Religion & Law

It?s settled: Tractor trailer displaying Christian message remains along NY highway

Posted on March 13, 2009
No Christian should be singled out and penalized for sharing his beliefs,? said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. ?After reaching this settlement with NYDOT, we are pleased Mr. Burritt can now freely enjoy his First Amendment right to display a religious message on his own property...

WV group organizes to advocate privileges based on homosexual behavior

Posted on March 13, 2009
Charleston Daily (AP): ". . . Organizers announced the formation of Fairness West Virginia on Tuesday. They said the group's mission is to ensure fair treatment for gay and lesbian residents in their homes, workplaces and communities."

Penn. Panel OKs specail protections for homosexual behavior

Posted on March 13, 2009
PennLive.com: A state House committee narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that, if enacted, would extend the same anti-discrimination protections to gay men and women that have long been the law for racial, ethnic and religious minorities.

60 lawmakers co-sponsor Maine bill to redefine marriage?

Posted on March 13, 2009
Sun Journal (AP): "The author of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine says more than 60 legislators from both parties have signed on as co-sponsors."

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How Obama Will Handle U.S. Attorney Posts Still Unclear

Posted on March 13, 2009
Washington Post: ". . . filling the plum jobs has become a test of competing priorities for President Obama. While he pledged bipartisanship during his campaign, replacing the cadre of mostly conservative U.S. attorneys would signal a new direction."

Bartered brides: A cruel trade across Vietnam?s border with China

Posted on March 13, 2009
a href="http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13278577">Economist.com: Foreigners have long been attracted to Sapa and its surrounding mountains in the far north of Vietnam . . . But now, it seems, another type of visitor is finding this territory attractive: gangs of kidnappers who snatch young Hmong women for sale as brides across the border in China.

Forget Marriage?Civil Unions For All

Posted on March 13, 2009
Terry J. Allen writes at In These Times: ". . . Making your marriage sacred should be between you and your goddy thing. Making your union legal, on the other hand, should be between you and state-guaranteed legal and human rights . . . "

Ginsburg: Possible court opening soon

Posted on March 13, 2009
AP: "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told law students there could be an opening on the Supreme Court soon but didn't hint at who might be leaving . . . "

Lebanon journalist UK entry veto

Posted on March 13, 2009
BBC: "Lebanese journalist with links to militant group Hezbollah has been barred from entering Britain. Ibrahim Moussawi was due to speak at the London School of Oriental and African Studies, but the home secretary has ruled he should be denied a visa ...

Obama Administration Denies Negative Effects of Abortion at UN Women?s Meeting

Posted on March 13, 2009
LifeNews: "The Obama administration has been pushing the pro-abortion agenda all week at the annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meeting at the United Nations

DeJohn, Temple Back In Court Over Fees

Posted on March 13, 2009
Philadephia Bulletin: Christian DeJohn, the winner of a monumental First Amendment case against the university, was back in federal court Thursday asserting Temple?s obligation to pay about $83,000 in earlier court expenses . . . David French . . . countered that the case lasted as long as it did because the university made strenuous efforts to prevent it from proceeding.

Stripping Health Care Providers of Conscience Protection: A Bad Move Based on a Made-Up ?Right?

Posted on March 13, 2009
Helen Alvaré, J.D. writes at the Culture of Life Foundation: First, we need to remind the administration that while it is very powerful, it is not powerful enough to change facts, like the fact that a genetically human and unique individual begins his or her life with the embryonic phase...

Florida: Vote pending on ?gender identity? in Gainesville

Posted on March 13, 2009
One News Now: . . . Passage of the ordinance caused an uproar because, in essence, it permits people to use public facilities -- restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms -- based on their inner feeling about their gender.

NJ: No ruling in case of kids with Nazi-themed names

Posted on March 13, 2009
AP: "A court hearing to determine custody for three children with Nazi-inspired names failed to yield a decision Thursday, leaving the matter still unresolved."

La.: ADF appeals ruling in university speech case

Posted on March 13, 2009
KATC.com (AP) reports: A Christian civil rights group is appealing a judge's refusal to block a Louisiana university from enforcing its policy for allowing public speeches on campus.

AZ Appeals Court upholds corporate scholarship tax credits

Posted on March 13, 2009
The AZ Capitol Times reports: The Arizona Court of Appeals on March 12 upheld a state law that permits businesses to reduce their tax liability by contributing money to organizations that distribute private school scholarships to students . . . Other defenders of the state law include the Attorney General's Office, former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Zlaket and the Alliance Defense Fund.

