Religion & Law

?Parental rights? - Congress in a race against the U.N.

Posted on April 07, 2009
One News Now: "A parental rights advocate is thrilled that Congress has introduced a bill that would protect the rights of parents . . . ParentalRights.org recently started a petition drive to get the constitutional amendment process rolling."

?D.C. Council recognizes gay marriage?

Posted on April 07, 2009
Washington Times: "The D.C. Council Tuesday overwhelmingly voted in favor of legislation recognizing same-sex marriages from other states as marriage in the District -- a move lauded by lawmakers as a step toward legalizing gay marriage in the city."

Rod Dreher: Changing the Definition of Marriage

Posted on April 07, 2009
Rod Dreher writes at BeliefNet: "Many people aren't thinking about the consequences of these ideas as they play out over time. They had better. And they had better start looking more deeply at what some of these leaders really mean to achieve. Look at their own words ...

?Update: Eastern Michigan University sued after grad student allegedly dismissed over religious beliefs on homosexuality?

Posted on April 07, 2009
Ann Arbor News: "In essence, what the university wants (Ward) to do is affirm homosexual behavior within the context of a counseling relationship in order to get a degree there," Tedesco said. "That's something she's unwilling to do."

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Obama: Islam shaped USA

Posted on April 07, 2009
?We will convey . . our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the centuries to shape the world ? including in my own country.?

Colo. atheist group concerned over county prayer policy

Posted on April 07, 2009
Grand Junction Sentinel: Although the county has not adopted the standards of the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian faith-based, legal organization, the organization sides with Rowland and the county. ?This is a Christian nation,? said Joel Oster, senior litigation counsel for the ADF...

US Recovery Is Far Off, Banks Are ?Basically Insolvent?: Soros

Posted on April 07, 2009
CNBC: ". . . Soros also said the U.S. dollar is under selling pressure and may eventually be replaced as a world reserve currency, possibly by the IMF's Special Drawing Rights, a synthetic currency basket comprised of dollars, euros, yen and sterling...

Day of Silence vs. Day of Truth

Posted on April 07, 2009
California Catholic Daily: ?Four years ago, another national group, the Alliance Defense Fund, began sponsoring a counter-movement to the Day of Silence called ?the Day of Truth.? ADF says the ?Day of Truth? provides ?an avenue for Christian students to use their lunch and passing periods to challenge the promotion of homosexuality in their schools...

Censorship grounded - FAA settles religious speech case

Posted on April 07, 2009
OneNewsNow: "The bottom line is Christians shouldn't be punished for expressing their beliefs, even at work, when they work for a government employer," says [Kevin Theriot]. "Mr. Dumbrowski was punished. He was suspended without pay and transferred [to Birmingham, Alabama] because of the stance he took on a controversial issue like homosexual behavior...

Communities print their own currency to keep cash flowing

Posted on April 07, 2009
USA Today: “A small but growing number of cash-strapped communities are printing their own money. Borrowing from a Depression-era idea, they are aiming to help consumers make ends meet and support struggling local businesses . . . ” Visit Site »

Obama ends Europe trip with tour of Istanbul mosque

Posted on April 07, 2009
AFP: "US President Barack Obama visited a landmark mosque in Istanbul on Tuesday, following strong messages of US reconciliation with the Islamic world on his maiden trip to a mainly Muslim country."

Vermont legislature overrides veto, votes to redefine marriage

Posted on April 07, 2009
WCAX.com: "Vt. House and Senate have voted to override the governor's veto of the same-sex marriage bill-- legalizing gay marriage in Vermont." The Vt. Senate voted to override the governor's veto of the same-sex marriage bill. This morning, the Senate voted 23 to 5 to override that veto ...

White House expands faith-based advisory panel

Posted on April 07, 2009
AP: “. . . Also newly appointed to the panel was Harry Knox, director of the religion and faith program at Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based gay rights group. Obama was criticized by liberal and gay rights groups for inviting evangelical pastor and author Rick Warren ? who supported a California ballot measure that banned [...

?Vermont Gov. Douglas Vetoes Gay Marriage Bill?

Posted on April 07, 2009
Fox News: "Gov. Jim Douglas on Monday issued his promised veto of a gay marriage bill, setting up what's bound to be a close vote in the House on Tuesday as supporters try to muster the two-thirds majority needed for an override. "

The Long Term Effects of Legalizing Divorce on Children

Posted on April 07, 2009
SSRN: "We estimate the effect of divorce legalization on the long-term well-being of children. Our identification strategy relies on exploiting the different timing of divorce legalization across European countries."

