Religion & Law

Gender identity debated at same-sex colleges

Posted on November 08, 2010
CNN: "For these colleges, which have historically defied boundaries and challenged the status quo, a new test of tolerance has surfaced: How are they handling gender identity? Defining gender on same-sex campuses has become murky as some students say they fall outside the conventional male-female gender binary...

University of South Alabama: New gender identity discrimination resolution still under scrutiny

Posted on November 08, 2010
The Vanguard: "The initial phase for making a change to USA?s Policy of Non-Discrimination is underway. Currently, the Non-Discrimination Policy does not offer protection for students or faculty from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identification...

Fargo abortion clinic doctor subject of probe, expired license in question

Posted on November 08, 2010
The Bismarck Tribune: "Fargo authorities are investigating whether a doctor with an expired medical license performed abortions at North Dakota's only abortion clinic."

Federal court blocks voter approved Oklahoma constitutional amendment

Posted on November 08, 2010
Tulsa World: "A federal judge on Monday issued an order temporarily blocking certification of the election results for a state question banning the use of Shariah law." Article includes video.

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Calif borrows $40M a day to pay unemployment

Posted on November 08, 2010
San Francisco Chronicle (AP): "With one in every eight workers unemployed and empty state coffers, California is borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government to pay unemployment insurance."

Pope, in Spain, denounces marriage redefinition, abortion

Posted on November 08, 2010
The Oklahoman (RNS): "Pope Benedict XVI denounced abortion, same-sex marriage and the absence of religion in public life during a weekend (Nov. 6-7) visit to Spain, a country he called the 'focal point' of tensions between faith and secularism in Europe...

Retreat helps men deal with unwanted homosexual attraction

Posted on November 08, 2010
ABC: "The retreat called 'Journey to Manhood' offers therapeutic peer counseling over 48 hours to help men like Preston, who voluntarily come to learn how to deal with what they call 'same-sex attractions.' For the first time ever, the retreat allowed cameras inside their controversial organization and ABC News was granted exclusive access...

?Americans are in overwhelming agreement on social issues?

Posted on November 08, 2010
Investor's Business Daily: "That proof is in the form of a new book being released on Nov. 2 by Doubleday. In 'Beyond a House Divided: The Moral Consensus Ignored by Washington, Wall Street and the Media,' the leader of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson, shows how recent polling conclusively reveals that the culture wars are being won by those with traditional values...

Liberty Counsel launches the eighth annual ?Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign?

Posted on November 08, 2010
Liberty Counsel: "Today Liberty Counsel is launching its eighth annual 'Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign,' pledging to be a 'Friend' to those who recognize Christmas and a 'Foe' to those who censor it."

UK: ?Gay sperm donor fights lesbian mother over access to children?

Posted on November 08, 2010
London Telegraph: "A homosexual sperm donor who fathered two babies by a lesbian after placing an advert in a magazine is now engaged in a legal dispute over access to the children."

Supreme Court allows child custody ruling in favor of former lesbian partner versus mom to stand

Posted on November 08, 2010
"The justices on Monday turned down an appeal from Lisa Miller, the biological mother of an 8-year-old girl."

Australia: Dad fights chaplaincy program

Posted on November 05, 2010
The Chronicle: "Toowoomba father of six Ron Williams is preparing for a David and Goliath style showdown with the Federal Government in the highest court in the land. Mr Williams is challenging the legality of the Federal Government?s funding of the National School Chaplaincy Program...

Autonomy for Iraqi Christians?

Posted on November 05, 2010
UPI: "Iraq should have a referendum to give the Christian community an autonomous region in the north of the country, an advocacy group said."

Former diplomat says Obama is indifferent to religious freedom

Posted on November 05, 2010
KWTX: "Thomas Farr, who was the first director of the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom, says President Barack Obama's administration treats religious rights with indifference."

Christians in West told to prepare for persecution

Posted on November 05, 2010
Christian Today: "Barnabas Fund is inviting churches in the UK to dedicate one Sunday in November to the issue of persecution around the world ? as well as at home. The theme of this year?s Suffering Church Sunday, ?Be on Your Guard?, reflects Barnabas Fund?s growing concerns over the freedom of Christians in the West...

Keith Olbermann suspended from MSNBC for political contributions to Democrats

Posted on November 05, 2010
CBS: "Keith Olbermann has been suspended indefinitely without pay from MSNBC for making donations to three Democrats in violation of NBC's ethics policy." | More from the Washington Post.

