Religion & Law

?Dead? man recovering after ATV accident: a transplant team was ready to take his organs

Posted on March 25, 2008
MSNBC reports here on a young man injured and declared brain dead. While arrangements were being made to donate his organs and after intense family prayers, he came back to life. The young man claims to have heard doctors talking about him while he was believed to be in a vegetative state...

When Is Sedation Really Euthanasia?

Posted on March 25, 2008
Opponents of terminal sedation argue, however, that some doctors misuse the practice as a substitute for euthanasia

Saudi Arabia: No churches unless Mohammed recognised, says expert

Posted on March 25, 2008
No churches should be permitted in Saudi Arabia, unless Pope Benedict XVI recognised the prophet Mohammed, according to a Middle East expert.

UK: Catholic Church proves serious irritant to PM

Posted on March 25, 2008
The Roman Catholic Church has led the ethical opposition to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill since its inception - and, in doing so, has rediscovered its status as one of the country's most powerful political lobbying groups.

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Value Pluralism as a Theory of Religious Freedom in International Law

Posted on March 25, 2008
The Article thus asks whether there is a coherent notion of religious freedom in international law and, if not, why not? In identifying certain problematic aspects of the extant literature, it advances an argument that seeks to overcome the current impasse in liberal theorizing: the idea of value pluralism as a theoretical basis for religious freedom in international law.

Abrogating the Clergy-Communicant Privilege in Mandatory Reporting Statutes to Combat Child Sexual Abuse

Posted on March 25, 2008
“Divine Justice” and the Lack of Secular Intervention: Abrogating the Clergy-Communicant Privilege in Mandatory Reporting Statutes to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Julie M. Arnold, 42 Val. U. L. Rev. 849 (2008) The government has a strong interest in preventing child abuse in all forms, regardless of the perpetrator’s relationship with the victim...

ADF attorney to debate noted atheist Wednesday

Posted on March 25, 2008
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4437 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY March 25, 2008 ? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF attorney to debate noted atheist Wednesday ADF Senior Vice-President Jordan Lorence to participate in debate on ?separation of church and state? against Michael Newdow WHO: ADF Senior Vice-President and Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence WHAT: [...

A Textual Approach to Harmonizing Sherbert and Smith on Free Exercise Accommodations

Posted on March 25, 2008
A Textual Approach to Harmonizing Sherbert and Smith on Free Exercise Accommodations Nicholas J. Nelson, 83 Notre Dame L. Rev. 801 (2008) The Supreme Court began its modern free exercise jurisprudence with a test that, in theory, recognized the importance of protecting religious exercise from government interference, but in practice did little to protect free exercise and [...

Dealing with the Entanglement of Religion and the Origin of Life in American Public Schools

Posted on March 25, 2008
This is the Trap the Courts Built: Dealing with the Entanglement of Religion and the Origin of Life in American Public Schools Jana R. McCreary, 37 SW. U. L. Rev. 1 (2008) This Article argues that by endorsing the teaching of only evolution, the government is, in essence, endorsing a view on religion: that a higher [...

Oregon: Transsexual ?Man? is Pregnant

Posted on March 25, 2008
This story appears on BoingBoing and other locations around the Internet.  A female to male transsexual, who is “legally male” claims to be married to a woman.  The transsexual also claims to have reverted back to female and gotten pregnant...

U.S. Supreme Court: Texas sovereignty prevails in criminal prosecution

Posted on March 25, 2008
The Supreme Court says Texas does not have to give a new hearing to a Mexican on death row for rape and murder, deciding a case that mixes presidential power, international relations and the death penalty.

Canada: Nursing Association Attempts to Silence Pro-Life Nurse at Supreme Court

Posted on March 25, 2008
LifeSiteNews reports: The Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) will attempt to take a Christian activist member to the Supreme Court of Canada to attempt to silence his objections to abortion, “sex education” and Planned Parenthood...

Idaho House Approves Bill Making Abortion Coercion a Crime

Posted on March 25, 2008
The Idaho House has approved legislation making it a crime to threaten or harass a pregnant women to have an abortion.

