Religion & Law

Canada: Forced polygamous relations against Mormon beliefs, court told

Posted on January 06, 2011
The Globe and Mail: "A landmark court proceeding to weigh the constitutionality of Canada?s polygamy law resumed Wednesday with testimony from a religious scholar who said fundamentalist Mormon beliefs do not provide for someone to be forced into a polygamous relationship...

Obama chooses Daley as chief of staff

Posted on January 06, 2011
Yahoo (AP): "Ushering in change at the top of his team, President Barack Obama has chosen William Daley to be his new chief of staff, choosing a veteran political manager with Wall Street ties to direct an operation now steaming toward re-election mode...

Brazil OKs in vitro fertilization for same-sex couples

Posted on January 06, 2011
Associated Press: "Brazil's national association of doctors has approved new rules for in vitro fertilization that let same-sex couples and single people qualify for the process."

Ontario seizes power in struggle with Catholics over Windsor hospital

Posted on January 06, 2011
The Globe and Mail: "The Ontario government has moved decisively to head off a potential power struggle with a Roman Catholic group over control of a troubled Windsor hospital. Health Minister Deb Matthews appointed a supervisor of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital on Wednesday to assume all the powers of the board of directors and report directly to her...

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LA Times: Let Scalia speak

Posted on January 06, 2011
Los Angeles Times editorial: "[I]t seems priggish to object to the idea of a justice sharing his views with members of Congress rather than law students or members of a bar association. Yet Scalia is being criticized for accepting an invitation from Rep...

Several states want court ruling on birthright citizenship

Posted on January 06, 2011
Washington Post: "In a move certain to escalate the legal tug of war over illegal immigration, state lawmakers from across the country announced Wednesday that they are launching an effort to deny automatic citizenship to the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants...

Pakistani Islamic groups cheer killing of governor

Posted on January 06, 2011
McClatchy: "The increasing radicalization of Pakistani society was laid bare Wednesday when the nation's mainstream religious organizations applauded the murder of provincial governor Salman Taseer earlier this week, while his killer was showered with rose petals as he appeared in court...

Controversy in Lebanon over ban on property sales between Christians and Muslims

Posted on January 06, 2011
Ahram Online: "A draft law calling for a 15-year ban on property sales between Lebanese Christians and Muslims has sparked controversy, with many saying it is aimed at stemming the sale of Christian land to Hezbollah supporters."

U.S. protests treatment of diplomat in Vietnam

Posted on January 06, 2011
Wall Street Journal: "The U.S. government Thursday said it has strongly protested Vietnam's treatment of a U.S. diplomat who was detained and wrestled to the ground while attempting to visit a dissident Roman Catholic priest?a development that could further inflame concerns in the U...

MD: Same-sex wars begin before session opens

Posted on January 06, 2011
Baltimore Sun / Maryland Politics: "The head of gay rights group Equality Maryland declared that a proposal floated by GOP Senate leader Allan Kittleman to establish civil unions 'falls short' of the group's goal to establish a same-sex marriage law."

NJ governor signs bill allowing 2 smaller casinos

Posted on January 06, 2011
Associated Press: "New Jersey's governor has signed legislation to allow construction of smaller, 'boutique' casinos in Atlantic City."

IRS tax liens jump by 60%, but how effective are they?

Posted on January 06, 2011
USA Today: "IRS liens filed against taxpayers jumped 60% since the start of the national recession, according to a new federal report that urges the tax agency to moderate the collection policy and study its effectiveness."

Congress unlikely to extend hand to ailing states

Posted on January 06, 2011
Associated Press: "As Republicans prepare to take control of the House and exert more influence in the Senate . . . States will continue to face substantial deficits over the next few years, but they will have to get by with the end of stimulus spending and less financial help from the federal government...

Egypt puts heavy security around churches

Posted on January 06, 2011
Associated Press: "Egyptian authorities put up a heavy security cordon early Thursday around the main Coptic cathedral in Cairo hours before Christmas Eve Mass, using bomb-sniffing dogs, metal detectors and officers to try to prevent another attack like the New Year's suicide bombing of a church that killed 21 people...

Senate Dems introduce rules reform that weakens filibuster

Posted on January 06, 2011
The Hill: "Senate Democrats have introduced a package of rules reforms that would limit the minority party?s ability to slow or block controversial legislation. Democrats have postponed a vote on the package until late January, when lawmakers will return from a two-week recess, giving them time to smooth over differences in their conference...