Is Abstinence Still the Best Policy? Modernizing Human Sexuality Instruction in Texas Public Schools

Posted on April 07, 2009
Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal: "Instead of taking the path of ignorance and continuing with abstinence-only education, Texas should progress and use comprehensive sexual education-a type of sexual education that educates students on waiting until marriage for sex, gives equal attention to students protecting themselves if they choose to have intercourse, and teaches about mental and emotional aspects of engaging in sexual activities...

Mis-under-standing Freedom From Religion: Two Cents on Madison?s Three Pence

Posted on April 07, 2009
Nevada Law Journal: "The Court has been notoriously bad at Establishment Clause history, but Flast seemed to push the envelope. Yet neither the Court nor commentators seemed to question Flast?s historical credentials over the last four decades."

A Right to Decide Not to Be a Legal Father: Gonzales v. Carhart and the Acceptance of Emotional Harm as a Constitutionally Protected Interest

Posted on April 07, 2009
George Washington Law Review: "This Note argues that courts should recognize a privacy right to decide not to be a legal father. Such a privacy right is derived from the right to procreative autonomy as already established by Griswold v. Connecticut, Eisenstadt v...

Groups partner after Terri Schiavo death anniversary for pro-life living wills

Posted on April 07, 2009
Life News reports: "The Alliance Defense Fund is pleased to support this important pro-life effort through its nationwide network of allied attorneys who can assist people in properly completing their Will to Live. These same attorneys may also be called upon to defend the clients' expressed desires with regard to medical treatment, nutrition and hydration," Napier went on to say.

Missouri: Columbia gets domestic partner registry

Posted on April 07, 2009
ConnectMissouri.com: "Columbia city council members unanimously voted on Monday night to establish a domestic partner registry. The registry allows qualifying same sex couples to register with the city of Columbia to get benefits and discounts at certain locations...

Family Institute of Conn. seeks to prevent limits to religious freedom

Posted on April 07, 2009
AP: "The Family Institute of Connecticut says some lawmakers are using a recent state Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage to limit opponents' religious freedoms."

Belgium: Top court upholds headscarf ban

Posted on April 07, 2009
ADN Kronos International: "Belgium's top administrative court, the Council of State has ruled that schools may ban girls from wearing the Muslim headscarf. The court said the ban was not discriminatory and reinforced the principles of equality and solidarity"

Jeremy Tedesco on Ave Maria Radio: Christian Counseling student dismissed for refusing to affirm homosexual behavior

Posted on April 07, 2009
ADF attorney Jeremy Tedesco appeared on Ave Maria Radio with Al Kresta to discuss a new lawsuit filed by ADF attorneys 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 The mp3 file runs just over 8 minutes.

University of Maryland statement on screening of porn film

Posted on April 07, 2009
Baltimore Sun: "Although not condoning this movie or any excerpts from it that might be shown, the University of Maryland must allow this event, but has insisted that it include an educational component."

David Brooks: The rise and dominance of the emotional approach to morality

Posted on April 07, 2009
The NY Times carries this article by David Brooks: The End of Philosophy. David writes: "What shapes moral emotions in the first place? The answer has long been evolution, but in recent years there?s an increasing appreciation that evolution isn?t just about competition...

Georgia legislature calls on Germany to allow home schooling

Posted on April 07, 2009
HSLDA: "The Georgia House of Representatives recently adopted House Resolution 850, which calls on the Federal Republic of Germany to ?recognize the basic, fundamental rights of parents and allow their citizens to determine the educational upbringing of their own children...

Iowa Marriage Defenders Push for Marriage Amendment, Decry Foul Play in Activist Same-Sex ?Marriage? Ruling

Posted on April 07, 2009
LifeSite: "The rest of Iowa is certainly is not joining in this short-lived celebration [among homosexualist lobbyists] because the renegade ruling of seven unelected judges does not represent the majority of Iowans," wrote Douglas Napier, Senior Legal Counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund...

Ohio & the ACLU duke it out

Posted on April 07, 2009
Keep Life Legal: "A Christian legal association is offering to defend an Ohio county if it is sued by the American Civil Liberties Union. Butler County in southwest Ohio (near Cincinnati - West Chester) wanted to do the best for children available for adoption...

Wisconsin: Watertown council OKs invocation policies

Posted on April 07, 2009
Watertown Daily Times: "The Watertown Common Council Monday unanimously approved a resolution adopting formal, written policy that clarifies and codifies its invocation practices . . . Smith also emphasized that invocations before public meetings are permissible and that the Alliance Defense Fund would defend the city at no cost if a lawsuit was brought forward...

Vt. overrides veto, legalizes ?gay marriage?

Posted on April 07, 2009
Townhall: "With its enactment, the Vermont legislature made a profound social policy statement that mothers and fathers are not necessary for the family, and that the sex of a parent doesn't matter" Austin R. Nimocks, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund told Baptist Press...

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