme Court. ?All the court looked at today was whether the FCC followed proper administrative procedure under the Administrative Procedures Act in changing how it is enforcing indecency law,? said Trueman, who is an expert on both indecency and obscenity laws...

Fred Barnes: What Specter?s Defection Means

Posted on April 29, 2009
Fred Barnes writes at the Wall Street Journal: "Mr. Specter often votes for liberal Democratic initiatives and infuriates conservative Republicans. Still, his surprise defection was a crushing setback for the GOP, instantly reducing what limited power Republicans have in the Senate...

McConnell: Specter defection a ?threat to the country?

Posted on April 29, 2009
The Hill: "Reacting to Specter's defection from the GOP, McConnell accused the longtime Pennsylvania lawmaker of having practiced naked politics. 'I think the threat to the country presented by this defection really relates to the issue of whether or not in the United States of America our people want the majority to have whatever it wants without restraint, without a check or a balance,' McConnell said during a Tuesday afternoon press availability...

A chronology: Obama?s first 100 days, not good for babies

Posted on April 29, 2009
FRC Action's Cloakroom Blog carries this lengthy list of pro-abortion actions by Obama during his first 100 days in office.

Church continues 4-year battle for meeting place

Posted on April 29, 2009
One News Now: "Churchgoers in Lenox Township, Michigan, still have no church to attend. The church planned to use a half-century-old former Catholic monastery to hold worship services and spiritual counseling. In an Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) press release, attorney Dan Dalton, who represents Grace Community Church, says the township is imposing illegal and discriminatory requirements upon the church...

Orange Co. Supervisors reinstate Planned Parenthood contract

Posted on April 29, 2009
OC Register: "A lawyer from the Alliance Defense Fund told supervisors during public comments that the organization would defend the county in court for free if their decision is challenged. 'To clearly say that county tax payers should not be paying for abortion or abortion advocacy ? you have the right to do that under the law' the attorney, Craig Alexander, said...

Body of Polish man beheaded in Pakistan returned

Posted on April 29, 2009
AP: "He was held hostage for several months before his captors beheaded him in February, a killing that they videotaped."

?Transsexual wins $500,000 lawsuit?

Posted on April 29, 2009
"A federal judge has awarded a former Army Special Forces commander nearly $500,000 because she was rejected from a job at the Library of Congress while transitioning from a man to a woman."

Government Geldings

Posted on April 29, 2009
"Iowans may as well issue a formal declaration of surrender to the oligarchs on their supreme court if the governor and state legislature are allowed to forfeit their duties to uphold the state constitution. Why waste billions of dollars keeping them in office?"

Notre Dame to demand Operation Rescue stop alumni mailings

Posted on April 29, 2009
AP: "Thousands of University of Notre Dame alumni have received letters by an anti-abortion group urging them to demand the university cancel President Barack Obama's upcoming commencement appearance."

Right to Work Foundation Files Lawsuit for Nonunion Worker Forced to Pay Teamster Dues

Posted on April 29, 2009
National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation: "National Right to Work Foundation attorneys today filed suit in United States District Court for an employee forced to pay agency fees by Teamsters officials at a Luzerne County government office."

Senate passes Obama $3.4 trillion budget on party line vote

Posted on April 29, 2009
Reuters: "The Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress on Wednesday approved a $3.4 trillion compromise budget plan for the 2010 fiscal year, clinching a big victory for President Barack Obama on his 100th day in office but with no Republican support."

Six Ave Maria law students receive fellowships

Posted on April 29, 2009
NaplesNews.com: "Six students of Ave Maria School of Law have been chosen to participate in the prestigious Blackstone Fellowship offered by the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund, a public-interest legal institute active in advancing pro-life, religious-freedom, and civil liberties causes ...

?Gay adoption before Fla. Legislature, courts?

Posted on April 29, 2009
Miami Herald: "Now the state Legislature is faced with a bill aimed at overturning the state's 1977 ban on gay adoption, and Florida's Third District Court of Appeals must resolve a lawsuit over the issue stemming from Gill's case. The case is likely to move on to the Florida Supreme Court...

Montana: Amicus briefs filed in assisted suicide case

Posted on April 29, 2009
Helena Independent Record (AP): On Tuesday the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative legal group, filed a brief on behalf of the Family Research Council, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Catholic Medical Association and several Montana physicians...

Euthanasia will be debated in Scottish Parliament

Posted on April 29, 2009
The Christian Institute: "An MSP has gained enough support from colleagues to have a full debate on assisted suicide in the Scottish parliament."

CBS ?Poll: Support For Same Sex Marriage Grows?

Posted on April 29, 2009
CBS: "Forty-two percent of Americans now say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. That's up nine points from last month, when 33 percent supported legalizing same sex marriage. "

U.S. House passes ?hate crimes? bill

Posted on April 29, 2009
"On a vote of 249-175, the House passed and sent to the Senate a bill backed by the new Democratic White House to broaden such laws by classifying as 'hate crimes' those attacks based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity or mental or physical disability...

Justice Thomas Calls ?Fairness Doctrine? Unconstitutional

Posted on April 29, 2009
Pacific Justice Institute: "Justice Thomas signaled that, if the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated by Congress and the President, a constitutional challenged would be in order."

Washington: Judge upholds 4-foot rule at Shoreline strip club

Posted on April 29, 2009
Seattle Post Intelligencer (AP): "A Seattle federal judge on Monday upheld the enforcement of a city law that requires dancers to stay four feet away from patrons."

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