Religion & Law

Thomas Sowell: The mosque controversy

Posted on August 31, 2010
Thomas Sowell writing at Townhall: "The proposed mosque near where the World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed, along with thousands of American lives, would be a 15-story middle finger to America . . . Can anyone in his right mind believe that this was intended to show solidarity with Americans, rather than solidarity with those who attacked America? Does anyone imagine that the Middle East nations, including Iran, from whom financial contributions will be solicited, want to promote reconciliation between Americans and Muslims?"

Congressmen seek to undermine embryonic stem cell ruling by changing law

Posted on August 31, 2010
LifeSiteNews: "Members in both chambers of U.S. Congress are angling to alter federal law in order to undermine a district court judge's temporary injunction that effectively puts a stop to the onset of taxpayer-funded embryonic stem-cell research."

Developer: Gettysburg, casino can work together

Posted on August 31, 2010
Associated Press: "A divisive plan to build a casino near the site of the Civil War's Battle of Gettysburg is in the mold of many other communities that have successfully meshed gambling with historical tourist destinations, the developer told state regulators Tuesday...

Legal logjam leaving judges? seats empty in federal courts

Posted on August 31, 2010
Los Angeles Times: "Almost one in eight federal judgeships is vacant in the country and legal scholars warn that the increasingly politicized confirmation process threatens the administration of justice across the nation . . . Republicans and conservative analysts say the stalled pace of 'replenishment' is part payback for congressional Democrats' efforts to scuttle some Bush nominees and part indifference on the part of President Obama, who they say has been slow to nominate judges...

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

Protest at military funeral ignites a test of free speech

Posted on August 31, 2010
USA Today: "The case has grown beyond a single clash between a devastated father and an attention-seeking, fire-and-brimstone group into a major test of speech rights and of safeguards for the sanctity of military funerals. The Supreme Court will hear the case Oct...

AK Senate hopeful seeks probe of election observer

Posted on August 31, 2010
Associated Press: "U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Monday her Republican rival Joe Miller may be creating doubt in the minds of Alaskans about the integrity of the voting process by ratcheting up the hyperbole about possible election fraud."

Feds: Muslims faced discrimination at Neb. plant

Posted on August 31, 2010
Associated Press: "Federal officials say a JBS Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Nebraska should provide Muslim employees with prayer time and not retaliate against workers who ask to pray."

Some states suing feds also claim health subsidies

Posted on August 31, 2010
Associated Press: "An administration official said Tuesday seven states suing the federal government are among 16 already approved for subsidies to help with the health care costs of early retirees. The seven are Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada...

Kevin Theriot: Churches and voter drives

Posted on August 31, 2010
ADF Attorney Kevin Theriot writing at Speak Up Movement / Church: "Churches have complete freedom to encourage their parishioners and other folks to vote, so long as it?s done in a non-partisan fashion. In addition to passing out voter registration packets at services, churches can even do such things as have booths at fairs...

Ninth Circuit protects para-church ministries ? really!

Posted on August 31, 2010
ADF Attorney Kevin Theriot writing at Speak Up Movement / Church: "This decision [in Spence v. World Vision] brings the Ninth Circuit in line with several others such as the Eleventh in Atlanta and the Third in Philadelphia. What's remarkable is the court went even further than its sister circuits when making this ruling...

Obama Admin to appeal embryonic stem cell funding decision this week

Posted on August 31, 2010
LifeNews: "The Obama administration is expected to officially appeal later this week a federal judge's decision to halt President Barack Obama's executive order forcing Americans to fund embryonic stem cell research through their tax dollars . . . 'The American people should not be forced to pay for experiments -- prohibited by federal law -- that destroy human life,' ADF Attorney Steve Aden] said...

The go-to guy in California?s high court headquarters

Posted on August 31, 2010
LA Times: "Frederick Ohlrich is clerk of the California Supreme Court ? its keeper of records, its historian and its biggest fan. If you're a lawyer preparing to address the justices, he has some tips for you."

Wealthy lawmakers increased their riches as economy sputtered in ?09

Posted on August 31, 2010
The Hill: "The 50 wealthiest lawmakers were worth almost $1.4 billion in 2009, about $85.1 million more than 12 months earlier, according to The Hill?s annual review of lawmakers? financial disclosure forms."

Austria: Transsexual allowed to teach

Posted on August 31, 2010
Austrian Independent: "Austria?s first transsexual teacher has been given the all clear to work by the education ministry after a sex change operation."

Advocates in Turkey launch ?LGBT publication?

Posted on August 31, 2010
Eurasianet: "For all their fear, however, the pair embarked on a radical experiment, launching the first-ever magazine for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) Kurds this July. Called ?Hevjin?, meaning ?intercommunity? in Kurdish, the first issue of the free publication is available online and in a few bookshops and cafés in Diyarbakir, a city with a large Kurdish population...

