Religion & Law

Saskatchewan unlikely to appeal court ruling on ?gay marriage? refusal law

Posted on January 11, 2011
Winnipeg Free Press: Lawyer Tom Schuck, who intervened on behalf of the Christian Legal Fellowship, said the ruling discriminates against Christian people. "There's a lot more sympathy for people with same-sex attractions than there is for the Christians that get fired because they won't do what they consider is immoral," said Schuck.

Bill to Restrict Late Abortions Filed in KS House

Posted on January 11, 2011
KCUR 89.3 Public Broadcasting: "A bill filed in the Kansas House would remove an exemption from the state's ban on late abortions. The mental health of the mother is one of the exemptions allowed under the late-term abortion ban."

David French: Vanderbilt?s Shocking Abortion Illegality

Posted on January 11, 2011
ADF attorney David French writes at National Review Phi Beta Cons: "As a matter of common decency, as a matter of law, and as a matter of conscience, it is hard to imagine a more invasive and reprehensible act than to require individuals who understand that an unborn child is a distinct human life to pledge to participate in killing that child...

Christian group says VU violates abortion law; school denies claim

Posted on January 11, 2011
Tennessean: ?Christians and other pro-life members of the medical community shouldn?t be forced to participate in abortions to pursue their profession,? Matt Bowman, legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, said in a news release.

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Marriage amendment to be introduced in W. Va. legislature

Posted on January 11, 2011
Herald-Dispatch: "Lawmakers are set to introduce and sponsor a marriage protection amendment to the state constitution during the upcoming legislative session, according to a press release issued by the West Virginia Family Foundation."

WY: Lawmaker plans bills to legalize practice or allow civil unions

Posted on January 11, 2011
Billings Gazette: "State lawmakers this year will consider legalizing gay marriage and authorizing civil unions in the state, under proposed legislation being drawn up in the Wyoming House."

Saskatchewan: ?Gay marriage issue may not be dead yet?

Posted on January 11, 2011
The Star Phoenix: "Justice Minister Don Morgan says the Saskatchewan Party government may consider another way of accommodating the religious beliefs of marriage commissioners who continue to refuse same-sex unions."

China Not Fulfilling Its Human Rights Plan, Monitors Say

Posted on January 11, 2011
CNSNews: "The continued use of torture, illegal detention, censorship and other offenses means China has failed to deliver on its first human rights action plan, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday."

Economists on Why South Koreans Delay Marriage

Posted on January 11, 2011
Wall Street Journal: "But producing kids takes both men and women, and according to a Bank of Korea economist there?s a key reason why men put off marriage and baby-making, and not just because of the cost of having kids. In Korea, the bridegroom is traditionally asked to provide a home upon marriage ...

Arizona Legislature opens with tribute, prayer vigils after Tucson tragedy

Posted on January 11, 2011
AZ Republic: "Gov. Jan Brewer and state lawmakers paid tribute to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of Saturday's shooting rampage during a somber and subdued opening to the 50th legislative session Monday."

Congressional prayer service on Wednesday for Giffords, other victims

Posted on January 11, 2011
LA Times: "House leaders have announced plans for a bipartisan congressional prayer service on Wednesday to mark the weekend shooting that left Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords gravely wounded and six others dead."

Palm Springs police chief resigns after arresting 19 in ?gay sex sting?

Posted on January 11, 2011
LA Times: "The arrests of 19 men have roiled the city, considered a haven for gay men and lesbians."

Survey: Hoosiers say schools are failing

Posted on January 11, 2011
IndyStar.com: "A survey released Monday by a foundation advocating for school vouchers says Indiana voters are more likely than voters surveyed in six other states to say public schools are on the wrong track and would choose private schools if they could...

Prop. 8 legal battle has implications for all ballot measures

Posted on January 10, 2011
"'What the court does ultimately could impact future litigation because we know just about everything put on the ballot and passed by voters ends up before a judge,' said David McCuan."

Is law school a losing game?

Posted on January 10, 2011
New York Times: "In reality, and based on every other source of information, Mr. Wallerstein and a generation of J.D.?s face the grimmest job market in decades. Since 2008, some 15,000 attorney and legal-staff jobs at large firms have vanished, according to a Northwestern Law study...

Wisc. Sen. Johnson opposes White House judge nominations

Posted on January 10, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Newly elected GOP Sen. Ron Johnson [from Wisconsin] said Friday he should have been consulted before the White House resubmitted the nominations of Louis Butler and Victoria Nourse for federal judgeships and is at this time opposed to their confirmation...

