Religion & Law

Buddhist Bhutan proposes anti-conversion law

Posted on July 21, 2010
Christian Post: "Christians in this Himalayan nation who are still longing to openly practice their faith were disheartened this month when the government proposed the kind of 'anti-conversion' law that other nations have used as a pretext for falsely accusing Christians of 'coercion...

27 Jewish graves vandalized in eastern France

Posted on July 21, 2010
Haaretz: "Police say vandals have smashed or overturned 27 gravestones at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France. ... Jewish grave sites around France are attacked sporadically by vandals, who leave gravestones broken or sprayed with anti-Semitic slogans...

Judge refuses to reinstate first oil drill ban

Posted on July 21, 2010
Reuters: "A U.S. judge on Wednesday refused a request by environmental groups to reinstate the Obama administration's original moratorium on deepwater drilling set in the wake of the BP Plc oil spill."

City of Phoenix appreciates Zed?s Hindu prayer

Posted on July 21, 2010
Sify News: "City of Phoenix, fifth most populated city of USA, has appreciated acclaimed Hindu leader Rajan Zed's invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures opening the City Council meeting on July seven, reportedly for the first time since it was incorporated in 1881...

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When the exception swallows the rule ? The church plan exception to ERISA

Posted on July 21, 2010
When the Exception Swallows the Rule ? The Church Plan Exception to ERISA "Although the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., is very expansive in its preemption of state law, there are certain narrow exceptions to ERISA coverage, including an exception for church plans...

UN: ?Anti-gay laws spreading HIV in Asia-Pacific?

Posted on July 21, 2010
Yahoo (AFP): "Laws criminalizing gay sex in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region is pushing infection rates of HIV and AIDS to 'alarming' levels, the United Nations Development Programme said Wednesday. ... 'These laws often taken on the force of vigilantism, frequently leading to abuse and human rights violations...

Court finds ?Stolen Valor Act? that prohibits lying about military medals violates free speech

Posted on July 21, 2010
Legal Blog Watch: "A federal judge in Denver ruled last week that the 'Stolen Valor Act,' which prohibits people from falsely claiming they have been awarded military decorations and medals, is 'facially unconstitutional.' U.S. District Judge Robert E...

Lesbian gets $35K settlement over canceled prom

Posted on July 21, 2010
First Amendment Center (AP): "A rural school district that canceled its prom rather than allow a lesbian student to attend with her girlfriend has agreed to pay $35,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit the ACLU filed on her behalf."

8th Circuit: Blanket prohibition on nude pics for sex offender stricken as probation condition

Posted on July 21, 2010
Associated Press: "A convicted sex offender can possess material depicting nudity upon his release from prison after the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld part of an appeal of his sentence." | U.S. v. Simons, No. 09-2142 (8th Cir. July 21, 2010) | View opinion in Google Viewer

WV: Top GOP prospect won?t seek Byrd?s Senate seat

Posted on July 21, 2010
Associated Press: "Republican U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito announced she would not enter the race a day after popular Gov. Joe Manchin launched his campaign to fill the remaining two-plus years of Byrd's term. The filing deadline for candidates is Friday...

TX: Praying employees win round 1 in legal scuffle

Posted on July 21, 2010
OneNewsNow: "Two employees of the University of Texas at Arlington who prayed over a co-worker's cubicle -- and were subsequently fired -- will have their day in court. Attorney Jeff Mateer of Liberty Institute tells OneNewsNow that after work hours, the plaintiffs prayed over the cubicle of an employee with whom they had had trouble...

Legislating immorality in schools

Posted on July 21, 2010
OneNewsNow: "From condoms for young children in Provincetown to sex education for kindergartners in Helena, Katie Reid -- author of When the Bough Breaks -- believes the intent of such actions is to provide children a means to engage in sexual relations with fewer possible side effects...

?House of prayer near Ground Zero? Yes!?

Posted on July 21, 2010
Padraic O'Hare, Professor of Religious and Theological Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations at Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, writing at The Washington Post / On Faith: "We need more mosques - as well as churches, synagogues and ashrams - at Ground Zero; in Bay Ridge in my beloved hometown of Brooklyn; on Staten Island, and all over!"

Georgia voters say ?yes? to Personhood Amendment

Posted on July 21, 2010
ChristianNewsWire: "In all 46 counties where the amendment was presented, it passed overwhelmingly by an amazing 75%! Georgia is the first state in the nation where voters have said 'Yes' to the Personhood question."

Redefinition of marriage in Argentina signals waning Catholic influence

Posted on July 21, 2010
Yahoo (Reuters): "The Catholic Church's failure to derail a gay marriage law in Argentina shows once powerful clergymen losing their influence in Latin America, where pressure is growing for more liberal social legislation. ... Extending gay rights and other social legislation being pushed through by the region's politicians suggest Latin Americans are becoming more liberal in contrast with the Church's unbending views on sexual freedom, contraceptives and abortion...