Legal group seeks to compel Calif to defend Prop 8

Posted on August 31, 2010
"The Pacific Justice Institute petitioned the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento on Monday for an emergency order that would require the two officials to appeal a ruling that overturned Proposition 8."

IRS fears prosecuting churches over politics

Posted on August 31, 2010
On Fox News with Glenn Beck, "David Barton, Founder and President of WallBuilders, explains why the IRS is not pursuing pastors who defiantly preach from the pulpit in manner that is claimed to risk the church's tax exempt status."

Italy denies religious status to Islam

Posted on August 31, 2010
EuropeNews: "The Italian government has decided to exclude Islam from a bill that would share tax revenues with organized faiths in the country. Fundamentalist imams, polygamy and an overall failure to uphold women?s rights by Muslim immigrants were cited as obstacles for baring Islam from the proposal, which allocates 8 percent of tax revenue and distributes it among organized faiths in the country...

Jennifer Roback Morse: The liberation of lifelong love

Posted on August 31, 2010
At the Ruth Institute Blog, Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D., provides an excerpt from her contribution to a new book called "Women, Sex & the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching": "Marriage is a universal human institution, defined?until recently?as the preferred context for both sexual activity and child-rearing...

Groups fight for religious freedom

Posted on August 31, 2010
North Carolina Family Policy Council: "Faced with increasing attacks from left-wing groups and their allies, the leaders of over 100 Protestant, Jewish and Catholic religious charities and organizations have added their signatures to a letter to Congress in which they defend the constitutional rights of faith-based groups to make hiring decisions based on religious beliefs...

NE: Omaha World Herald backtracks after denying same-sex ?wedding? announcement

Posted on August 31, 2010
KPTM: "Jeff and Heidi Wilke wanted to submit their daughter's engagement announcement to the Omaha World Herald ? only to find out it's not allowed ? simply because their daughter is gay . . . As of four o'clock Monday afternoon, the Omaha World Herald has restructured their policy...

CA: Ashburn to Governor: Don?t pass Civil Marriage Religious Freedom Act

Posted on August 31, 2010
Fox 40: "Citing same-sex marriage equality, Senator Roy Ashburn has asked Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto a senate bill that would seek to further define the separation of church and state and would afford churches who refuse to perform same-sex marriages protection when it came to their tax-exempt status...

Hamas armed wing says will launch more operations

Posted on August 31, 2010
Reuters: "The Hamas armed wing said it would carry out more operations after claiming a shooting on Tuesday which killed four Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank."

DOJ asks judge to stay injunction in stem cell case

Posted on August 31, 2010
"The Justice Department today asked a federal judge in Washington to stay his ruling this month that blocks the government from funding research that involves human embryonic stem cells."

Hamas claims responsibility for the killing of 4 Israeli settlers

Posted on August 31, 2010
Miami Herald: "An unidentified gunman killed four Israelis at a Jewish settlement near the West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday night, just days before the U.S.-sponsored peace summit was set to begin in Washington. The military wing of the Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, claimed responsibility...

Bloomberg?s Ground Zero mosque dividend

Posted on August 31, 2010
Robert Spencer writing at Human Events: "Bloomberg may be getting more out of this than just the glow of moral sanctity?billions more, in fact, courtesy his business dealings in Muslim countries . . . raising more pointed questions are Bloomberg?s increasing business dealings in the Islamic world ...

U.S. sues Arizona because community colleges required noncitizens to produce green cards

Posted on August 31, 2010
Washington Post: "The Justice Department filed another lawsuit against immigration practices by Arizona authorities, saying Monday that a network of community colleges acted illegally in requiring noncitizens to provide their green cards before they could be hired for jobs...

Maryland orders dangerous abortionist to stop practicing illegally

Posted on August 31, 2010
ChristianNewsWire: "Troubled abortionist Steven Chase Brigham has been issued a cease and desist order by the Maryland State Board of Physicians ordering him to stop the illegal practice of medicine, including abortions, at five locations throughout Maryland because he does not and never has been licensed in that state...

?Brutal execution? of 3 American Christians in Pakistan

Posted on August 31, 2010
Catholic Culture: "Three American Christians who were providing humanitarian relief in the flood-ravaged Swat valley in northern Pakistan were murdered on August 24 or 25, according to local sources. The Fides news agency described the murder of the volunteers as a 'brutal execution...

NY Imam: Mosque fight about Muslim role in America

Posted on August 31, 2010
Associated Press: "The dispute 'has expanded beyond a piece of real estate and expanded to Islam in America and what it means for America,' Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told a group that included professors and policy researchers in Dubai."

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