Religion & Law

Colo. Court of Appeals: Woman can seek damages for ?unwanted child?

Posted on March 10, 2009
"Here, the allegations of plaintiff ?s complaint, taken as true, set forth a medical malpractice claim based on the failure of her doctor to prevent the birth of an unwanted child. Although presented for the first time in a Colorado appellate court, this is a recognized claim for relief ...

California: ?Field Poll shows voters evenly divided on gay marriage?

Posted on March 10, 2009
Sacramento Bee: “Four months after the passage of Proposition 8, a new opinion poll released today shows California voters almost evenly divided over same-sex marriage but significantly more accepting of it than just three years ago . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

Strong pro-life bill pending in Arizona House

Posted on March 10, 2009
The AZ Catholic Conference is urging action on the following bill:  HB 2564 will protect women, parents, children, and the civil rights of health care providers.  Specifically, the bill’s provisions call for the following:  1) informed consent before abortions can be performed along with a 24 hour waiting period; 2) meaningful parental consent requirements; 3) a prohibition [...

AZ: Flagstaff ordinance granting special privileges for homosexual behavior fails

Posted on March 10, 2009
The Center for AZ Policy reports: Thanks to pastoral leadership and many residents who stood up and made their voice heard, the Flagstaff City Council decided on Monday not to adopt a remarkably broad ordinance adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” to the city laws governing employment practices and “public accommodations...

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West Virginia bill granting special privileges for homosexual behavior advances

Posted on March 10, 2009
Charleston Gazette: A new version of legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation - which proved too controversial to vote on last year - advanced from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. Although the premise of the bill (SB238) is simple - prohibiting housing or job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation - senators [...

Australia Ends Its Ban on Abortion-Related Overseas Aid

Posted on March 10, 2009
CNSNews:  ”Six weeks after President Obama overturned a ban on federal funds going to non-governmental organizations that promote or perform abortions, the Australian government on Tuesday took a similar step . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

Czech President Says Global Warming Activists Aim to Stop Global Economic Development

Posted on March 10, 2009
CNSNews: “Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, told the International Conference on Climate Change that the true aim of environmentalists is to stop global development, not save the planet.” Visit Site » Share This

Democrat to Introduce Freedom of Choice Act ?Sooner Rather Than Later?

Posted on March 10, 2009
CNSNews: “A spokesman for Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said that while re-introducing the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) during the 111thCongress isn?t on his ‘immediate agenda,’ the congressman does plan to do so ’sooner rather than later...

Obama backs teacher?s merit pay, unions may oppose him

Posted on March 10, 2009
AP: “President Barack Obama on Tuesday embraced a new approach to public education that adds up to merit pay for the better teachers and longer days and school years for students.” Visit Site » Share This

Debate over Kalamazoo ordinance granting special privileges for homosexuality centers on religion

Posted on March 10, 2009
Kalamazoo Gazette:  Nearly 200 people spent four hours Monday night debating the morality, legality and propriety of a so-called anti-discrimination ordinance for Kalamazoo’s gay and lesbian community . . .  Mary Balkema, Kalamazoo County treasurer and former city commissioner, gave an opening opposition statement on behalf of Kalamazoo Citizens Voting No to Special Rights Discrimination, saying the [...

February Marriage Law Digest Online

Posted on March 10, 2009
The Institute for Marriage and Public Policy has posted the latest edition of its Marriage Law Digest edited by William C. Duncan. Visit Site » Share This

California court asked to confirm award by Jewish religious tribunal

Posted on March 10, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: “Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times reports on an unusual suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in which the widow of an Orthodox rabbi is asking a civil court to confirm an award by a Jewish religious tribunal. A hearing is scheduled for April 3...

From Slavery to Same-Sex Marriage: Comity Versus Public Policy in Inter-Jurisdictional Recognition of Controversial Domestic Relations

Posted on March 10, 2009
This Article seeks first to ascertain the controlling principles used in the past to resolve inter-jurisdictional disputes over controversial domestic relations. It then applies these principles to current inter-jurisdictional conflicts involving recognition of gay family relationships...

?Why It is Too Soon to Mandate the HPV Vaccine for Pre-Teen Girls as a Prerequisite to School Entry?

Posted on March 10, 2009
In Part II, this Comment examines the new HPV vaccine and the potential public health consequences that may result from its introduction. In Part III, the Comment then addresses the legal framework surrounding mandatory vaccination in the United States and how the public health concerns underlying this framework do not justify mandatory HPV vaccination...

Pragmatism and Principle in Establishment Clause Ten Commandments Litigation

Posted on March 10, 2009
This Comment's objective is not primarily to say why the Commandments are desirable to display, nor to frame a detailed legal case as to how they can be defended. The inquiry is limited to the interplay of theology and law in the historical argument for the Commandments--are public displays of the Commandments trapped between theological indifference on the one hand, or legal failure on the other? With the modest belief that the legal practitioners should take note of the theological implications of their arguments, and that the arguments should be informed by both the principle and the practical, we shall proceed: first, to examine the state of the court precedent; second, to consider the theological problems with the ?historical? defense of the Commandments; and third, to suggest some routes which would avoid the theological problem.

