Religion & Law

?Suit Says Student Dismissed Over Gay Views?

Posted on April 15, 2009
BeliefNet News: "When Ward was asked to counsel a client wishing to discuss a homosexual relationship, Ward objected and followed her supervisor's instructions by referring the client to another counselor, said Jeremy Tedesco, an Arizona-based attorney working on the case...

Bait and Switch on Treaties

Posted on April 15, 2009
Eugene Volokh writing at the Volokh Conspiracy comments on a post by Ed Whelan at the National Review Bench Memos site regarding the use of bait and switch tactics to obtain ratification of treaties that are then used to advance radical agendas.

The Feeders of Bush 43

Posted on April 15, 2009
Orin Kerr writes at the Volokh Conspiracy: "The list of OT09 Supreme Court clerks over at ATL is further confirmation that the two leading 'feeders' of the Bush 43 judges are Brett Kavanaugh of the DC Circuit and Jeffrey Sutton of the Sixth Circuit, with Michael McConnell of the Tenth Circuit coming in third place...

?Rush Builds A Revolution?: Why have so many young Americans embraced socialism?

Posted on April 15, 2009
Harold Meyerson writes at the Washington Post: "The data on the young are particularly telling. Twenty-somethings are more open to socialism -- or social capitalism -- than 30-somethings not only because they never lived through the Soviet threat but because the economy, during the years in which deregulatory policy and Wall Street financialization were at their height, hasn't worked very well for them...

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?How gays won a marriage victory: For 7 years, activists eyed a seemingly unlikely target: Iowa?

Posted on April 15, 2009
MSNBC.com: "Opponents of same-sex marriage say activists are using the courts and legislatures because they are afraid to put ballot measures before voters. Using these routes is 'most certainly not fair to the voters -- and it's not fair to the people of Iowa and Vermont,' said Carrie Gordon Earll, a spokeswoman for Focus on the Family...

?Gays and The Military: A Bad Fit?

Posted on April 15, 2009
James J. Lindsay, Jerome Johnson, E.G. "Buck" Shuler Jr. and Joseph J. Went write at the Washington Post: "Legislation introduced to repeal Section 654 (H.R. 1283) would impose on commanders a radical policy that mandates 'nondiscrimination' against 'homosexuality, or bisexuality, whether the orientation is real or perceived...

Rod Dreher interviews Maggie Gallagher: Don?t give up on marriage!

Posted on April 14, 2009
"Maggie, you and I are on the same side of the gay marriage issue, but I am pessimistic about our chances for success. You, however, are optimistic. What am I missing? Vlaclav Havel mostly. 'Truth and love wlll prevail over lies and hate.'"

Cuba keeps out US religious freedom group

Posted on April 14, 2009
Boston Globe (AP): "A planned trip to Cuba this week by a U.S. religious freedom watchdog group has been canceled after the Cuban government did not issue visas to the delegation, the group said Monday, even as the Obama administration moved to ease sanctions on the communist nation...

New Hampshire bill to redefine marriage may get tangled up in senate

Posted on April 14, 2009
Reuters: "A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New Hampshire may get tangled up in the state Senate, lawmakers said, potentially slowing momentum of the nation's gay-marriage movement after recent victories. New Hampshire's Senate Judiciary Committee holds a public hearing on the bill on Wednesday ahead of a full senate vote expected this month or early in May...

Notre Dame announces homosexual-themed events for Easter Week

Posted on April 14, 2009
Catholic Online: ?StaND Against Hate Week,? to occur April 14 through 17, is co-sponsored by Notre Dame?s Gender Relations Center, student government and University Counseling Center."

Mass.: Hundreds disparage plans for sex shop zone in Middleton

Posted on April 14, 2009
The Salem News: "Without adult entertainment zones, the entire town becomes a potential host to strip clubs or adult bookstores. Aldenberg said the town can't zone such businesses out but doesn't want to be particularly inviting, as Route 114 would be...

Maine topless coffee shop owner wants to open strip club

Posted on April 14, 2009
AP: "Owner Donald Crabtree told the Kennebec Journal that he now plans to seek a entertainment license for a strip club that would be open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. and have a seating capacity of 300."

EMU Sued for Dismissing Student who Refused to Affirm Homosexual Behavior

Posted on April 14, 2009
Catholic Online: "Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom filed a lawsuit against Eastern Michigan University Thursday after school officials dismissed a student from the school?s counseling program for not affirming homosexual behavior as morally acceptable...

Ohio: Butler county review says adoption policy favoring marriage is illegal

Posted on April 14, 2009
Cincinnati Enquirer:"A controversial adoption policy in Butler County that gives preference to married couples violates state rules, according to a review done by the county prosecutor?s office."