Pakistan?s police and army: How many enemies within?

Posted on January 10, 2011
TIME: "The fact that such an individual could be assigned to keep the governor safe may be an indication of the degree to which radical Islamists have compromised Pakistan's military and police apparatus."

Mexican police find 14 headless bodies in possible cartel execution

Posted on January 10, 2011
The Globe and Mail: "The bodies of 15 men, all but one of them headless, were found on a street outside a shopping center in Acapulco on Saturday as police reported 27 people slain in the Pacific resort in less than a day."

Saskatchewan court of appeals: Commissioners cannot refuse same sex weddings

Posted on January 10, 2011
"Canadian appeals court in Saskatchewan ruled Monday that marriage commissioners cannot refuse same-sex couples seeking civil weddings."

KY: Senate passes historic charter school bill

Posted on January 10, 2011
Bluegrass Policy Blog: "In a historic vote, the Kentucky Senate approved legislation on January 7, 2011 to create charter schools in Kentucky. This historic event marks the first time charter school legislation has met the approval of either chamber of the Kentucky Legislature...

Lutheran university entitled to Title VII exemption for religious hiring; exemption cannot be waived

Posted on January 10, 2011
Religion Clause: "In Ginsburg v. Concordia University, (D NE, Jan. 5, 2011), a Nebraska federal district court held that that a Lutheran university sued under title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act is entitled to the exemptions provided by the statute for religious-based hiring by religious educational institutions (42 USC 2000e-1) and by religious colleges (42 USC 2000e-2)...

Referee concludes that Ohio science teacher repeatedly violated Establishment Clause

Posted on January 10, 2011
Religion Clause: "In Mount Vernon, Ohio on Friday, a referee appointed pursuant to an Ohio Revised Code 3319.16 has recommended that middle school science teacher John Freshwater's contract be terminated because of Freshwater's repeated violations of the Establishment Clause...

NH high court hears arguments in home schooling case

Posted on January 10, 2011
Religion Clause: "The New Hampshire Supreme Court last week heard oral arguments (video of full arguments) in a divorce case that has gained national attention through the publicity given to it by groups that see it as an important religious freedom test...

Cert. denied in RLUIPA prisoner free exercise case

Posted on January 10, 2011
Religion Clause: "The U.S. Supreme Court today denied certiorari in Thunderhorse v. Pierce, (Docket No. 09-1353, cert. denied 1/10/11) (Order List). In the case, the 5th Circuit rejected a RLUIPA claim by a Native American inmate, upholding prison restrictions denying him permission to grow his hair, prohibiting him from performing pipe ceremonies in his cell, and limiting vendors from whom he could buy a headband...

High court turns away appeal from ?birther? leader

Posted on January 10, 2011
Associated Press: "The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a lawyer who has been in the forefront of the challenge to President Barack Obama's citizenship."

Knights of Columbus mourns death of Judge John Roll in AZ shooting

Posted on January 10, 2011
LifeNews: "The Knights of Columbus, a prominent Catholic group know for its pro-life work, is today mourning the death of one of the victims of the Arizona shooting Saturday . . . Roll had been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 24 years and members of the Fourth Degree will provide an honor guard at his funeral next week...

Nigeria: Policeman guarding a church is killed

Posted on January 10, 2011
Associated Press: "Police say that four gunmen killed an officer guarding a church in the latest northeastern church attack since Christmas Eve."

Pope: Pakistan, others, must protect Christians

Posted on January 10, 2011
Associated Press: "Pope Benedict XVI urged Pakistan to reverse its blasphemy laws, saying Monday they were a pretext for violence against non-Muslims, and demanded that all governments do more so Christians can practice their faith without fear."

Kyle Olson: Teacher?s union claims member?s scalp in Mich.

Posted on January 10, 2011
Kyle Olson writing at Townhall: "The Grand Rapids Education Association, a local affiliate of Michigan?s largest teachers? union, is attempting to pick off one-by-one 90-some members that have refused to pay their dues."

Rasmussen: Support for public employee unions declines

Posted on January 10, 2011
Rasmussen: "A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of Americans now at least somewhat favor unions for public employees, while the identical number (45%) are opposed to them. These findings include 21% who Strongly Favor such unions versus 30% who are Strongly Opposed to them...

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