Bin Laden is Right: Pope Benedict is Leading a Crusade

Posted on March 24, 2008
He also knows and fears this crusade is of a certain type which he and his pales don?t know how to fight, and thus considers it the ultimate threat to his power base, thousands of times more powerful than the backhanded slaps against Mohammed, as were the cartoons...

UK: Catholic church of ?lying? over controversial Embryo Bill

Posted on March 24, 2008
The growing row comes as Gordon Brown is facing an unprecedented challenge to his authority over plans for embryo research with as many as 12 ministers ready to quit if ordered to back the bill.

Philadelphia Scouts face May 31 eviction from downtown office

Posted on March 24, 2008
Even though the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that as a private organization the Boy Scouts have the constitutional right to determine their own membership policy, the city has told the Cradle of Liberty Council that on May 31 it must vacate the downtown office which the city has let it use since 1929.

Georgia hate crimes bill stalled

Posted on March 24, 2008
With just days left in the 2008 legislative session, one controversial measure has gone nowhere. It's a bill creating a Georgia hate crimes law . . .

Gorbachev Dispels ?Closet Christian? Rumors; Says He is Atheist

Posted on March 24, 2008
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made clear this past weekend that he is an atheist after European news agencies last week claimed that he had confirmed his Christian faith during a visit to the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy . . .

Abortion Clinic to re-open in Bozeman, MT

Posted on March 24, 2008
"It breaks my heart" that women from the Bozeman area must travel to Billings, Missoula, Helena or Kalispell to end unwanted pregnancies, Wicklund told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in a story Thursday.

Bill would allow Americans to sponsor their foreign same sex partners? citizenship

Posted on March 24, 2008
"There's a new bill that would make it easier for gay Americans to sponsor their foreign partners' citizenship, but it's been sitting in Congress for months with no hint of progress."

SD: Strip Club Owner Sues Town Of Volin

Posted on March 24, 2008
Though Paddy Murphy's has technically been open since January 19th, business has fallen off since February 5th. That's when the town bar took alcohol off the menu.

Man Sentenced In North Las Vegas Strip Club Slaying Case

Posted on March 24, 2008
"A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in the slaying of a former strip club employee."

Ohio: Manager of Lorain strip club indicted

Posted on March 24, 2008
The manager of a troubled strip club was indicted Thursday in connection to a Dec. 14 stabbing.

Research: U.S. Children are Victims of Sex Trafficking

Posted on March 24, 2008
SHI research reveals that Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) is a critical problem in many locations across the U.S. . . .

Connecticticut: Hearing on 2008 Same-Sex ?Marriage? Bill

Posted on March 24, 2008
Last week the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a bill to force Connecticut to recognize out-of-state same-sex ?marriages.?

Lieberman Questions IRS Probe of Obama?s Church Speech

Posted on March 24, 2008
Lieberman asked the IRS in a letter to explain how it could meet the required threshold of a "reasonable belief" that a church has engaged in improper political activity if had not contacted church officials before starting the investigation.

Fetal Pain Legislation: Women Deserve to Know

Posted on March 24, 2008
That a fetus can feel pain is an accepted medical fact. However, the question of when a fetus can experience pain has been the subject of some debate over the last two decades.

Maryland: Sexually oriented businesses on city?s agenda

Posted on March 24, 2008
Salisbury, MD: The proposed ordinance, which would limit adult businesses to 8 percent of the city, is scheduled for a vote April 22.

ACLU urges opposition to Florida Marriage Amendment

Posted on March 24, 2008
Officials from the American Civil Liberties Union, at a meeting Saturday at Lakes Regional Library in south Fort Myers, urged Southwest Florida residents to spread the word of opposition to a constitutional amendment that will appear on November's ballot.

Montana Catholic Pro-Life Group Wants Bishops to Back Abortion Amendment

Posted on March 24, 2008
A new pro-life group for Catholics is asking the bishops of Montana to reconsider their decision not to back a statewide personhood initiative that could pave the way for banning abortions.

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