Religion & Law

Sex, drugs more common in hyper-texting teens

Posted on November 09, 2010
Associated Press: "Teens who text 120 times a day or more - and there seems to be a lot of them - are more likely to have had sex or used alcohol and drugs than kids who don't send as many messages, according to provocative new research."

Straight British couple seeks civil partnership

Posted on November 09, 2010
"They are being backed by gay rights activists, who hope a ruling that allows straight couples the right to a civil partnership would mean, in turn, that gay couples have the right to wed."

How an Iraqi Christian school became 82 percent Muslim

Posted on November 09, 2010
Christian Science Monitor: "Sectarian violence and a Christian exodus has left Baghdad's St. Elia Catholic school largely surrounded by Muslims, who were drawn to the school's no-hitting rule."

Abortionist inappropriately appointed to RI Governor-elect?s transition team

Posted on November 09, 2010
ChristianNewsWire: "Rhode Island Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee, who won office as an Independent, has appointed a transition team that includes an abortionist who admits he has committed abortions in an undisclosed South American country where abortion is illegal...

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China and Germany slam U.S. policy before G20 summit

Posted on November 09, 2010
Reuters: "China kept up a drumbeat of criticism of U.S. easy money policies on Tuesday, warning two days before a G20 world economic summit that Washington could destabilize the global economy and inflate asset bubbles."

Methodists sue Eastern Oregon congregation over finances

Posted on November 09, 2010
Statesman-Journal: "An Eastern Oregon congregation that left the United Methodist Church has been sued over its finances. The Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church lawsuit alleges that members of the independent Ontario Community Church took property, funds and documents held in trust for the Methodist mission and ministry...

Once a safe bet, repeal of DADT now in doubt

Posted on November 09, 2010
AFP: "Republican opposition to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' has stiffened since their victory in mid-term elections last week, dimming prospects for action in Congress, even Democrats acknowledge."

Study: Muslim women uncomfortable with U.S. doctors

Posted on November 09, 2010
USA Today: "U.S. doctors must become more attuned to Islamic beliefs and values that could affect the physician-patient relationship with Muslim Americans, researchers found in a recently released study. This will become even more important as the U.S...

U.S. backs religious freedom in Iraq

Posted on November 09, 2010
UPI: "Washington will do whatever it can to make sure all religious groups are free to practice safely in Iraq, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department said."

FL: Having a Republican governor and Legislature is no guarantee of harmony

Posted on November 09, 2010
St. Petersburg Times: "If history is any indication, absolute numbers won't translate to absolute agreement. Conflict is already brewing between Scott's campaign promises on budget cuts, immigration, abortion and what leaders of the Republican-controlled House and Senate are willing to do...

French company?s plan to tag new babies causes outcry

Posted on November 09, 2010
Guardian: "A French company, Lyberta, has just dropped plans to fit children in several nurseries in Paris with electronic tags, after a newspaper revealed the scheme. Trade unions, councils and civil liberties groups were indignant at the invasion of privacy...

Obama: Outreach to Muslim world has been ?earnest and sustained?

Posted on November 09, 2010
Reuters: "Obama arrived on Tuesday on a twice-postponed trip to Indonesia, the world's most populous majority-Muslim state. Before leaving on Wednesday, he plans a major speech reaching out to the Muslim world that would tout Indonesia as an example of an emerging democracy and tolerant society...

With pending retirement, D.C. Appeals Court seeks new judge

Posted on November 09, 2010
Blog of LegalTimes: "With the coming retirement of Judge Inez Smith Reid, the D.C. Court of Appeals has begun looking for a successor to take her place on the bench."

Gallup?s annual Values and Beliefs Survey shows Americans remain divided on major issues

Posted on November 09, 2010
Associated Content: "In this survey, Gallup attempts to gauge the moral compass of Americans on eighteen of the top moral issues facing the country today. Other issues on the minds of Americans were Gay or lesbian relations. Fifty-two percent said they did believe these relationships were morally acceptable, leaving only 46 percent feeling them to be morally wrong...

Are a small number of immigrant wives faking domestic abuse to stay in the country?

Posted on November 09, 2010
Slate: "But the [Violence Against Women Act] has a potential flaw, too: A small fraction of the time, it may also provide incentive for immigrant husbands and wives to fake domestic abuse."

