Religion & Law

Unborn twins interact with each other as early as 14 weeks

Posted on January 13, 2011
LifeSiteNews: "Unborn twin babies socialize as early as week 14 of gestation, a new study has shown. Italian researcher Dr. Umberto Castiello of the University of Padova and associates used an advanced method of ultrasonography . . . "

German gets 4 years for making porn in Somalia

Posted on January 13, 2011
AP: "A court official says a Somali judge sentenced a 72-year-old German man to four years in jail for making pornographic films and pictures in Somalia."

S&P, Moody?s Warn On U.S. Credit Rating

Posted on January 13, 2011
Wall Street Journal: Moody's Investors Service said in a report that the U.S. will need to reverse an upward trajectory in the debt ratios to support its triple-A rating. "We have become increasingly clear about the fact that if there are not offsetting measures to reverse the deterioration in negative fundamentals in the U...

Law Professor: In Canadian battle, religious freedom must be sacrificed for marriage redefinition

Posted on January 13, 2011
In other words, if there?s a way to protect the dignity of the couple while also respecting the religious beliefs of the commissioner, I?m OK with that. But if the conflict can?t be avoided, I say: ?Do your damn job.?

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UK: Legal action over rules to distribute abortion drug in Britan

Posted on January 13, 2011
Telegraph (includes video): "BPAS has launched the legal action to have the interpretation of law changed so that instead of saying the all medication must be prescribed and administed in the clinic, it says it must be just' prescribed and issued'."

MT: ?Attorney: GOP health care proposal a legal risk?

Posted on January 13, 2011
Bloomberg: "Republicans running the Montana Legislature who have launched bills aimed at undermining a federal health care law they believe is unconstitutional may themselves be running up against the state Constitution by trying to order the attorney general to take action...

MN: TiZA school, state both seek dismissal of ACLU lawsuit

Posted on January 13, 2011
Pioneer Press: "In the past week, two defendants in an American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota lawsuit over an alleged incursion of religion into public education have asked for the suit's dismissal ? for very different reasons."

Pakistan: Blasphemy law: Pope?s call highlights split in Pakistani society

Posted on January 13, 2011
Spero News: "Radical leaders and Islamic movements incite crowds and warn Christians against forming a party to repeal the law, a step that would bring chaos. The government denies it plans changes to the law. Civil society leaders appreciate Benedict XVI?s speech...

Minneapolis school board passes stringent anti?gay bullying, pro-LGBT curriculum

Posted on January 13, 2011
The Minnesota Independent: "In a unanimous vote by outgoing board members Tuesday evening, the Minneapolis School Board passed a resolution that significantly beefs up its LGBT curriculum and anti-bullying efforts. The resolution directs the school district to enhance its tracking of anti-LGBT bullying incidents as well as include LGBT themes in school curriculum...

Canada: ?Way out sought for marriage officials who shun gays?

Posted on January 13, 2011
?If you don?t like the rules, then you can just leave,? echoed Kathy Gudnarson, a marriage commissioner in rural Saskatchewan.

India: Mosque demolition causes protests, jams

Posted on January 13, 2011
Times of India: "According to Mangej Singh, deputy director (DDA), the religious structure was built illegally on DDA land and was demolished after a committee approved it."

Pink News: ?Public bodies asked to find out about gay and trans staff?

Posted on January 13, 2011
Pink News: "As part of the Equality Act, all public bodies will be required to publish information about the diversity of their staff from April but the government will not set diversity targets. Instead, the public will be expected to hold bodies to account if they feel certain sections of society are not represented well enough...

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.: The Deadly Logic of Anti-Blasphemy Laws

Posted on January 13, 2011
R. Ablert Mohler, Jr. writes at the Christian Post: "In recent weeks, a coalition of Muslim nations has demanded (again) that the United Nations criminalize blasphemy. A considerable number of Christians might, at least at first hearing, think this as a reasonable demand...

Retirement on hold while Navy probes lewd videos

Posted on January 13, 2011
AP: "Rear Adm. Dennis Moynihan, a Navy spokesman, said Thursday that Rear Adm. Lawrence Rice has been transferred out of his job at Joint Forces Command. His retirement planned for Feb. 1 is being delayed."

Casey Mattox: Vanderbilt Rescinds Supposedly Non-Existent Policy, Protects Conscience!

Posted on January 13, 2011
ADF attorney Casey Mattox writes at Speak Up Movement: "Sadly, my experience is that Vanderbilt?s requirement was not one of a kind. And taking Vanderbilt at its word, that it truly does protect the conscience rights of its employees, Vanderbilt may now even be ahead of the game...

