Religion & Law

UK: Calls for pregnancy clinics in schools

Posted on September 22, 2010
The Christian Institute: "Schools and colleges should hold antenatal classes for pregnant pupils, according to controversial new guidelines issued by the Government?s health body. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), wants the scheme to run in schools in areas with high levels of teenage pregnancy...

NC: Bailey says no more churches downtown

Posted on September 22, 2010
Spring Hope Enterprise: "Churches will not be allowed in Bailey?s downtown business district. The town board voted Monday night to not change an ordinance banning storefront churches in the commercial area."

Hirsch attributes complacency for steep decline in students? knowledge of civics

Posted on September 22, 2010
EducationNews.org: "National education standards expert E.D. Hirsch attributes a dramatic decline in American students? knowledge of civics over the last half-century to a simple failure to teach it that has resulted from complacency about the proper function of schools in a democracy in a transcript released today of The Sacred Fire of Liberty, an event featuring Professor Hirsch and former Clinton administration education advisor Andrew J...

?Gay-rights? lobbying group not ?legitimately Catholic,? archbishop warns

Posted on September 22, 2010
CatholicCulture.org: "A group called 'Catholics for Equality,' which lobbied for admission of overt homosexuals into the US military forces, 'cannot be legitimately recognized as Catholic,' according to the archbishop who heads the US military ordinariate...

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Crist: Fla. will stop enforcing same-sex adoption ban

Posted on September 22, 2010
Breitbart: "Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says the state will stop enforcing its law banning adoption by gay people after an appeals court ruled it unconstitutional."

DADT: the churches ahead of the politicians

Posted on September 22, 2010
Gustav Niebuhr writing at The Washington Post / On Faith: "Take a look at the religious landscape: The Episcopal Church ordains not simply gay priests, but consecrates gay bishops; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America began ordaining gay pastors this summer; the United Church of Christ has permitted its regional jurisdictions to do so for years...

Tulsa Public Schools adds sexual orientation to nondiscrimination policy

Posted on September 22, 2010
Tulsa World: "The Tulsa school board voted unanimously Monday to add sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy for staff, students and parents." Related: Tulsa, OK: Council adds sexual orientation to city?s nondiscrimination policy

Human sex trafficking ring allegedly run by Somali gang investigated in MN, TN

Posted on September 22, 2010
Pioneer Press: "Police are investigating a large Somali gang human trafficking ring that is based in Minnesota and has a Tennessee connection, according to a search warrant affidavit."

Grambling State University bans political e-mails, cites state law

Posted on September 22, 2010
FOX News: "Grambling State University in Louisiana has banned its students and faculty members from forwarding 'campaign solicitations' using the school's e-mail system, contending it is a violation of Louisiana law because it would amount to an institutional 'endorsement' of a campaign ...

Center for Reproductive Rights releases report on Hyde Amendment?s ?real-life stories?

Posted on September 22, 2010
Center for Reproductive Rights: "Today, members of the House of Representatives joined the Center for Reproductive Rights in releasing a new report documenting the real-life impact of the Hyde Amendment on poor women. Hyde prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion except under limited circumstances...

?Americans United advises churches to reject religious right?s pulpit politicking scheme?

Posted on September 22, 2010
Americans United for Separation of Church and State: "The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a group founded and funded by TV preachers, is urging evangelical pastors to openly break federal tax law this Sunday by using the pulpit to endorse or oppose candidates...

Moldova: Gov?t to withdraw bill protecting ?sexual minorities?

Posted on September 22, 2010
Actualitate [modified Google translation from Romanian]: "The government today approved a draft decision on the withdrawal of the . . . bill that would provide protection [of] sexual minorities in Moldova."

USA.gov launches real-time alerts

Posted on September 22, 2010
The Hill: "Notifications.USA.gov allows the public to get instant updates on everything from product recalls to natural disasters. There are more than 7,000 updates available covering 6,200 topics across 144 federal agencies and officers. Alerts can be delivered via e-mail, text or RSS feed...

Sen. Coburn: It is too expensive to deliver babies anymore

Posted on September 22, 2010
"The malpractice [insurance] is too expensive. It was about $1,600 a baby, just in terms of malpractice costs for me to deliver children."

Greg Baylor: One?s a point, two?s a trend; will three make a pattern? The missing Creator.

Posted on September 22, 2010
ADF Attorney Gregory S. Baylor writing at Speak Up Movement / University: "This time, it was the President himself who neglected to identify the Source of the inalienable rights we possess. In a speech before the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, President Obama described the values that bind Americans together as follows: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights ? life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

Personhood Amendment 62 files suit to stop distribution of biased ?Colorado Blue Book?

