Religion & Law

High court rejects GOP bid in Ohio voting dispute

Posted on October 17, 2008
. . . The Supreme Court said it was not expressing any opinion on whether the state official had violated any duty under federal law. But, it said, it was not persuaded that the federal law gives a private party . . . a right to go to court . . .

UK: Children suffer as traditional families vanish

Posted on October 17, 2008
The Daily Express reports: “Almost 40 per cent of British children are not living with married parents by the time they start school.” The article discusses a host of problems that result from this situation and indicates: “Critics of the decline of the two-parent family called for Labour to re-think its disdain of marriage...

The 2008 Presidential Election and Its Impact on Enforcement of Federal Obscenity Laws

Posted on October 17, 2008
Morality in Media has issued an advisory on the relationship between obscenity prosecutions and the election outcome.   The report provides some information on the history of obscenity prosecution. It further indicates: . . . I also think that our nation is at a crucial juncture in the war against obscenity...

Matched By Mom: Arranged Marriage In America

Posted on October 17, 2008
NPR reports (audio also available): . . . He knows it sounds weird, but after nearly six years of marriage, what he has works. And he can’t imagine being with anyone other than the woman his mother picked out for him. “It depends on your expectations,” Imam says...

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Richard John Neuhaus: Obama, Abortion, and the Courts

Posted on October 17, 2008
Who, as president, will get to nominate the next one, or two, or three, justices to the Supreme Court.

UK: Pro-lifers Rally Behind Cord Blood Storage

Posted on October 17, 2008
The Christian Post reports: British politician David Burrowes is to present a measure to Parliament for its second reading on Friday as he continues to champion a new ethical treatment using umbilical cord blood. The Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation) Bill was first introduced by Conservative Member of Parliament Burrowes in January...

Latino Protestants Make Dramatic Shift to Obama, Poll Says

Posted on October 17, 2008
The Christian Post reports: Latino Protestant support for the Republican ticket this year plummeted nearly half that of the 2004 election, a new survey found. Only 33.6 percent of Latino Protestant registered voters plan to vote for Republican presidential nominee John McCain compared to 50...

Parents of Mich. boy left in Neb. lose custody of other children

Posted on October 17, 2008
The AP reports: “A Michigan couple were barred from seeing or contacting their children after authorities said the mother abandoned their adopted but unwanted 13-year-old son in Nebraska under the state’s safe haven law.” Visit Site » Share This

UK: 21st October Pro abortion protest outside Parliament

Posted on October 17, 2008
Abortionrights.org.uk announces this abortion protest: 5.30pm onwards, Old Palace Yard, outside Parliament, St Stephen’s entrance Make the strength of pro-choice opinion felt ahead of the final crucial abortion votes in Parliament. Oppose further anti-abortion attempts to drive back women’s fundamental rights and support the first Parliamentary opportunity in a generation to improve the law for women and [...

Thousands Expected to Assemble at NJ State House Steps in Support of Traditional Marriage on Oct. 19th

Posted on October 16, 2008
The Christian Newswire reports: “Pro-Family Voices to Gather Sunday for 2nd Annual Statewide Citizens Rally as they continue to demand the right to vote on a State Constitutional Amendment defining once and for all that marriage should remain One Man and One Woman...

NJ flu-shot mandate for preschoolers draws outcry

Posted on October 16, 2008
The AP reports: As flu season approaches, many New Jersey parents are furious over a first-in-the-nation requirement that children get a flu shot in order to attend preschools and day-care centers. The decision should be the parents’, not the state’s, they contend...

?Calling for Common Sense About Christmas, Rutherford Institute Issues Legal Guidelines for Celebrating Christmas in Public, at School or Work?

Posted on October 16, 2008
The Rutherford Institute has issued this press release that indicates: “. . . Hoping to clear up confusion over the do’s and don’ts of celebrating Christmas in schools, workplaces and elsewhere, The Rutherford Institute has issued its “Twelve Rules of Christmas” guidelines, which are available here...

Oregon: Local group plans ?massive protests? if strip club opens in Tualatin

Posted on October 16, 2008
Tualatintimes.org report: Three ordinances designed to deter another strip club from starting up in Tualatin could have had a significant impact on all live performers in the city ? from strippers to guitar players. But on Monday, city councilors agreed that the ordinances, which were only in preliminary form, weren?t worth the risk because of possible litigation...

Florida: Man arrested for licking dancer in strip club

Posted on October 16, 2008
NWFdailynews.com reports that a man in a Panama City strip club, who had been repeated warned about touching dancers, licked one of the strippers. She ran to the dressing room and cried.  Police arrested and charged him with battery and other counts. Visit Site » Share This

SC: Baby found alone in car outside strip club

Posted on October 16, 2008
MyrtleBeachOnline.com reports: “A Myrtle Beach man was arrested after his baby was found inside a car in the parking lot of a local gentleman?s club, according to a police report . . . ” The report further indicates that dad was in the club getting a lap dance while mom was on stage dancing...