Wisconsin: Day off for Good Friday draws fire from FFRF

Posted on April 14, 2009
Warning: Language. Sean Kittridge writes at The Badger Herald: "But not everybody is laughing at what seems to be an innocuous day off, as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Madison?s grumpiest constitutional watchdog, is readying a lawsuit . . . Before we dive into how the FFRF isn?t really about 'freedom,' let?s lay out the facts of the matter...

NY Gov. to introduce bill to redefine marriage on Thursday

Posted on April 14, 2009
NY Times: "Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday will announce plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, according to people with knowledge of the governor?s plans."

Constitutionality of same-sex marriage registry plan questioned

Posted on April 14, 2009
Winona Daily News: "Gov. Jim Doyle?s proposal to create a statewide domestic partner registry for same-sex couples would be unique in the nation if it becomes law and survives an expected legal challenge, experts and advocates said. That?s because no state that both bans gay marriage and prohibits other legal recognition of same-sex relationships, as Wisconsin does, allows domestic partnerships or civil unions...

Coleman attorney: Appeal next week in Senate fight

Posted on April 14, 2009
AP: "Republican Norm Coleman will appeal his latest setback in the Minnesota Senate election battle but probably not until next week, his lawyer said Tuesday, further stretching out the five-month struggle."

Iowa: Republican candidate for governor, others challenge power of the courts to unilaterally redefine marriage

Posted on April 14, 2009
Vander Plaats said in an interview that he would try the executive order approach anyway ? and he thinks Culver should try it now. "Who is to balance the courts?" he asked. "Who says the courts get the final say?"

David French on the Frank Pastore Show: The Julea Ward Case

Posted on April 14, 2009
David French, Director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom, appeared on The Frank Pastore Show to discuss the case of Julea Ward, an Eastern Michigan University student counselor who was disciplined for refusing to endorse homosexual behavior. The mp3 file runs just over 21 minutes...

Jeremy Tedesco on Relevant Radio: Student Counselor dismissed for refusing to affirm homosexual behavior

Posted on April 14, 2009
ADF attorney Jeremy Tedesco appeared on Relevant Radio with Wendy Wiese to discuss the case of Julea Ward, an Eastern Michigan University student counselor who was disciplined for refusing to endorse homosexual behavior. The mp3 file runs just over 18 minutes.

GOProud: ?Gay, Proud and Conservative?

Posted on April 14, 2009
William McGurn writes at the Wall Street Journal: "The speaker is Jimmy LaSalvia. Tomorrow morning in Washington, Mr. LaSalvia and his allies will launch a new tax-exempt 527 political organization they hope will be that voice for gay conservatives. Called GOProud, it will certainly make for a more interesting Republican Party -- and a richer internal debate ...

Texas Christian U. puts ?gay, Christian living-learning programs on hold?

Posted on April 14, 2009
Star-Telegram.com: "Texas Christian University will delay if not drop plans for an on-campus housing program for gay students and their supporters, pending a review about whether such themed living programs support 'the academic mission of the institution...

Arizona: ADF attorneys appealing ruling on Gilbert sign ordinance that discriminates against churches

Posted on April 14, 2009
Churches shouldn?t be discriminated against by a city?s sign ordinances,? said Cortman. ?The government cannot require churches to abide by stricter rules than it places on non-religious signs. The Constitution prohibits government officials from singling out religious groups for such discrimination...

What Makes Higher Education ?Higher??

Posted on April 14, 2009
Daniel N. Robinson writes at Public Discourse: "If the term ?higher education' is to be distinguished from other forms of learning or training, surely the distinguishing feature cannot simply be the number of years students have devoted to the cultivation of one or another specific ability...

Only 15% of Dutch Know Meaning of Good Friday

Posted on April 14, 2009
Catholic Culture reports: "45% are unaware that Easter is a Christian holiday, and only 15% know that Good Friday is a memorial of Christ?s crucifixion."

HHS Nominee Sebelius Understated Donations From Abortion Doctor

Posted on April 14, 2009
CNSNews: "President Barack Obama's health secretary nominee got nearly three times as much political money from a controversial abortion doctor as she told senators."

Pakistan President Signs Deal Expanding Taliban?s Power

Posted on April 14, 2009
CNSNews: "Just days before Pakistan?s government hopes to secure billions of dollars in aid pledges from the U.S. and other countries, President Asif Ali Zardari has signed a law enabling Pakistani Taliban extremists to impose Islamic law in the North-West Frontier Province?s volatile Swat valley...

Thompson, McConnell selected for federal judgeships

Posted on April 14, 2009
Providence Journal: "Rhode Island?s first black female state judge and a prominent Providence lawyer who took on tobacco and lead-paint companies have been recommended for the federal bench by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse."

Christian charity worker suspended over opposition to homosexual behavior

Posted on April 14, 2009
"A charity worker has been suspended after telling a colleague about his Christian beliefs against homosexuality, even though he says he is not homophobic and was merely responding to questions from a colleague about his beliefs . . ."

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