Religion & Law

Zurich restricts homeschooling to state-licensed eachers

Posted on December 12, 2008
The leading Swiss newspaper, Tages Anzeiger, reports that the by next summer the Canton of Zurich will restrict homeschooling rights to parents who are certified teachers.

American Society of Reproductive Medicine statement confirms the pill causes abortion

Posted on December 12, 2008
Amidst an ongoing debate among prolife advocates about whether to classify the Pill as an abortifacient or a prophylactic, pro-abortion advocates have published an authoritative statement declaring that the Pill prevents implantation of embryos, thereby causing an abortion.

Survey: ?Americans divided on same-sex legal rights?

Posted on December 12, 2008
Adults in the United States hold differing views on the topic of legal rights for gay and lesbian couples, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates International released by Newsweek. 32 per cent of respondents support the concept of civil unions, 31 per cent would offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples, and 30 per cent oppose any legal recognition for gay and lesbian partnerships.

Cardinal Avery Dulles, Theologian, Is Dead at 90

Posted on December 12, 2008
Cardinal Avery Dulles, a scion of diplomats and Presbyterians who converted to Roman Catholicism, rose to pre-eminence in Catholic theology and became the only American theologian ever appointed to the College of Cardinals, died today died Friday morning at Fordham University in the Bronx...

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UK: Politically correct Christmas carols censor ?king?, ?son? and ?virgin?

Posted on December 12, 2008
Enduring favourites such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing and God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen are being altered by clergy to make them more "modern and inclusive".

The Myth of the Written Constitution

Posted on December 12, 2008
The Article suggests that embracing the myth of the written constitution for such instrumental purposes need not be seen as a shameful act of self-delusion, despite the fictive qualities of the myth's claims. So long as courts and scholars maintain the necessary conditions, the American people can responsibly embrace the myth as an act of "poetic faith...

Illinois civil-union bill appears to be stalled

Posted on December 12, 2008
A proposal to allow civil unions in Illinois between same-sex couples has been stalled in the state legislature and seems likely to stay that way, as gay rights activists Wednesday plan nationwide "Day Without a Gay" rallies to protest California's Proposition 8 and other measures opposing gay marriage.

Vietnam: Ten arrested in porn website investigation

Posted on December 12, 2008
Police in Ho Chi Minh City Thursday arrested 10 suspects allegedly involved in the operation of a pornographic website and charged them with ?distribution of depraved material.?

Taxi driver jailed for child pornography

Posted on December 12, 2008
A taxi driver has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after he admitted downloading and distributing ?some of the worst images? of child pornography possible.

California: Man faces 7-year sentence in child porn case

Posted on December 12, 2008
A man who pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony possession of child pornography is facing up to seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine, said prosecutors.

Illinois: Park board member quits after child porn charge

Posted on December 12, 2008
A man charged Wednesday with buying child pornography over the Internet has resigned as vice president of the Bartlett park board, the Daily Herald is reporting.

FL: Same-sex marriage advocates to protest Crist?s wedding

Posted on December 12, 2008
When Gov. Charlie Crist legally weds his longtime girlfriend Carole Rome today, St. Petersburg?s First United Methodist Church will be packed with cheering family members, friends and the most inside of Florida insiders.

U.N. Envoy urges Caribbean nations to decriminalize homosexual behavior

Posted on December 12, 2008
The U.N. special envoy on HIV/AIDS said here Thursday that Caribbean governments need to repeal laws against homosexuality, but a Caribbean Community official pointed out the political risks in such moves.

?Obama taps homosexual-rights activist for White House post?

Posted on December 12, 2008
Nancy Sutley is a former member of Senator Hillary Clinton's California Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender steering committee. According to an ABC report, Sutley was tapped by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in order to help transform that sprawling metropolis into "the greenest big city in America...

Islam and religious freedom at the U.N.

Posted on December 12, 2008
Today, the UDHR [Universal Declaration of Human Rights] survives mainly as the historical artifact of a bygone consensus based on the hard lessons learned in the brutal fight against the Axis Powers.

Abortion Politics Didn?t Doom the G.O.P.

