Religion & Law

Dominican Republic High Court Upholds Country?s Concordat With Vatican

Posted on October 24, 2008
The Religion Clause reports: “According to Dominican Today, the court held that although under the Concordat (Art. XXII), the government agrees to teach the Catholic religion and moral education in elementary and secondary public schools, the Concordat does not ban teaching of other religions as well...

Constitution aside, why should churches avoid partisanship?

Posted on October 24, 2008
The Associated Baptist Press has posted this report discussing ADF’s Pulpit Initiative. It begins: The forbidden idea of churches and other tax-exempt organizations endorsing political parties or candidates has started to sound like a good one, in recent decades, to many conservative evangelicals in the United States...

ADF: Christian man excluded from Modesto public plaza for sharing Gospel

Posted on October 24, 2008
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4722 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY October 24, 2008 ? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS:  (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF attorney available to media after hearing in Modesto Christian speech case Christian man excluded from Modesto public plaza for sharing Gospel  WHO:  ADF Litigation Staff Counsel Heather Gebelin Hacker WHAT:  Available for media interviews after hearing in Borden v...

?Legal realities snag surgical care proposal?

Posted on October 24, 2008
The Fort Wayne News Sentinel reports: A Washington, D.C.-based legal advocacy group specializing in religious and pro-life causes has offered to represent Allen County ? for free! ? if it is sued for trying to protect women who have had outpatient surgical procedures ...

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Group asks IRS to investigate NJ Catholic Bishop and NM church for blasting candidates supporting abortion

Posted on October 23, 2008
In a letter sent to the IRS on Wednesday (Oct. 22), Americans United for Separation of Church and State accused Paterson Bishop Arthur Serratelli of illegal partisanship for lambasting Obama's support of abortion rights . . .

UK: Lawmakers back animal-human embryo research

Posted on October 23, 2008
Despite opposition from religious and pro-life groups, MPs in the House of Commons backed the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Bill by 355 votes to 129. It will now go to a vote in the House of Lords, and could be law by November . . .

Montana: ?Public library in Helena keeps book about gay sex?

Posted on October 23, 2008
The Washington Blade reports: “The Lewis and Clark Public Library in Helena has voted to keep on the shelves a book about gay sex. The book is titled ‘The Joy of Gay Sex.’ Board chairwoman Carole Byrnes acknowledges the book includes graphic pictures and descriptions but says she views it as an instructional, education manual that [...

?Gay attorney plays key role in McCain campaign?

Posted on October 23, 2008
The Washington Blade reports: “Trevor Potter, a former chair of the U.S. Federal Election Commission who is gay, is serving as the top lawyer for the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) . . . But few mainline news outlets have reported on Potter?s other role as a high-level, openly gay adviser to McCain...

Rutherford asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Councilman?s right to pray ?In Jesus? Name?

Posted on October 23, 2008
The Rutherford Institute reports:  Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Fredericksburg City Councilman Hashmel Turner, who was prohibited from ending his prayers at council meetings “in Jesus’ name...

?California Measure to End Same-Sex Marriage Trailing, Poll Says?

Posted on October 23, 2008
Bloomberg reports: “The proposed ban, known as Proposition 8, is opposed by 52 percent of those likely to vote, with 44 percent in favor, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.” Visit Site » Share This

Poll: Florida Marriage Amendment Close To Passage

Posted on October 23, 2008
WESH.com reports: “At 56 percent of respondents for the amendment, it is just shy of the 60 percent it needs for passage.” Visit: yesonmarriage.com  Visit Site » Share This

Oregon: Tualatin Residents Continue Strip Club Fight

Posted on October 23, 2008
KPTV.com reports:  . . . The owners of Stars Cabaret plan to take over the site of Out of the Blues bar on McEwan Road near Bridgeport Village. They’ve applied for a liquor license with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.  But opponents of the strip club, who created a group called Change for Oregon, gathered Wednesday to [...

Prop 8 would take effect immediately

Posted on October 23, 2008
"Should voters pass Proposition 8 come November 4, the anti-gay ballot initiative would take effect the following day due to a quirk in California law."

?Florida Supreme Court strikes down ?false light? suits?

Posted on October 23, 2008
How Appealing links to several reports and the ruling. Liberty Counsel has issued this press release: Florida Supreme Court Issues Landmark Free Speech Decision For Media. It begins: Today the Florida Supreme Court ruled 5-0 that Florida law does not recognize claims for “false light invasion of privacy...

