Religion & Law

British Government Considers Labeling As Extremists Muslims Who Think Homosexuality Is Sinful

Posted on February 19, 2009
LifeSiteNews: “The UK Guardian reports that a document known as Contest 2 reveals plans to widen the definition of “extremist” as part of the antiterrorism effort to those who hold views that clash with what the government defines as shared British values...

Okla. Bill Promoting Discussion of ?Alternative Theories? to Evolution Fails

Posted on February 19, 2009
Christian Post: “The Oklahoma Senate’s Education Committee has narrowly defeated legislation that would have allowed classroom discussion of alternative theories to evolution, along with other topics where science conflicts with religious or moral viewpoints ...

Electrician Quits Repairs on Nebraska Abortion Clinic in Response to Calls

Posted on February 18, 2009
Operation Rescue has issued this press release on the Christian Newswire: “An electrician made the decision yesterday to cancel his contract for work on a fire-damaged abortion clinic after pro-lifers called and explained to the vendor that his work was enabling abortions...

I have two husbands: A polygamist?s diary

Posted on February 18, 2009
MSNBC carries this commentary by Kathleen Lewis who describes her polyamorous relationships. Visit Site » Share This

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Virginia Governor Kaine Won?t Commit to Bill Allowing Choose Life License Plates

Posted on February 18, 2009
LifeNews: “Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the abortion advocate who some claim is pro-life, won’t commit to signing a bill that allows motorists to purchase Choose Life license plates. Members of the Virginia state Senate approved an amendment earlier this month adding the plates to an omnibus license plate bill...

5th Circuit: Prisoner?s denial of access to chapel for worship might violate RLUIPA

Posted on February 18, 2009
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ordered further proceedings to determine whether there is a RLUIPA violation of a prisoner’s free exercise rights where he was denied access to a chapel for Christian worship even though the chapel was available for other uses...

Two babies not one: Australian doctors worry over lesbian IVF ?wrongful birth? case

Posted on February 18, 2009
"Doctors have warned that a decision to award $317,000 to a lesbian couple who had two babies instead of one will discourage medical students from specialising in obstetrics."

David Hacker on the Frank Pastore Show: ?Ask God what your grade is?

Posted on February 18, 2009
ADF attorney David Hacker of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom appeared on the Frank Pastore Show to discuss the Lopez case involving a student who was persecuted by his college professor for giving a speech in defense of marriage. The mp3 file is here and runs just under 12 minutes...

?Right to Die? Bill Introduced into Canadian Parliament

Posted on February 18, 2009
LifeSiteNews: “Last Thursday’s parliamentary ‘Notice Paper’ shows that Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde has again introduced a private members bill, “An Act to amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity).” The text of the bill is not yet available...

Brazilian Socialist Gov?t says 99% of citizens are ?homophobic? and must be reeducated: Population is passively complying

Posted on February 18, 2009
"What is surprising is how a population that is 99% against homosexuality is accepting passively that its 100% pro-homosexuality government is lifting homosexual acts to the level of inviolable sacredness," wrote Brazilian pro-family activist Julio Severo on his blog ...

California Assembly Judiciary Cmte votes to ignore voters on marriage

Posted on February 18, 2009
Yesterday, the Assembly Judiciary Committee of the California State Legislature passed resolutions that demand the State Supreme Court overturn the expressed ?will? of the people and invalidate Proposition 8.

Pelosi, Pope Have No Meeting of the Minds

Posted on February 18, 2009
FoxNews: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican Wednesday morning, but may not have had a meeting of the minds if the two statements from their offices are any indication. No journalists were at the 15-minute encounter and the Vatican [...

Illinois: Calls for Burris resignation intensify as new details emerge

Posted on February 18, 2009
CNN: “The Washington Post added its voice Wednesday to a growing chorus of demands for the resignation of Sen. Roland Burris two days after he detailed conversations with impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s brother that he failed to mention under oath...

Supreme Court may soon review the Navajo Nationa RFRA case

Posted on February 18, 2009
Vikram David Amar and Alan Brownstein have posted this Findlaw commentary that begins: The U.S. Supreme Court will decide in the coming weeks whether to take up an important and interesting case from the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit involving religious liberties and the seminal federal statute ? the Religious Freedom Restoration Act [...

Judge Wins Right to Join Democratic Party

Posted on February 18, 2009
James Madison Center: “Federal District Court Judge Barbara Crabb has granted a permanent injunction against provisions of the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct that prohibited state court judicial candidates from belonging to a political party, as well as from personally soliciting campaign contributions and publicly endorsing political candidates ...