Privatizing marriage is not the answer

Posted on March 10, 2009
Jennifer Roback Morse, writing at Public Discourse: Marriage is adult society?s institutional structure for protecting the legitimate interests of children. Marriage attaches mothers?and especially fathers?to their children, and attaches mothers and fathers to one another...

Iowa: Changes build support for porn bill

Posted on March 10, 2009
Des Moines Register: But lawmakers amended the legislation to state that child care providers or parents would have to knowingly allow the child access to the obscene material to be guilty of child abuse. And the exposure would have to cause the child to suffer harmful effects or be in danger of harmful effects as a [...

Federal Appeals Court To Hear Argument In Kentucky Case Contesting ?Faith-Based? Challenge

Posted on March 10, 2009
Americans United for Separation of Church and State: Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday, March 11, will urge a federal appeals court to uphold the right of taxpayers to challenge public funding of a Baptist childcare agency that proselytizes youngsters in its care and discriminates against [...

Americans United for Sep. of Church and States praises Senate vote to revoke DC vouchers

Posted on March 10, 2009
Americans U. for Separation of Church and State:  ”Americans United for Separation of Church and State today praised the U.S. Senate for refusing to provide funding indefinitely for a controversial private school voucher plan in Washington, D.C...

Ex-porn addict among those in favor of Neb. bill

Posted on March 10, 2009
AP: “The bill [LB443] from state Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial would prohibit businesses such as strip clubs and novelty shops from being within a quarter mile of child-care businesses, schools, homes, playgrounds, recreational facilities or churches...

2010 California Ballot Initiative eliminates marriage

Posted on March 10, 2009
"Two proposed initiatives have been filed with the attorney general?s office for the 2010 elections ? one would repeal Prop 8, the other would abolish civil marriages altogether."

ADF attorneys ask U.S. Supreme Court to hear ?Truth? case

Posted on March 10, 2009
. . . officials at Kentridge High School in Seattle have refused to grant official recognition to the Truth Bible Club because they require their members to hold certain religious beliefs.

Tomorrow: Full Senate vote likely on nomination of porn attorney to be Deputy AG

Posted on March 10, 2009
It looks like the vote in the full U.S. Senate for pornography attorney David Ogden is going to be tomorrow, Wednesday.

Controversial intelligence pick withdraws

Posted on March 10, 2009
Alexander Bolton writes at The Hill:  Charles Freeman, the Obama administration’s choice to head the National Intelligence Council, has withdrawn from consideration after facing strong opposition from Senate Republicans. Freeman is the latest in a string of Obama administration appointees and nominees to withdraw in the past few weeks...

ADF: Court should reinstate Fla. statute protecting adopted children

Posted on March 10, 2009
?Courts do not have a veto power to override laws enacted by the elected representatives of the people.? said ADF-allied attorney Rebecca Townsend . . .

Wall Street Journal spotlights lesbian executive - ?likely to be wooed for CEO jobs?

Posted on March 10, 2009
Joann S. Lublin and Ellen Byron write at the Wall Street Journal: In stepping down from a top post at Procter & Gamble Co., Susan Arnold , a longtime trailblazer at the consumer-products giant, becomes a hot commodity for other major corporations in the market for a CEO...

New Study May Underestimate Left-Wing Preponderance in Academia

Posted on March 09, 2009
Ilya Somin writes at the Volokh Conspiracy: A new UCLA study finds that 56% of academics consider themselves to be “liberal” (47%) or “far left” (9%), compared to only 16% who say they are “conservative” (15.2%) or “far right” (0...

Mike Johnson on the Frank Pastore Show: Tenn school orders God references covered

Posted on March 09, 2009
ADF attorney Mike Johnson appeared at the Frank Pastore Show to discuss the suit ADF has filed against a Tennesse school. The mp3 runs just over 23 minutes.  Related ADF press release: Tenn. school censors ?God Bless the USA,? ?In God We Trust? Visit Site » Share This

South Dakota Federal Judge Gets Papers for Ruling on Abortion Information Law

Posted on March 09, 2009
LifeNews: “South Dakota federal judge has received what are likely to be the last legal papers from attorneys for the state to rule on an abortion information law. The measure requires abortion practitioners to tell women that an abortion will destroy a human life of an unborn child ...

Virginia Pro-Life Group Renews Call to Kaine to Sign Choose Life License Plates

Posted on March 09, 2009
LifeNews: “A Virginia pro-life group is renewing its call to pro-abortion Gov. Tim Kaine to sign a bill that would authorize Choose Life license plates. The Virginia state legislature put the final touches on the bill last month that includes a provision allowing motorists there to purchase plates to help pregnancy centers...

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