?Gay Old Party? More gays voted Republican than in 2008?

Posted on November 05, 2010
Jonathan Capehart writing at Washington Post / PostPartisan: "Gay men, lesbians and bisexuals who self-identified to exit pollsters made up 3 percent of those casting ballots in House races on Tuesday, and 31 percent of them voted Republican."

Better off dead: The ethical thicket of wrongful life, wrongful birth and related legal issues

Posted on November 05, 2010
Margaret Datiles, Associate Fellow in Law at the Culture of Life Foundation: "This essay shall discuss (1) the definitions and legal history of wrongful birth and wrongful life lawsuits; (2) the influence of Roe v. Wade on wrongful birth/life cases; (3) philosophical and practical questions relevant in the wrongful birth/life instance; and (4) wrongful conception and other related legal claims...

UK: The £100 billion annual cost of broken families

Posted on November 05, 2010
The Christian Institute: "Kids from broken families are suffering poor outcomes and it is costing the nation up to a staggering £100 billion a year, a Government minister says . . . Speaking yesterday the Work and Pensions Secretary slammed Labour for undermining the role of the family, warning it had led to more crime, more poverty and poorer prospects for children...

E. Christian Brugger: The ethics of fetal pain

Posted on November 05, 2010
E. Christian Brugger writing at Public Discourse: "A much-discussed new law in the state of Nebraska has banned abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy, citing the contested notion of fetal pain . . . how do we approach the possibility of fetal pain when the science remains uncertain?"

Gibbs: GOP efforts to repeal healthcare won?t get past Senate

Posted on November 05, 2010
The Hill: "Though Republicans are rattling their sabers with threats to repeal the new healthcare and financial regulatory laws, the White House feels safe with its buffer in the Democratic Senate."

Analysis: Dismissal of fair housing charges in Christian roommate case

Posted on November 05, 2010
Religion Clause: "The U.S. Region V Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity has found no reasonable cause to believe there was a violation of the Fair Housing Act in the case of a woman who posted an ad for a 'female Christian roommate' on her church bulletin board...

9th Circuit hears oral arguments in church zoning case

Posted on November 05, 2010
Religion Clause: "On Wednesday, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in International Church of the Foursquare Gospel v. City of San Leandro. An audio recording of the oral arguments is available from the court's website."

Elections, court ruling leave small window for repeal of DADT

Posted on November 05, 2010
National Law Journal: "Efforts to retain the military's ban on openly gay service members scored two big wins this week when a federal appeals court on Monday halted an injunction barring its enforcement and voters on Tuesday replaced members of Congress who had pushed for legislative repeal of the law...

MA: Patrick picks Ireland to lead Supreme Judicial Court

Posted on November 05, 2010
The Boston Globe: "Governor Deval Patrick nominated a court veteran yesterday, Associate Justice Roderick L. Ireland, to lead the Supreme Judicial Court, an appointment that would make Ireland the first black chief justice of the nation?s oldest appeals court...

Rejection of Iowa judges over same-sex ?marriage? raises fears of political influence

Posted on November 05, 2010
Los Angeles Times: "Iowa's rejection of three state supreme court justices who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage underscored the growing electoral vulnerability of state judges as more and more are targeted by special interest groups, legal scholars and jurists said Thursday...

FRC to Congress: Beware of Pentagon?s biased survey on homosexuality in the military

Posted on November 05, 2010
Family Research Council: "Family Research Council today released an analysis of the military's survey regarding the effects of allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the Armed Forces showing that the military's survey is deeply flawed, according to FRC President and Marine Corps veteran Tony Perkins...

Washington Post: Firing judges

Posted on November 05, 2010
Washington Post: "There are no perfect alternatives, but a merit selection system is preferable and would better shield judges from the most corrosive aspects of political elections. Governors could select a nominee who is then confirmed by the legislature...

USA Today: From Iowa, a chilling message for judges

Posted on November 05, 2010
USA Today: "It would be hard to overstate the importance of the principle of judicial independence. Few scenes in American history are uglier than those written when public opinion, sometimes vicious, has ruled the courts."

Cuba, Iran blast U.S. human rights at U.N. forum

Posted on November 05, 2010
Reuters: "The United States defended its human rights record on Friday from criticism from foes including Cuba and Iran, who called for it to close Guantanamo prison and investigate alleged torture by its troops abroad."

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.