Religion & Law

ADF attorneys seek to defend Calif., federal definitions of marriage

Posted on April 13, 2009
. . . Alliance Defense Fund attorneys submitted a motion to intervene Friday in a lawsuit that seeks to eliminate the California amendment as well as the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

ACLU tries to ban Easter cross in PA

Posted on April 13, 2009
One News Now: "Reading, Pennsylvania, is ruffling some feathers with an Easter cross shining from a city-owned tower. Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of the Liberty University Law School, tells OneNewsNow they are hearing from the usual sources...

Q&A: On E.D. Hirsch Jr. and Cultural Literacy

Posted on April 13, 2009
The Grove City College Center for Vision and Values provides this Q&A on E.D. Hirsch, Jr.: In this latest edition, Dr. Paul Kengor, the executive director of the Center, interviews Dr. Jason R. Edwards, a research fellow with the Center and an associate professor of education and history at Grove City College...

The case against PACER: tearing down the courts? paywall

Posted on April 09, 2009
"US law says that federal court records are in the public domain. So why do the courts still lock most of their official documents behind a paywall? Ars investigates."

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Freedom of Speech in Islam

Posted on April 09, 2009
Varldenidag.se (Mats Tunehag Blog): The term ?Human Rights? is used by many, also by Muslims. But it doesn?t necessarily imply that the users of the term mean the same thing. This is important to note as we discuss freedom of speech and religion . . ...

ADF Alliance Alert Publication Schedule

Posted on April 09, 2009
The ADF Alliance Alert Email Digest will not be published on Good Friday, April 10, 2009. The normal publication schedule will resume Monday, April 13, 2009. As always it is possible that new posts will appear on the website during the interim. We pray all our readers have a Blessed Easter.

New Hampshire: Trans-gender bill clears House by one vote

Posted on April 09, 2009
UnionLeader.com: "By a single vote, the New Hampshire House yesterday reversed itself and passed a bill that bars discrimination on the basis of gender identity."

Human Rights Campaign Urges Obama Administration to Rescind ?Provider Conscience? Regulations

Posted on April 09, 2009
The HRC Back Story Blog: "The Human Rights Campaign has submitted comments urging the Department of Health and Human Services to rescind these so-called ?provider conscience? regulations. Read HRC?s comments here (.DOC) . . . The regulations could impair LGBT patients? access to care services if interpreted to permit providers to choose patients based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or family structure...

Federal judge strikes down Md. strip club law

Posted on April 09, 2009
Baltimore Sun: "A judge has struck down a 2005 Maryland law that would have let a former state senator's Prince George's County strip club stay open while others closed."

Texas: Police study strip club charges

Posted on April 09, 2009
Caller.com: "Corpus Christi police are investigating whether an adult night club is at fault for letting a 14-year-old work at the club, and serve and consume liquor."

Court: Permit for Raleigh strip club OK

Posted on April 09, 2009
WRAL.com: The ruling is the latest chapter in a three-year battle over the proposed Capital Cabaret club on Mount Herman Road, near Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Neighbors have fought the club . . ."

Toronto, Canada: Strip Club Stabbing Sends One Man To Hospital

Posted on April 09, 2009
CityNews.ca: "A fight inside The House of Lancaster, located at 689 The Queensway, is believed to have spilled out onto the street."

Two men shot outside San Francisco strip club

Posted on April 09, 2009
MercuryNews.com: "Officers responded to a report of drive-by shooting just after 1 a.m. outside Broadway Showgirls at 412 Broadway in North Beach, police said."

Maryland Senate approves domestic partner inheritance tax exemption

Posted on April 09, 2009
Baltimore Sun: "The Maryland Senate voted Tuesday to exempt domestic partners who jointly own homes from inheritance taxes after one of them dies."

DC vote puts ?gay marriage? in front of Congress

Posted on April 09, 2009
AP: "A preliminary vote by the District of Columbia city council to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere puts the issue on a path to Congress, which has final say over D.C.'s laws. That may force lawmakers to take up the politically dicey debate after years of letting it play out in the states...

NY: Paterson Looks to Legalize Same-Sex ?Marriage?

Posted on April 09, 2009
WGRZ.com: "Gov. David Paterson said Wednesday he plans to re-introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal in New York. The legislation is expected to mirror a gay-marriage bill introduced in 2007 by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer . . ."