Law Review: A Proposal for a Federal Emergency Vaccination Law

Posted on November 09, 2010
Balancing Public Health and Individual Choice: A Proposal for a Federal Emergency Vaccination Law Sara Mahmoud-Davis, 20 Health Matrix 219 (2010) "Part I discusses the relationship between vaccinations and informed consent, including exemptions. Part II examines the scientific foundation for compulsory vaccination law and looks at the inherent tension between immunization exemptions and the public health...

IN: Social issues could divide Republicans in General Assembly

Posted on November 09, 2010
Indianapolis Star: "Abortion, immigration and same-sex marriage could rise on the legislative agenda. But despite having the numbers to enact almost anything they want, GOP legislators face an internal tug-of-war."

Hillary Clinton: An end to human trafficking

Posted on November 09, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "The estimates vary widely, but it is likely that somewhere between 12 million and 27 million human beings are suffering in bondage around the world. Men, women and children are trapped in prostitution or labor in fields and factories under brutal bosses who threaten them with violence or jail if they try to escape ...

Assisted suicide for couples promoted in Switzerland

Posted on November 09, 2010
Townhall (BP): "Swiss euthanasia promoter Ludwig Minelli is calling for lethal prescriptions to be provided legally to the spouses and partners of terminally ill patients even when they are healthy."

?Euthanasia? by other names rife in Turkey, experts say

Posted on November 09, 2010
Hurriyet Daily News: "'Passive euthanasia' occurs across Turkey due to insufficient health services despite the lack of legal recognition for assisted suicide, according to legal and medical experts."

ACLU: UN Human Rights Council issues recommendations to U.S.

Posted on November 09, 2010
ACLU Press Release: "The U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) today issued a [set of recommendations] for the United States to bring its human rights policies and practices in line with international standards."

KY: Lexington to become third-largest U.S. city with an ?openly-gay? mayor

Posted on November 09, 2010
Lexington Herald-Leader: "Lexington has been choosing mayors since 1832, when Charlton Hunt got the nod. But it is unlikely he or any of the 52 who followed have gotten the nationwide media attention being heaped on Gray. The reason: Gray, 57, a construction company executive and the city's current vice mayor, is gay, and has publicly acknowledged his sexual orientation...

Dem leadership race turns bitter as Clyburn, Hoyer exchange barbs

Posted on November 09, 2010
The Hill: "The comments are the first hint of bitterness between Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) as the two Democratic heavyweights vie for the minority whip spot in the next Congress. "

Catholic League: UN anti-blasphemy resolution is flawed

Posted on November 09, 2010
Catholic League Press Release: "It is not just that this U.N. resolution is poorly worded, it is the intent behind it: it is being promoted by member states that are known for disrespecting human rights, including, most spectacularly, religious liberties...

Ed Whelan on the TRO barring Oklahoma?s sharia law amendment

Posted on November 09, 2010
Ed Whelan writing at National Review / Bench Memos:"Here?s the judge?s opinion . . . I don?t see how the plaintiff?s proffered evidence shows that the amendment?s 'actual purpose is to disapprove of plaintiff?s faith.'"

UK: ?The Times insists all media should promote gay agenda?

Posted on November 09, 2010
The Christian Institute: "All newspapers should promote the homosexual agenda, according to a leading article in The Times newspaper. The newspaper was boasting about being awarded Publication of the Year by homosexual pressure group, Stonewall, last week...

Can parents steer their children?s sexual orientation?

Posted on November 09, 2010
The Washington Times: "Sexual orientation is a sensitive and very political topic, but certainly not one you?d think of when referencing the orientation of small children. But it has been at the center of a recent controversy over parents of very young boys who have allowed them to dress as girls in public...

Study: Law schools overwhelmingly hire liberals as law professors

Posted on November 09, 2010
Via TaxProf Blog, a National Jurist article, "Law schools hiring liberal educators": "There has been much discussion about liberal bias in higher education, and now a new study confirms that law schools are indeed hiring more openly liberal law professors than those who are conservative...

Mich. school district ending Bible distribution program at elementary school

Posted on November 09, 2010
MLive.com (Jackson Citizen Patriot): "Jonesville Community Schools is ending a Bible distribution program at Williams Elementary School after a parent raised concerns, the superintendent said."

Norway: Arctic mosque plan on ice over Saudi funding

Posted on November 09, 2010
Canada Free Press: "A plan to build the world?s northmost mosque has been halted after Norway refused to accept funding from an Arab donor, with the government on Monday citing a lack of religious freedom in his Saudi homeland."

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