Religion & Law

Abortion ?right? denied in European ?Roe v. Wade? case

Posted on December 16, 2010
Christian Post: "The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled that its European Convention does not contain any rights to abortion in the controversial A, B, and C v. Ireland case . . . 'In this case, the court wisely upheld that right as it has done in the past...

TX: Fort Worth to ban religious ads on buses

Posted on December 16, 2010
KWTX: "Starting next year, city buses in Fort Worth will not display religious advertisements after an atheist group's ads on four buses drew criticism."

Agreement with ACLU limits Christmas at Nevada high school

Posted on December 16, 2010
Mesquite Local News: "Representatives from the ACLU met with school officials in May of this year after complaints were filed with the group over charges of 'proselytizing' or promoting religion at the school. As a result of that meeting, the school has clamped down on teachers or staff members saying 'Merry Christmas' or other statements that could be deemed as religious in nature...

El Paso police sue over family-values law

Posted on December 16, 2010
El Paso Times: "The union representing El Paso police officers has sued over a law passed by voters that seeks to promote family values by ending health benefits for gay and unmarried partners of city employees."

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Planned Parenthood?s Christmas bonus from Congress

Posted on December 16, 2010
Kathryn Jean Lopez writing at National Review Online / The Corner: "A pro-life Hill aide points out more Omnibus outrageousness: '$327 million is allocated for the Title X Family Planning Program which provides funding to groups like Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation...

Religious group wants Ky. license plate

Posted on December 16, 2010
UPI: "A judge heard arguments Monday from lawyers for Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana or ROCK and the state Transportation Cabinet, the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal reported. Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he hopes to rule on the issue soon...

ADF: Europe saved from forced acceptance of abortion

Posted on December 16, 2010
European Court of Human Rights judgment in Irish case reaffirms that European Convention on Human Rights contains no ?right? to abortion

Good News, Bad News in European Abortion Decision

Posted on December 16, 2010
"Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion violates the rights of pregnant women to receive proper medical care in life-threatening cases, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday, harshly criticizing Ireland's long inaction on the issue."

Scott Brown backs Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell Repeal

Posted on December 16, 2010
"Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown today voiced his support for a stand-alone repeal of the military?s Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell policy, bringing the bill one vote over the 60-vote threshold that it will need to reach if and when the Senate votes on the measure in the coming weeks...

EU leaders agree to create permanent euro crisis fund

Posted on December 16, 2010
Deutsche Welle: "European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have approved a small change to the Lisbon Treaty in order to create a eurozone bailout system."

Catholic Church?s role in care at Phoenix hospital hotly debated

Posted on December 16, 2010
Arizona Republic: "As the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center continued to talk Wednesday about the church's role in medical decisions, the national debate escalated over whether the local bishop's threat to remove the hospital's Catholic status was appropriate...

UK: No charges in 20 euthanasia cases as public prosecution is accused of rewriting law

Posted on December 16, 2010
Daily Mail: "The Director of Public Prosecutions has declined to bring charges against at least 20 people suspected of helping others to commit suicide, it was revealed yesterday. Keir Starmer QC said the cases were 'difficult' and involved families where loved ones were accused of assisting in suicide...

Average poverty rate is twice as high for U.S. counties bordering Mexico

Posted on December 16, 2010
CNSNews: "According to the Census Bureau?s Small Area Poverty and Income Estimates for 2009, the average percentage of those living below the poverty level in the 23 counties that border Mexico is 28.3 percent."

Calif. opens hearing on major cap and trade legislation

Posted on December 16, 2010
Tampa Bay Online (AP): "California air quality regulators began hearing testimony Thursday as they considered adopting the nation's most sweeping greenhouse gas regulations involving financial incentives for power plants and other major polluters to cut emissions...

Liechtenstein Parliament endorses same-sex Partnership Act

Posted on December 16, 2010
Vaterland [Google Translation]: "On Thursday, the votes of Members of Parliament on the Partnership Act [showed] clearly in one direction: to act on the submission of the government was not in dispute."

DADT repeal expected to pass in the Senate

Posted on December 16, 2010
"After two failed attempts in as many months to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military, it is now very likely that the Senate will send a bill repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to President Obama before the end of the year."

Court to hear oral arguments in Lambda Legal challenge to Obama Admin use of federal DOMA

Posted on December 16, 2010
Lambda Legal: "The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California will hear oral arguments this Friday, December 17, in a Lambda Legal case that could result in the next major court decision regarding the federal so-called 'Defense of Marriage Act,' or DOMA...