Media?s mantra ignores reality: The people have rejected same sex ?marriage? 100% of the time

Posted on April 09, 2009
"If you don?t remember anything . . . remember 0% of states that have legalized same-sex 'marriage' have done so by the vote of the people . . . 100% of the states (30 states total) that have asked their voters . . . have defined marriage as between only one man and one woman ...

Iowa: Hundreds rally at the Capitol for marriage amendment

Posted on April 09, 2009
"Democratic leaders squashed an attempt this morning to move forward this year on a proposal to amend the state Constitution and prohibit same-sex marriage. But Republicans hinted that they will make another run at the issue later today."

Former Romney aide: ?Expect turmoil? in Iowa in aftermath of marriage ruling

Posted on April 09, 2009
Des Moines Register: "Churches won't change their dogma, but they will be affected. In Massachusetts, Catholic Charities ended its involvement in the adoption business because, under the law, it could no longer prefer homes with a mom and a dad. The church's exit from the state-licensed adoption business created particular hardship because it provided special-needs adoption services to children with severe emotional and physical disabilities...

Disgraceful Discrimination Against Pro-Life Christians At Spokane Falls Community College

Posted on April 09, 2009
Right Wing News: "First of all, let me say thank you to the Center for Academic Freedom for suing Spokane Falls Community College over this. But, my question is: where is everybody else?. . . Colleges in this country can no longer be allowed to act as propaganda wings for the left...

Hundreds of Muslims attack Christian shops in Egypt

Posted on April 09, 2009
Christian Telegraph: "Hundreds of Muslims have attacked Christian shops and a police station in the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Sunday, April 5, 2009, following rumors that a Muslim man was stabbed and killed by his Christian landlords, reports Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST Ministries...

Landowners Sue Tenn. County for Rejecting Bible Park

Posted on April 09, 2009
Christian Post: A family that claims they lost a pending deal to sell their farmland because Rutherford County officials rejected a massive Bible-themed park last year is suing for $11 million.

New campaign fights same-sex ?marriage?

Posted on April 09, 2009
Politico (Ben Smith's Blog): "The National Organization for Marriage, a prominent backer of the successful campaign against same-sex marriage in California, is launching a $1.5 million ad campaign this morning aimed at forestalling same-sex marriage support in other key states...

Rhode Island: QA lobbies for hate crime bill

Posted on April 09, 2009
Brown Daily Herald: "Calling for the state to classify crimes based on 'gender identity or expression' as hate crimes, the bill, sponsored by Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Dist. 3, and four other representatives, was introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives in early February...

Wash. OKs transgender hate-crime protection

Posted on April 09, 2009
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "At present, the hate-crime definition of sexual orientation covers gay, straight or bisexual people. The bill approved Wednesday adds 'gender expression or identity' to that definition, making the law apply to attacks on transgender people...

Maryland: Student-Hosted Porn Screening Threatens College Funding

Posted on April 09, 2009
Fox News: "A porn flick making its way across college campuses is drawing stiff resistance from conservatives who say universities are paying for smut and a Maryland legislator who is threatening to cut off funding to schools that screen it "

?Advocates on Both Sides Seek Momentum on Same-Sex Marriage?

Posted on April 09, 2009
NY Times: "New York and New Jersey are both closer to legalizing same-sex marriage than they were a year ago, but it still could be some time before either state acts. In New York the issue will likely turn on a handful of Republican votes in the Senate...

Tofu license plate too foul for Colo. DMV

Posted on April 09, 2009
Denver Post: "Kelley Coffman-Lee's plan to advertise her love of tofu on a license plate ran afoul of censors at the Division of Motor Vehicles. The 38-year-old mother of three asked the DMV to approve a special plate emblazoned with 'ILVTOFU' for her Suzuki SL-7...

Washington Supreme Court: Proper unit of prosecution for child porn is per possession not per image or child depicted

Posted on April 09, 2009
State v. Sutherby, No. 80169-0 (Wash. April 9, 209)(Fairhurst J. Concurrence/Dissent) (Johnson J. Dissent) We hold that the proper unit of prosecution for possession of child pornography under former RCW 9.68A.070 is one count per possession, rather than per image or photograph or per minor depicted...

Poll: Americans Want Obama to Keep Abortion Conscience Clause in Place

Posted on April 09, 2009
LifeNews: "A new national poll of Americans finds a strong majority want President Barack Obama to keep conscience protections in place for doctors and medical centers. The president is considering rescinding the protections the Bush administration adopted to enforce three federal conscience laws...

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