ND House passes bill challenging Roe and making legislators intervenors

Posted on February 18, 2009
he bill defines human life as beginning at fertilization of a woman?s egg by a man?s sperm . . . it also makes legislators official interveners if the state attorney general must defend the law, which she said is questionable in constitutional law . ...

Ghana?s Vice President Wants Government Inspired By Christian Values

Posted on February 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: “Ghana’s Vice President John Dramani Mahama speaking to the synod of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra on Monday said that his National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration would rely heavily on religious values and religious institutions in bringing social reform to the country ...

West Virginia churches to ?Stand4Marriage? on March 1

Posted on February 18, 2009
The Family Policy Council of West Virginia: On Sunday, March 1, thousands of West Virginians will gather in churches across the state to participate in ?Stand4Marriage Sunday.? Hundreds of churches throughout West Virginia will address the importance of marriage and reaffirm their commitment to defending and protecting marriage as the union of one man and one [...

Italy?s High Court Acquits Judge Who Refuses To Sit In Courtroom With Cross

Posted on February 18, 2009
The Religion Clause Blog:”ANSA reported yesterday that Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation has reversed the conviction of Judge Luigi Tosti who had been sentenced by a lower court to seven months in jail for refusing to carry out his official duties ...

Christian Ministry Challenges Oklahoma Prison Rules

Posted on February 18, 2009
Religion Clause Blog: Last week, Wingspread Prison Ministries filed a federal lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Corrections challenging restrictions that interfere with Wingspread’s outreach to inmates in Oklahoma . . . The Rutherford Institute issued a release last week announcing the filing of the suit ...

Paper reports Obama Faith Based office won?t fund groups supporting reparative therapy

Posted on February 18, 2009
The Religion Clause reports: “Today’s Windy City Times focuses on Obama campaign’s promise last July that the new Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (see prior posting) will not fund groups that advocate for anti-gay reparative therapy...

Two law schools now have new deans

Posted on February 18, 2009
National Law Journal: Costa Mesa, Calif.’s Whittier Law School and Elon University School of Law, in Greensboro, N.C., have named new deans. Penelope Bryan, an expert in family law, child custody and dispute resolution at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, will become dean of Whittier Law School in July ...

ABA lowers ethics hurdle for lateral hiring

Posted on February 18, 2009
National Law Journal: . . . At the ABA midyear meeting in Boston, the 555-member ABA House of Delegates voted, 226 to 191, in favor of Recommendation 109. The new rule allows law firms to hire lawyers with conflicts of interest without a waiver from the client...

Report: Fetal stem cells trigger tumors in ill boy

Posted on February 18, 2009
AP: “A family desperate to save a child from a lethal brain disease sought highly experimental injections of fetal stem cells ?injections that triggered tumors in the boy’s brain and spinal cord, Israeli scientists reported Tuesday . . . ” Visit Site » Share This

National blueprint? Converting a Wisconsin hospital to an abortuary

Posted on February 18, 2009
Jill Staneck writes at WorldNetDaily: . . . in reality this is about the health of the abortion industry, a perpetually marginalized medical profession trying to force its way into the mainstream. Abortion hardliners in the Wisconsin medical community are using the defection of one late-late-term abortionist to attempt to convert the entire medical community from within, [...

Jury finds San Diego subjected 4 to ?simulated sex acts? in ?gay pride? parade

Posted on February 18, 2009
WorldNetDaily reports on the case involving Fireman forced to participate in a “gay pride” parade: . . . “Government employees should never be forced to participate in events or acts that violate their sincerely held beliefs,” said Charles LiMandri, the West Coast regional director for the Thomas More Law Center...

Pope to Pelosi: Catholic politicians must protect life at all stages

Posted on February 18, 2009
LifeNews: Pope Benedict XVI Tells Speaker Nancy Pelosi Catholics Must Oppose Abortion AP: Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday told U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life “at all stages of its development,” the Vatican said...

ADF attorneys advise La Crosse officials regarding constitutionality of invocations

Posted on February 18, 2009
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4831 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE February 17, 2009 ? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF attorneys advise La Crosse officials regarding constitutionality of invocations ADF letter disputes threats made by secularist group over practice of opening meetings with prayer LA CROSSE, Wis...

FRC State of Marriage report

Posted on February 18, 2009
FRC has issued this report tracking current and past marriage legislation in the state legislatures. Visit Site » Share This

NC: Rally Calls for ?Choose Life? License Plates

Posted on February 18, 2009
The NC Family Policy Council reports: The ?Why Not NC? Rally? held Tuesday in front of the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh brought attention to the fact that North Carolina is the only southern state that refuses to allow its citizens to purchase a ?Choose Life? license plate...

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