David French: ?Just When I Thought I?d Seen It All . . ?

Posted on March 13, 2009
David French writes at the National Review Phi Beta Cons Blog: The college said no. Well, actually, they did more than that. They told the group that its materials (which, among other things, highlighted the toll abortion takes on African-American children) were "hate...

The Proposal to End Gubernatorial Appointments of Replacement Senators: Reform In This Area May Be Needed, But the Feingold Constitutional Amendment Needs More Thought

Posted on March 13, 2009
Vikram David Amar and Michael Schaps write at Findlaw:President Obama has helped inspire Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold (among others) to propose a constitutional amendment to end gubernatorial appointments of replacement senators altogether . . . In this column, after we assess the status quo and the proposed constitutional amendment, we endorse a third option?a Congressional statute.

Christian bashing has to stop in America

Posted on March 13, 2009
Red County: "It is blatantly unconstitutional for public school officials to come into private schools and enforce a policy prohibiting them from expressing what's central to their religious beliefs," said David Cortman, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, or ADF.

Ariz. appeals court rules against ACLU, upholds tuition program for kids

Posted on March 13, 2009
?Parents should be able to choose the right school for their children. When it comes to our children?s education, the ACLU suddenly drops its talk of ?freedom? and ?choice,?? said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb.

Wash. School Facing Lawsuit Over Display

Posted on March 13, 2009
The Post Chronicle: "That is obviously chilling their speech," said Alliance Defense Fund attorney Heather Gebelin Hacker, whose group filed the suit on behalf of Sheeran.

Maryland legislature debates marriage

Posted on March 13, 2009
Washington Times:"Maryland lawmakers took up the issue of gay marriage for the second consecutive day Thursday, with supporters asserting marriage is a civil right and opponents arguing that allowing such unions constitutes a grave threat to traditional family values ...

?Limbaugh?s Unrighteous Hold on Christian Right?

Posted on March 13, 2009
Vox Verax: The crowd erupted with laughter . . . conservatives thought it was hilarious that God would envy the rival deity named Rush Limbaugh . . . While CPAC was a secular event . . . exhibitors included the Alliance Defense Fund, Liberty Council and Regent University ...

ADF complaint rescues San Diego homeless from ?feeding cage?

Posted on March 13, 2009
OneNewsNow: Homeless people in San Diego have received a reprieve after an intervention by the Alliance Defense Fund . . . Heather Gebelin Hacker, an Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorney, explains . . .

Judge orders homeschoolers into public district classrooms

Posted on March 13, 2009
RevolutionRadio.org: A North Carolina judge has ordered three children to attend public schools this fall because the homeschooling their mother has provided over the last four years needs to be ?challenged" . . . ?Parents have a constitutional right to make educational choices for their children,? said Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb.

Ogden opposition reveals ?growing impotence on the religious right?

Posted on March 13, 2009
Oliver Willis (via Washington Monthly): A few days ago Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council sent out an email blast trying to whip up opposition to David Ogden . . . Also chiming in were the Concerned Women for America who sent out an action alert calling Ogden a ?porn lawyer?, and the Alliance Defense fund also pushed FRC?s message to their email lists.

D.C. Judge Dismisses Atheist Lawsuit Against Inauguration Prayer

Posted on March 13, 2009
Pacific Justice Institute: "A federal judge in Washington, D.C., today dismissed a lawsuit filed by atheist Michael Newdow, the American Humanist Association and others which had claimed that the traditions of saying prayers and 'so help me God' at the presidential inauguration were unconstitutional...

Pennsylvania Cop Punished for Refusing to Arrest Christians

Posted on March 13, 2009
CitizenLink: ADF filed a lawsuit Monday against officials of Pennsylvania's Kutztown University and its police chief. The officials punished a police officer who refused to arrest a group of Christians sharing their faith on campus.

University Police Officer Sues over Suspension for Refusing to Arrest Christian Protesters

Posted on March 13, 2009
Catholic Exchange (LifeSite): Cpl. Steven Armbruster says he was unjustly relieved of duties during the 2007 incident for failing to obey a direct order that he says would have violated the free speech rights of the group . . . "Police officers who understand and respect the constitutional rights of American citizens should be commended, not punished," said Randall L...

Supreme Court?s Asylum Decision Important For Victims of Religious Persecution

Posted on March 13, 2009
The Religion Clause Blog: "Last week the U.S. Supreme Court decided Negusie v. Holder, (Sup. Ct., March 3, 2009) . . . A release from the Becket Fund praising the decision points out that it has important implications for victims of religious persecution...

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