Posted on December 12, 2008
The question is whether it can afford to compromise on the national issue that keeps serious pro-lifers in the Republican fold, and requires an abortion litmus test for Republican presidential nominees ? namely, the composition of the courts. And here the pro-life movement is essentially trapped ? not by its own inflexibility, but by the inflexibility of the Supreme Court?s abortion jurisprudence.

The Frozen Ones: The morally deserted world of spare embryos

Posted on December 12, 2008
In the United States alone, approximately 500,000 embryos now lie suspended in this frozen world. Thousands more accumulate every year. They go there because we make more embryos than are necessary for one child, and we set some aside in case we need them for a second child...

Virginia: ?Gay rights advocates? prepare to fight GOP gubernatorial candidate

Posted on December 12, 2008
Gay rights advocates in Virginia are concerned that a Republican with a distinctly anti-gay record could be the state?s next governor.

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act passes House and Senate

Posted on December 12, 2008
To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, to enhance measures to combat trafficking in persons, and for other purposes.

Rhode Island Chief Justice resigns

Posted on December 12, 2008
How Appealing links to several reports covering the story. The Providence Journal reports: “In an interview yesterday afternoon, Williams, 68, said he is retiring because he had achieved many of his goals and wanted to leave before the next session of the General Assembly convenes...

Americans United for Life releases new Legislation & Policy Guides

Posted on December 12, 2008
Americans United for Life (AUL) Americans United for Life (AUL) today released its 2009 Model Legislation & Policy Guides. With the addition of eight new guides this year, AUL now offers 23 pieces of model legislation on key issues related to abortion, protection of unborn victims of violence, bioethics, healthcare rights of conscience, and the end-of-life.

Virginia asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear challenge to Anti-Spam Act

Posted on December 12, 2008
The Richmond Times Dispatch: Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell yesterday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate Virginia’s anti-spam e-mail law. In September the Virginia Supreme Court held that the Anti-Spam Act of 2003 was unconstitutional for barring all anonymous, unsolicited bulk e-mails — even those with political, religious or other protected content, not just commercial speech [...

Islam, politics, and academic freedom in Germany

Posted on December 12, 2008
Entangling intellectual explorations of Islam with governmental attempts to sanction one viewpoint over another for children?s religious education is more likely to stifle than encourage the much needed open, free public space for explorations of the meaning of Islam.

Missouri: Court considers ACLU demand for Bible ban

Posted on December 12, 2008
A federal appeals court is considering a Missouri dispute in which the American Civil Liberties Union challenged a school district policy that treated the Bible the same as other books and demanded the authority to veto what would be handed out to students.

Australia High Court gives expansive definition of tax-exempt charity

Posted on December 12, 2008
A company that conducted commercial businesses to raise funds for a missionary organisation was entitled to the status of a tax-exempt charity, the High Court of Australia held today.

Day to `call in gay? finds few willing to strike

Posted on December 12, 2008
AP: “A daylong work stoppage during which employees were encouraged to “call in gay” to express support for same-sex marriage drew spotty participation nationwide Wednesday, with some gay rights activists praising the concept but questioning its effect...

Vatican issues new document on biotechnology

Posted on December 12, 2008
. . . the Vatican today issued a tough document condemning the freezing of human embryos, genetic engineering, human cloning, animal/human genetic hybrids, and a number of other procedures described as affronts to human dignity.

West Virginia: ?Lesbian couple fights to keep baby?

Posted on December 12, 2008
The state Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of a same-sex couple . . . fighting a judge's order that the baby girl they've been raising since birth should be removed from their home and placed in one with a married man and woman.

American Association of Law Schools to focus on ADF?s Pulpit Initiative

Posted on December 12, 2008
The American Association of Law Schools will feature this topic at its annual meeting on January 8th (8:30 am): Hot Topic Program: Pulpit Freedom?: On Taxes, Elections, and Religious Freedom The topic focuses on issues raised by ADF’s Pulpit Initiative...

SC ordered to stop making religious license plates

Posted on December 12, 2008
A federal judge says South Carolina must stop marketing and making license plates that feature the image of a cross and the words 'I Believe.'

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