Posted on September 22, 2010
ChristianNewsWire: "Amendment 62 sponsors filed a lawsuit today against the Colorado Legislative Counsel, attempting to stop the continued publication and statewide distribution of the 'Colorado Blue Book' . . . Amendment 62 sponsors and organizers maintain that the ballot information booklet (The Colorado Blue Book), is not fair or impartial, but in fact glaringly biased against Amendment 62...

Temporary assignments to fill vacancies on the NJ Supreme Court

Posted on September 22, 2010
Earl M. Maltz, Federalist Society: "In the wake of Governor Chris Christie?s decision not to reappoint Justice John E. Wallace, Jr., to the New Jersey Supreme Court, the President of the State Senate has refused to hold hearings on the nomination of Anne M...

Fed up with plague of kidnappings near the border, Mexicans turn to mob justice

Posted on September 22, 2010
Christian Science Monitor: "A mob in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua killed two suspected kidnappers in the country's latest bout of vigilante justice. Townspeople in Ascencion, about 100 miles from troubled Ciudad Juarez, blocked federal police Tuesday from rescuing two men accused of kidnapping who were being beaten by the crowd...

Today?s history lesson: Homosexual heroes

Posted on September 22, 2010
Rebecca Burgoyne, California Family Council: "What do George Washington Carver, Kevin Jennings, John Pérez, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky have in common? They are among the 31 'icons' to be honored throughout October ? GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) History Month...

FRC praises Senate for stopping liberal social agenda in Defense authorization bill

Posted on September 21, 2010
Family Research Council: "Family Research Council President Tony Perkins today praised Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and those senators who voted to stop the Senate Defense Authorization bill by voting against the motion to proceed...

Senate defeats motion OK-ing vote on bill allowing abortions at military hospitals

Posted on September 21, 2010
"The Senate voted largely along party lines against the cloture motion to end the filibuster and allow debate and a vote on the bill. The vote was short of the 60 votes necessary to stop a filibuster and proceed to consideration of the legislation."

Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO): Will US military be international abortion provider?

Posted on September 21, 2010
Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) writing at Big Government: "The U.S. Senate may soon take action to overturn long-standing policy by sanctioning the performance of abortions in domestic and overseas military facilities?effectively turning military hospitals and other facilities into abortion clinics...

Liberty Counsel files brief on behalf of Santa Rosa County teachers and staff

Posted on September 21, 2010
Liberty Counsel: "Liberty Counsel filed its Initial Brief at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of the Christian Educators Association International ('CEAI'). CEAI sought to intervene in a federal trial court to defend the rights of the faculty and staff of the Santa Rosa County School District, but the court refused the request and refused to dismiss the case brought by the ACLU, even though the case had become moot following the graduation of the two high school seniors who brought the suit under the pseudonym of 'Doe...

Maine House Candidate Files Appeal in Public Funding Challenge

Posted on September 21, 2010
"Under the scheme, state legislative candidates receive between $500 and $19,000 in initial funding, plus additional ?matching funds? of up to $38,000 if they are outspent by their opponent and independent groups."

Senate deals blow to ?Don?t ask, don?t tell? repeal in 56-43 vote

Posted on September 21, 2010
"Senate Democratic leaders fell short of the 60 votes they needed to proceed to the 2011 defense authorization bill and overcome objections to repealing the Clinton-era 'Don?t ask, don?t tell' law."

Federal judge backs Minn. disclosure law on political cash

Posted on September 21, 2010
"A federal judge refused on Monday to interfere with a new Minnesota law that revealed political donations from Target Corp. and other companies, saying the public has an interest in knowing who speaks and who pays for those messages as the election approaches ...

Defeat looms for DADT repeal ahead of Senate vote

Posted on September 21, 2010
ABC: "Senate Republicans appeared poised Tuesday to block a major defense bill that includes a controversial, conditional repeal of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy . . . But despite unprecedented popular and legislative support for allowing openly gay and lesbian individuals to serve in the military, it appeared increasingly likely Democrats would fall short without the support of two Republican senators from Maine...

Clinics, doctor sue Louisiana over new abortion clinic licensing law

Posted on September 21, 2010
Shreveport Times: "Five medical facilities and one doctor who provide abortions have sued Louisiana over a new law that gives state authorities expanded power to suspend or revoke abortion clinics' licenses . . . The federal lawsuit filed Monday by the Center for Reproductive Rights alleges the state law is unconstitutional because it is vague and encourages arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement...

Louisiana judge rules Shreveport abortion clinic can remain open

Posted on September 21, 2010
Shreveport Times: "A state court judge in Baton Rouge has ruled that a Shreveport abortion clinic can remain open while a lawsuit against state health officials makes it way through the court system."

Jordan Lorence: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and George Washington

Posted on September 21, 2010
ADF Attorney Jordan Lorence writing at Speak Up Movement / Church: "The celebrity I want to bring forth to match Lady Gaga would be someone else who likes to wear wigs made of white hair ? George Washington. And he was a 'rock star' in his own way back in the late 1700?s...

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