Religion & Law

Anti-conversion law sparked violence in Orissa, archbishop charges

Posted on August 24, 2010
CatholicCulture.org: "Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack Bhubaneswar? whose archdiocese includes the troubled Kandhamal region that saw orchestrated mob violence against Christians two years ago?has issued a scathing denunciation of the law that restricts religious conversions in the eastern state of Orissa...

ACLU questions school district gathering at church

Posted on August 24, 2010
Billings Gazette: "The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana has sent a letter to leaders at Billings School District 2 asking them why they are holding an all-district back-to-school staff meeting at a church."

Obama Admin will appeal ruling against forcing embryonic stem cell funding

Posted on August 24, 2010
"The Obama administration announced today that it will appeal a federal judge's decision striking down President Barack Obama's executive order forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research."

Russia: ?Gay activists take Mitvol to Euro courts?

Posted on August 24, 2010
The Moscow News: "He banned demonstrations demanding his resignation and he closed their favourite club. Now Moscow gay priders are taking northern area prefect Oleg Mitvol to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to halt a wave of homophobic feeling in its tracks...

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

Shocking stem cell decision

Posted on August 24, 2010
Russell Korobkin writing at The Volokh Conspiracy: "Judge Lamberth surprisingly interpreted Dickey-Wicker to prevent the use of tax dollars to support researchers who do any work using hESC lines as an input. One might at least plausibly argue for this result based on the principle that underlies Dickey-Wicker: that is, if Congress? goal is to avoid dirtying the federal government?s hands with complicity in the destruction of embryos, perhaps research that relies on embryo destruction somewhere upstream should be ineligible for funding...

William Murchison: Secularism and the mosque flap

Posted on August 24, 2010
William Murchison writing at Chronicles: "The general comparability of all religions is the narrative that informs support for the New York City mosque?as, to tell the truth, it informs support for the mosques now springing up through once-Christian Europe...

MN: St. Cloud school district panel will review policy on religious activities

Posted on August 24, 2010
St. Cloud Times: "A policy that lays out what religious activities are appropriate in St. Cloud public schools will get a review from a community task force this year. Superintendent Bruce Watkins said he expects to announce plans for the task force Thursday during his report to the school board...

Virginia AG: Holiday displays, religious or otherwise, are allowed on public property

Posted on August 24, 2010
Washington Post: "Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli writes in a new opinion that local governments do not have to ban holiday displays that include religious symbols, including Jesus Christ. Cuccinelli's opinion was a response to a request from Del. Robert G...

TN: Citing lack of support, proposed Memphis anti-discrimination ordinance withdrawn

Posted on August 24, 2010
The Commercial Appeal: "The Tennessee Equality Project and councilwoman Janis Fullilove this morning withdrew the proposed ordinance, which would prevent the city from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring or promotion of employees, and an accompanying resolution that would have included the ordinance?s language in city contracts...

KY: Mayfield mosque proposal up for vote

Posted on August 24, 2010
Evansville Courier & Press (AP): "The Paducah Sun reports the 150 Muslims want the mosque in a neighborhood where four Christian churches are located within six blocks of the proposed site in Mayfield. The city board of adjustment will vote on the petition after a review during a meeting at city hall today...

Zimbabwe: Apostolic sect says no to immunisation

Posted on August 24, 2010
Sunday News: "Members of the Apostolic Faith sect in Gwanda have vowed not to have their children immunised despite efforts by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to convince them to take heed to their calls."

Europe undergoing revolution of religious culture

Posted on August 24, 2010
Vatican Radio: "Archbishop Martin said that Ireland is undergoing a revolution of its religious culture, and that there are many parishes in Dublin where the presence at Sunday Mass is at 5 percent, and in some cases even below 2 percent."

?Marines don?t want to share rooms with gays: general?

Posted on August 24, 2010
Reuters: "The overwhelming majority of Marines oppose sharing sleeping quarters with openly serving gays and lesbians, an obstacle if Congress lifts the ban on gays in the U.S. military, the top Marine said on Tuesday."

The Fox News connection to Ground Zero mosque

Posted on August 24, 2010
WorldNetDaily: "The Saudi prince whose post-9/11 relief check was rejected by former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani has found a more willing recipient in the city for his millions: the head of the Ground Zero mosque project. The same Saudi potentate, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, owns the biggest chunk of the parent company of the Fox News Channel outside of the Murdoch family...

VA: Faith groups attack McDonnell?s liquor store plan

Posted on August 24, 2010
WSLS-10: "Religious organizations representing a range of faiths and views are rallying against Gov. Bob McDonnell's bid to sell Virginia's liquor monopoly."

Homeschooling: The fastest-growing form of education in the U.S.

Posted on August 24, 2010
ChristianNewsWire: "It appears that in the U.S., homeschooling is the fastest-growing form of education, according to independent research conducted by organizations ranging from the National Home Education Research Institute (www.nheri.org), a nonprofit research and educational organization, to the federally funded National Center for Education Statistics (www...