ACLU and Muslim Advocates seek end to religious questioning at the border

Posted on December 16, 2010
ACLU Press Release: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are questioning innocent Americans who are perceived to be Muslim about their religion and their political beliefs without any suspicion that they have done anything wrong, according to a letter the American Civil Liberties Union and Muslim Advocates sent to the top internal watchdog at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today...

Porn industry not preventing STDs

Posted on December 16, 2010
OneNewsNow: "A California porn industry health clinic has shut down in response to an adult film performer who tested positive for HIV . . . 'The best solution to the problem of sexually transmitted diseases in the adult entertainment industry would be to close it down altogether,' the Morality in Media president suggests...

Churches, pastors coached in new IRS regs

Posted on December 16, 2010
OneNewsNow: "A financial group has scheduled seminars for next year to address the IRS changes affecting churches and pastors in the upcoming tax season. Making correct IRS filings and minimizing taxes are important issues for ministries and pastors, so the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) plans to conduct an hour-long webinar in January and February that will feature leading experts who will discuss IRS requirements for congregations...

The economic impact of a 25% corporate income tax rate

Posted on December 16, 2010
Heritage: "The Heritage Foundation?s Center for Data Analysis (CDA) conducted a dynamic simulation of a reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 25 percent, comparing it to a baseline forecast of the economy with the current policy of a 35 percent corporate rate...

?Dangerous? for feds to get involved in Muslim?s lawsuit

Posted on December 16, 2010
OneNewsNow: "Matt Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, tells OneNewsNow the government's action is unprecedented. 'This is an absolute bully club being used by the federal government in this lawsuit against the school to literally force this school to go out of their way to make unreasonable accommodations for a Mecca pilgrimage,' he says...

Presidential Commission on Bioethics calls for enhanced federal oversight in emerging field of synthetic biology

Posted on December 16, 2010
Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethics Issues: "The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues today released its first report?a wide-ranging review of the emerging field of synthetic biology?issuing 18 recommendations including a call for coordinated federal oversight of scientists working in both large institutions and smaller settings...

American and British faith from the revolutionary era to the present

Posted on December 16, 2010
Patrick Allitt writing in The National Interest: "In the decades after the Revolution, growing numbers of Americans attended revivals, joined churches, founded new denominations and blended godly fervor with the pursuit of their worldly goals . . . The [religious liberty] system worked incredibly well, but it did lead to a shift in power from 'producers' to 'consumers...

Colorado lawmaker plans to introduce civil unions bill

Posted on December 16, 2010
Denver Post: "A state lawmaker plans to introduce a bill next year that would make Colorado the fourth state to recognize civil unions. Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, said he believes the majority of Coloradans support civil unions and oppose gays being treated unfairly...

NCA Bible lawsuit continues in court

Posted on December 16, 2010
Idaho Press-Tribune: "Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed the lawsuit against the Idaho Public Charter School Commission on behalf of the academy, which was threatened with the revocation of its charter if it used the Bible or any other religious documents or text as part of its curriculum...

NJ Supreme Court rejects Rockaway Twp. appeal of Christ Church exemption

Posted on December 16, 2010
Daily Record: "The New Jersey Supreme Court has declined to hear Rockaway Township's appeal of Christ Church's exemption from the state Highlands Law. The state top court's decision on Dec. 10, which was made public on Wednesday, seemingly would clear the way for Christ Church to begin construction on its long-sought mega-church complex off Green Pond Road...

Thomas More Law Center files first appeal of constitutional challenge to Obamacare

Posted on December 15, 2010
Thomas More Law Center: "This afternoon, the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national, public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, along with co-counsel, David Yerushalmi, filed its opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in its first in the Nation challenge to the constitutionality of Obamacare...

Reid says he wants vote on Deputy AG nominee

Posted on December 15, 2010
Blog of LegalTimes: "Majority Leader Harry Reid wants the Senate to vote in the next week on the nomination of Bryan Cave partner James Cole to be the U.S. Justice Department's No. 2 official."

Ave Maria Law School creates national think tank on marriage, families

Posted on December 15, 2010
Naples News: "The Ave Maria School of Law established the Center for Research on Marriage, Religion and Public Policy this fall. Its director is no stranger to ongoing debates about gay marriage, appearing as a frequent guest on news analysis shows where she has spoken strongly against gay marriage...

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