WSJ on Congress? new Constitutional authority rule

Posted on January 06, 2011
Wall Street Journal editorial: "It's worth noting that the new Constitutional authority rule will exercise the same discipline on Republicans as on Democrats. No doubt most of the Members will cite the elastic Commerce or General Welfare Clauses to justify nearly everything...

Canada: Zoning issues could close Islamic religious center

Posted on January 06, 2011
CBC: "A local Lebanese association goes before a city appeal board Thursday in hopes it can keep operating a religious centre in west Edmonton."

CA: Lake Forest removes religious-themed play set from park

Posted on January 06, 2011
Orange County Register: "A day after city officials were made aware that recently installed play equipment at a public park had a religious theme, it was removed and replacement pieces have been ordered, city officials said."

Canada: Court of Appeal to rule on marriage commissioners conscience rights

Posted on January 06, 2011
Global Winnipeg: "The Saskatchewan court of appeal is just about ready to release its decision on whether or not marriage commissioners have the right to refuse to preside over same sex marriages."

Australia: Women sue as contraceptive device misfires

Posted on January 06, 2011
The Australian: "A contraceptive device fitted in women's arms has misfired, with more than 400 Australian users becoming pregnant. And women in Britain have received thousands of pounds in compensation for unwanted pregnancies. Thousands of Australian and British women used the Implanon implant, which was designed to stop them getting pregnant for three years by releasing hormones into their blood from a tiny tube in their arm...

Will the 9th Circuit demand San Diego change its name too?

Posted on January 06, 2011
Bruce Walker writing at The New American: "The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group based in Arizona, had been fighting efforts to remove the cross. [Joe Infranco], senior counsel for the group, urged that the cross be left, saying: 'There memory of those who sacrificed their lives shouldn?t be dishonored because the ACLU finds a small number of people who are merely offended' ...

Pennsylvania Family Institute: ?Gay blog gives misleading information about Chick-fil-A co-sponsorship?

Posted on January 06, 2011
Christian Post: "Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, says the post provoking anger towards Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A chicken restaurants for 'endorsing' its efforts are misleading . . . Setting the record straight, Geer said Chick-fil-A is not sponsoring the event...

?Appellate court looks to state for guidance on California gay marriage ban?

Posted on January 06, 2011
SEO Law Firm: "Alliance Defense Fund Litigation Counsel [Jim Campbell] said of the issue, 'The people of California have the right to be defended, and thus the official proponents of Proposition 8 must have standing to defend that law. Otherwise, the governor and attorney general will succeed in indirectly invalidating a measure that they had no power to strike down directly...

Thousands demand Spanish minister respect conscience

Posted on January 06, 2011
Catholic News Agency: "The association Professionals for Ethics in Spain announced that 3,000 Spaniards have written to the country's Minister of Health, Leire Pajin, demanding that she respect the right of health care workers to object to abortion and euthanasia...

10th Circuit blocks removal of Utah highway crosses

Posted on January 06, 2011
"A Denver appeals court has stayed an order that would remove 14 crosses from Utah's highways intended to honor fallen officers and encourage safe driving."

DE: Homosexual group agitates for marriage redefinition

Posted on January 06, 2011
Charles Meade, founder of Delaware Marriage Equality, writes: "Delaware's Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed so gays and lesbians can have their relationships legalized. Many heterosexual couples go to the court to get married, and there's no valid or legitimate reason why gay and lesbian couples shouldn't be able to go to the courthouse to have their relationship legitimized by having a civil marriage...

CO: Atheist gives ?invocation? at Grand Junction City Council meeting

Posted on January 06, 2011
NBC 11: "For the first time in the city's history, an atheist delivered the opening invocation."

Equal Rights Amendment press conference held today

Posted on January 06, 2011
Ms. Magazine: "Today, as the U.S. Constitution is being read aloud on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Senator Robert Menendez, chief sponsors of the Equal Rights Amendment, called a press conference together with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Co-Chair of the House Women's Caucus and women's rights leaders to draw attention to the absence of the Equal Rights Amendment...

New Wash. Supreme Court justice takes seat Friday

Posted on January 06, 2011
Seattle Times: "Charlie Wiggins has been known to spend his free time searching the Bible for references to 'justice' and re-enacting the state Constitutional Convention in costume . . . The bow-tied, 63-year-old appeals lawyer from Bainbridge Island is being sworn in Friday at the Temple of Justice in Olympia...

Pentagon to cut spending by $78 billion, reduce troop strength

Posted on January 06, 2011
Washington Post: "The Pentagon will have to cut spending by $78 billion over the next five years, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday, forcing the Army and Marine Corps to shrink the number of troops on active duty and eventually imposing the first freeze on military spending since the Sept...

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