White House will look for ?avenues? to circumvent block of embryonic stem cell studies

Posted on August 24, 2010
FOX News: "The White House said Tuesday it wants to press ahead with federally funded stem cell research amid fears by some private groups that a judge's ruling will block important scientific work. The Obama administration is exploring all possible avenues 'to make sure that we can continue to do this critical lifesaving research,' Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters in Vineyard Haven, Mass...

VA: Cuccinelli?s abortion opinion prompts review

Posted on August 24, 2010
The Roanoke Times: "Cuccinelli concluded that two state regulatory boards already have the authority to issue regulations governing abortion facilities and providers of first-trimester abortions . . . [Gov. Bob McDonnell] spokesman Tucker Martin said the administration will review Cuccinelli's opinion before making any decisions, but made the governor's stance clear...

?Traditional marriage already dead?

Posted on August 24, 2010
The Oklahoma Daily: "However, it is rather telling that it is easier to get out of marriage, once viewed as the foundation of society, than a business contract. Not only is this a formula for increased dissatisfaction even among those in the 60 percent of marriages that have not ended in divorce, it constitutes a fundamental shift in the definition of marriage, one that did not require any assistance from a San Francisco judge to implement...

Chicago ?bubble zone? case burst for the third time

Posted on August 24, 2010
Canada Free Press: "Those who will do anything possible to quash dissent regarding the issue of abortion were foiled once again on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. The case against David Avignone, an MBA student at Chicago?s Loyola University, was dropped by the City of Chicago...

Maine governor?s nominees up for Senate votes

Posted on August 24, 2010
Boston.com (AP): "The Maine Senate returns to the State House on Wednesday for confirmation votes, and Gov. John Baldacci's nominees for more than 70 judgeships, boards and commissions are all poised for approval given their positive reviews by legislative committees...

?Evangelical Left icon Jim Wallis finally admits to dollars from billionaire leftist George Soros?

Posted on August 24, 2010
ChristianNewsWire: "Evangelical left voice Jim Wallis, who has boasted of his ties to the Obama administration, finally has admitted that his 'progressive Christian' Sojourners movement has received funding from leftist billionaire George Soros' Open Society Institute...

Senators push back on storing naked security images

Posted on August 24, 2010
CNET reported late last week that a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to John Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service, asking for a 'full explanation' of why the images were stored."

Neb. prosecutors, funeral protester reach deal

Posted on August 24, 2010
First Amendment Center (AP): "Family members of a fallen U.S. soldier expressed disappointment yesterday after prosecutors and protesters from Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church reached a deal that will keep both sides out of court over actions stemming from a church member?s 2007 protest of the serviceman?s funeral...

ACLU asks Supreme Court to hear Va alcohol ad ban

Posted on August 23, 2010
Associated Press: "The ACLU of Virginia is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court ruling that bans alcohol advertising in Virginia's college newspapers." | Petition for a write of certiorari | ACLU press release

Porn offers window into Iraq?s chaotic politics

Posted on August 23, 2010
Findlaw (AP): "The nude women on the DVD cover in a Baghdad street stall say it all: Change, whether you like it or not, is afoot in Iraq . . . The porn, in an odd way, has told the story of Iraq's security and political situation since Saddam Hussein's ouster in 2003...

Michael Dorf: Four secrets to law school success

Posted on August 23, 2010
Michael C. Dorf writing at FindLaw: "In this column, I share four lessons that I have learned in nearly two decades of law teaching. The Most Important Skill You Can Acquire: Distinguishing Hard From Easy Questions . . . The Right Kind of Confusion . ...

SCOTUSblog: November arguments, day by day

Posted on August 23, 2010
SCOTUSblog: "The Supreme Court on Monday released the schedule of oral arguments to be heard in the two-week session that begins on Monday, Nov. 1 . . . Tues., Nov. 2: . . . Sossamon v. Texas (08-1438) ? immunity of state officials to money damage lawsuits for violating prison inmates? religious freedom (J...

Fmr. Lt. General Boykin: Islam?s primary objective is conquest

Posted on August 23, 2010
At Townhall, W. Thomas Smith, Jr. interviews Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William G. 'Jerry' Boykin: "Boykin: I am so disappointed [about the response to the "Ground Zero mosque"]. I?m also angry that there are those who are so uninformed and intimidated by these people that they are willing to allow this...

Harry R. Jackson, Jr.: Let freedom ring

Posted on August 23, 2010
Harry R. Jackson, Jr. writing at Townhall: "Today we are gathering in front of the greatest symbol of American power - the Capitol. We come here today to express our confidence in the institution of marriage. More specifically, we have also come to say to the residents of Washington, DC; our two houses of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the President of these great United States that marriage (in its traditional form) is one of the nation?s richest treasures...

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