Colorado: Tribal leader?s death at strip club ruled a homicide

Posted on October 16, 2008
The Rocky Mountain News reports: “An American Indian tribal leader died outside a Denver strip club from pressure applied to his neck by a person trying to restrain him during an altercation, the Denver medical examiner said today, ruling the case a homicide...

Abortion must be addressed ?for the survival of African American people,?Catholic bishop asserts

Posted on October 16, 2008
CNA reports: “Responding to information from the Guttmacher Institute reporting that black woman have abortions at five times the rate of white women, Bishop Martin D. Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington called on African Americans to rededicate themselves to family, prayer and the dignity of the human person...

Liberty University School of Law Achieves Phenomenal 94.4% Virginia Bar Passage Rate

Posted on October 16, 2008
Liberty Counsel has issued this press release that begins: Liberty University School of Law is pleased to announce a 94.4% Virginia bar passage rate for the class of 2008. Liberty University School of Law?s continued success on the bar exam places the law school in the top tier of all law schools in the country with [...

Cal. School Teacher Has Sex-Change Operation; Parents Outraged They Weren?t Told

Posted on October 16, 2008
Black Christian News reports: . . . Some parents were outraged, saying they felt it was their right to know. “All the information came straight from our kids and didn’t come from the school board or the teachers,” parent Melissa Oiland told KCRA...

NY Civil Liberties Union Protests Military Presence In Schools

Posted on October 16, 2008
NY1.com reports: “A new Department of Education policy allowing military recruiters to access high school student information has some up in arms. The New York Civil Liberties Union gathered in Downtown Manhattan on Wednesday to call on the DOE to change the policy, which grants recruiters access to student information via the federal No Child [...

Video: ?Election Update: Three States to Vote on Definition of Marriage?

Posted on October 16, 2008
"In this week's Focus Action Election Update, Stuart Shepard and Tom Minnery discuss the status of state marriage amendments. John Stemberger, who is leading the fight in Florida, offers an update on efforts there."

Amidst 200,000 voter discrepancies, Ohio elections chief appeals to U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on October 16, 2008
At least 200,000 newly registered voters have mismatched data, according to an initial review by Brunner's office . . .

President Bush Signs Broadband Data Improvement Act

Posted on October 16, 2008
President Bush Friday signed the Broadband Data Improvement Act into law, according to a top staffer on the Senate Commerce Committee.

?Ten Years of ?Death with Dignity??

Posted on October 16, 2008
To weigh the claims made by supporters and opponents of the proposed Washington state initiative, we ought to carefully examine the first decade of Oregon?s experience with physician-assisted suicide.

Ohio?s Regulation of RU-486 Clear and Constitutional, Should Be Upheld Argues AUL in Brief Filed Before Ohio Supreme Court

Posted on October 16, 2008
Americans United for Life has issued this press release that begins: “Americans United for Life (AUL) today filed an amicus brief on behalf of ten U.S. Representatives supporting Ohio?s regulation of the deadly abortion drug, RU-486.”  Links to the brief in this case and another related case are provided in the press release...

Pennsylvania: Couple not allowed to convert house into ?church?

Posted on October 16, 2008
John and Kim Ondrik have lost their bid to convert a North Huntingdon home that housed Swingers Palace, which township officials say is a sex club business, into the Church of Spiritual Humanities.

India: Delhi High Court wants government proof on HIV deaths

Posted on October 16, 2008
The Delhi High Court directed the Government to produce some evidence to prove their stand that HIV deaths were caused due to homosexuality and removing section 377 from the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will lead to more such cases.

National Review: The Courts vs. Marriage

Posted on October 16, 2008
The Defense of Marriage Act protects states that wish to maintain their marriage laws as they are. Senator Obama wants to repeal that act, however, and the Democratic platform comes out for repeal ? a position to the left of any previous Democratic presidential candidate.

No Better Time Than Now: WV Pastors back marriage amendment now

Posted on October 16, 2008
WVMetroNews.com reports: “A group of West Virginia pastors say state residents support a marriage amendment and there’s no reason to delay putting it on a statewide ballot. The pastors, supporters of the West Virginia Family Policy Council, were on hand for a state capitol news conference Thursday...

Do States Violate the First Amendment If Their Ban on Electioneering At or Near the Polls Extends to the Wearing of Partisan T-Shirts, Buttons, and Other Paraphernalia?

Posted on October 16, 2008
Julie Hilden has this commentary on Findlaw that begins: “Recently, several states have experienced controversy over whether voters can wear partisan T-shirts, buttons, and similar items to the polls. The reason the practice is controversial is that some deem it ‘passive electioneering,’ and state laws create a zone around polling places in which electioneering cannot [...

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