AP: Vanderbilt Med center reacts to abortion complaint

Posted on January 13, 2011
TimesNews.net (AP): David French, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, called the original version morally reprehensible. "How can you justify asking any medical provider to participate in something they believe to be the unjustified killing of another human being?" The ADF is a conservative Christian group whose founders include James Dobson from Focus on the Family.

Boycott Urged of Hotels at March for Life Backing Planned Parenthood

Posted on January 13, 2011
LifeNews: "A pro-life group that monitors corporate donations to Planned Parenthood is urging pro-life people attending the March for Life to not make reservations at hotels that support the abortion business."

Atlantic Wire: Christian Group Sues Vanderbilt Over Abortion Training for Nurses

Posted on January 13, 2011
The Atantic Wire: Here's how the Alliance Defense Fund's lawyer, Mathew S. Bowman, argues the position: "Vanderbilt University assumed a public trust when it received what now amounts to billions in federal health dollars. Its blatant discrimination against nurses who wish to practice in labor and delivery or obstetrical and gynecological care is exactly the kind of insidious behavior the Church amendment was written to prevent 30 years ago...

WHNT: Vanderbilt Medical Center says no one required to participate in abortions

Posted on January 13, 2011
WHNT: "The Alliance Defense Fund claimed that Vanderbilt is violating a federal law that states recipients of federal funds cannot require someone to perform or assist in abortions if it violates his or her religious beliefs or moral conviction."

Tennessean: Vanderbilt alters application after abortion clause protest

Posted on January 13, 2011
Tennessean: The Alliance Defense Fund is withdrawing the complaint it filed Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "It was the right thing for Vanderbilt to do," said David French, senior counsel for the group, "and they should be commended for it...

Matt Bowman on Talk from the Heart: Vanderbilt abandons coerced nursing abortion pledge

Posted on January 13, 2011
ADF attorney Matt Bowman appeared on the Talk from the Heart with Rich Buhler to discuss this: Vanderbilt University abandons illegal policy that forced nursing residents to sign abortion pledge. | MP3 audio 13:46

U.S. court considers hardness Faith Defects of Education

Posted on January 13, 2011
Regions.ru (Google translation from Russian): "The fundamental right of parents - to choose education for their children," - said John Anthony Simmons, a lawyer associated with the Christian human rights organization «Alliance Defense Fund». - "The court has no right to send children to public school just because she thinks that her religious beliefs should be diluted by others...

LifeSiteNews: Feds tell college it?s not Catholic enough

Posted on January 13, 2011
LifeSiteNews: ?Federal and state laws are increasingly being used to coerce religious institutions into actions and commitments that violate deeply held religious convictions and moral principles,? warns Kevin Theriot, Senior Counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, in that analysis...

Maryland governor begins push for marriage redefinition

Posted on January 13, 2011
"Maryland Governor Martin O?Malley signaled support for a bill making its way through the state Legislature that would legalized gay marriage in the state of Maryland. The bill seems to have gained significant traction in recent days . . . "

AU sues Johnson County over Courthouse Ten Commandments

Posted on January 13, 2011
Common Dreams: "Americans United, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, is challenging the Johnson County Commission's decision to display the Ten Commandments and Christian literature in the courthouse lobby while refusing to display a local man's posters about the historic role of church-state separation in American law...

State-Level Marriage Battles Heat Up

Posted on January 13, 2011
"Five states allow same-sex marriage. By year?s end, that number could grow. However, several states are working to protect the definition of marriage."

Idaho ?Complaint: Pharmacist refuses to fill prescription over abortion concern?

Posted on January 13, 2011
KTVB.com (includes video): "A new Idaho law enacted in 2010 is designed to protect medical professionals by allowing them to refuse health care services that conflict with their religious, moral or ethical principles. But Planned Parenthood says a Nampa pharmacist acted in the wrong and was not protected by the law when he refused to fill a prescription...

Vanderbilt University abandons illegal policy that forced nursing residents to sign abortion pledge

Posted on January 13, 2011
Policy change comes one day after ADF files complaints with Department of Health and Human Service

18 dead in new attacks against Christians in Nigeria

Posted on January 13, 2011
Catholic Culture: Muslim Fulani herdsmen attacked four non-Muslim villages in central Nigeria on January 10 and 11, killing 18 and burning down a church and over a dozen houses. Soldiers reportedly collaborated in the attack.

OK: Pro Abortion Group criticizes Brownback

Posted on January 13, 2011
DeSoto Explorer: "Abortion rights advocates Wednesday criticized Gov. Sam Brownback for calling for further restrictions on abortions."

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