Top Cal. public schools official makes war on marriage

Posted on October 23, 2008
"Today, the NO on Prop 8 campaign released a tough new television ad featuring California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O?Connell, who voiced his strong opposition to Prop 8 and the lies about the public education system."

Sonora becomes second Mexican state to pass law protecting unborn

Posted on October 23, 2008
CNA reports: “By a vote of 27-5, the Sonora State Congress in Mexico amended the state?s constitution and enshrined protection of human life from conception to natural death, closing the door to legal efforts to expand abortion . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

56 religious organisations officially scheduled for liquidation in Russia

Posted on October 23, 2008
The Christian Telegraph reports:  On 15 October, a declaration unexpectedly appeared on the webpage of the Russian Ministry of Justice listing 56 religious organisations scheduled for liquidation . . . Pastor Vitaly Vlasenko, the RUECB’s Director for External Church Relations, warns against undue alarm, for the declaration states only that the Justice Department “plans to file liquidation claims” against [...

US Bishops Develop Plan to Defend Marriage

Posted on October 23, 2008
LifeSiteNews.com reports: “Recognizing the societal implications of legislative and judicial efforts to redefine marriage, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) last week announced that it has joined efforts with the Knights of Columbus to develop a national plan of action in defense of marriage...

California: ?Tech-savvy clerk solves marriage license tussle?

Posted on October 23, 2008
Mercury News reports: Beginning Monday, couples will again be able to call themselves the “bride” and the “groom” rather than simply “Party A” and “Party B.” And they can thank Vicki Petersen, Sonoma County’s chief deputy clerk, who came up with a clever way to foil the bureaucracy and save the state as much as a [...

Cave Creek, AZ to pay ACLU $70,000

Posted on October 23, 2008
KPHO.com reports: “The town of Cave Creek, Ariz., will pay immigrant-rights groups and the American Civil Liberties Union $70,000 to settle a lawsuit regarding its controversial day-laborer ordinance.” Visit Site » Share This

Law Students for Reproductive Justice: What ?Pro-Abortion Movement??

Posted on October 23, 2008
There is no pro-abortion movement. The movement that I am a part of ?envisons the complete physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of women and girls.?

Planned Parenthood breaks ground on new Portland clinic amid protest

Posted on October 23, 2008
OregonLive.com reports: Behind a portable chain-link fence and with the protection of police officers and hired security guards, supporters of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette held a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday on their new clinic and office building in Northeast Portland ...

I?m not Voting for a Man, I?m Voting for Generations of Children and their Right to Live

Posted on October 23, 2008
The Randy Alcorn Blog carries this post that begins: “Yesterday I received this question in an e-mail from Faith, a godly young woman I respect very much: As a Christian, should we vote for who we think should lead our country solely based on their stance on abortion? I have been thinking about this question and I am [...

Art and the Constitution

Posted on October 23, 2008
Although propositional representations are often thought of as art, they nevertheless present little difficulty under the First Amendment. They are clearly ?speech? in the sense that they communicate intended messages or meanings to audiences and thus the Constitution should protect them as free speech.

Digest of 2008 Voter Guides

Posted on October 23, 2008
2008 Voter Guides

The Political Economy of the O?Connor Court: Professor Thomas M. Keck Vindicated

Posted on October 23, 2008
Keck discovered ?that some constitutional [controversies split] judges from legislators? instead of (or, in all events, more than) splitting ?Democrats from Republicans or liberals from conservatives.?

Rediscovering the Happy Family

Posted on October 23, 2008
If parents are unhappy even amid affluence, it suggests that as a culture, we have lost the skills necessary to glean day-to-day satisfaction from the hard work of parenting. It should come as no surprise to a thoughtful conservative that children are poor substitutes for consumer goods, and that a ?sense of meaning? does not replace actual meaning.

UK Catholic Education Service to comply with statutory ?sex and relationship education?

Posted on October 23, 2008
In a simultaneous announcement, the Catholic Education Service makes it clear, not only that it will collaborate with the government?s plans, but that it hopes that parents will not choose to opt out by withdrawing their children from sex education.

Conscience Protections and Medicine

Posted on October 23, 2008
Conscience protections exist to allow people to heal the sick without having to kill the vulnerable.

Gerard V. Bradley: When is it Acceptable for a ?Pro-Life? Voter to Vote for a ?Pro-Choice? Candidate?

Posted on October 23, 2008
In an abortion someone who has the same right not to be killed that everyone else has, is killed. So abortion isn't just an unfortunate event, but it is morally wrong because it deprives a human person of his right to life-and thus we need to enact laws that protect the right to life for all people.

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