Summer hiring survey: 44 percent down in 2010

Posted on July 21, 2010
Law.com: "Law school students faced one of the roughest hiring seasons ever this summer, as firms cut their summer classes by an average of 44 percent, according to our Summer Hiring Survey. The 114 firms that responded to the survey hired an average of 31 summer associates this year, down from last year's average of 55 associates...

NE: Women can still file suit after judge?s ruling on abortion law

Posted on July 21, 2010
AfterAbortion.org: "Despite media reports to the contrary, women are still able to file lawsuits for negligent screening and psychological injuries under a Nebraska law. In a preliminary ruling issued July 14, Federal District Judge Laurie Smith Camp ruled that neither the effective date of the bill nor the law itself could be enjoined, clearing the way for the law to go into effect July 15...

Obama signs overhaul of financial system

Posted on July 21, 2010
New York Times: "President Obama signed into law on Wednesday a sweeping expansion of federal financial regulation, marking another ? and perhaps last ? major legislative victory before the midterm elections in November, which could recast the Congressional landscape...

Expert: UN study backs Catholic Church strategy on Aids

Posted on July 21, 2010
Catholic Herald: "A new UN Aids study has lent credibility to faith leaders who have long argued that behavioural change is key to combating the spread of the illness, a Catholic expert on the disease has said. ... A study from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids released last week showed that HIV prevalence among young people has declined by more than 25 per cent in 15 of the 21 most-affected countries...

Church, state, and original intent

Posted on July 21, 2010
Lee J. Strang, associate professor of law at the University of Toledo College of Law, writing at First Things / On The Square: In Church, State, and Original Intent, Donald Drakeman, a lecturer in Princeton University?s department of politics, shows that the strict-separationist interpretation was a house built on sand...

NC House Chooses Special Committee to Consider Guest Chaplain Program in Response to Charges of Religious Discrimination

Posted on July 20, 2010
Christian Law Association: "In response to a letter from legal counsel for Dr Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church, Winston Salem, NC, the North Carolina House of Representatives has formed a Special Committee to consider its guest chaplain program...

Singapore: New guidelines on use of commercial properties for religious activities

Posted on July 20, 2010
Channel NewsAsia: "Singapore authorities have made known publicly the use of commercial property for religious activities. Previously, the authorities grant requests from religious organisations to use commercial space on a case-by-case basis. The guidelines issued on Tuesday follows several high profile real estate investments by religious groups...

Calls for ?urgent? security review follow fatal attack on Christians in Nigeria

Posted on July 20, 2010
Christian Post: "The head of U.K.-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide has called upon Nigerian authorities to 'urgently' review security arrangements in the volatile Plateau State after another deadly attack on Christians this past weekend. Ten people, including children, are believed to have been killed in the early Saturday morning attack on Mazah village...

Spanish parliament rejects banning burqas in public

Posted on July 20, 2010
Associated Press: "Spain's Parliament has rejected a proposal to ban women from wearing in public places Islamic veils that reveal only the eyes. The proposal was debated late Tuesday; 183 lawmakers opposed the ban, 162 lawmakers voted for it and two abstained...

Sen. Tom Coburn: By her own words, Kagan will violate her oath

Posted on July 20, 2010
Sen. Tom Coburn writing at National Review Online: "The Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Elena Kagan provided key exchanges about the Commerce Clause, natural rights, and other issues that have convinced me to vote against her nomination. Based on her own testimony, she?ll violate her oath as soon as she?s sworn in...

Argentinean bishop: Consequences of same-sex ?marriage? will soon come to light

Posted on July 20, 2010
Catholic News Agency: "Bishop Elizalde said the passage of the law should lead Argentineans to question 'the seriousness of the gospel commitment we claim to have. The coarse political context cannot justify what has happened.' 'As time goes on certain aspects will be clarified and new ways of behaving in society will be established,' he ventured...

KY: ?Gay candidate declines to seek funds from national gay group?

Posted on July 20, 2010
Lexington Herald-Leader: "Matthew Vanderpool, an openly gay candidate for a state House seat in Fayette County, has decided not to accept or pursue about $15,000 in campaign funds from [the Victory Fund] that provides financial and campaign support to gay and lesbian political candidates...

Heterosexual marriage is society?s bedrock

Posted on July 20, 2010
Bill Muehlenberg, secretary of the Family Council of Victoria, writing in The Australian: "Marriage is a universal and historical institution which serves tremendous social purposes. It regulates human sexuality, and it procures the wellbeing of any offspring from the sexual union...

Talks on forming new Dutch govt collapse

Posted on July 20, 2010
9 News: "Talks to forge a new four-party ruling Dutch coalition following inconclusive national elections last month have collapsed amid disagreement on how to cut the country's budget, the leader of the negotiations said on Tuesday. ... Before starting the negotiations that collapsed on Tuesday, Rutte had unsuccessful talks about a possible coalition with anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders and the Christian Democrats of outgoing Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende...

FL: Kissimmee residents to vote on ?In God We Trust? motto

Posted on July 20, 2010
Central Florida News 13: "The city of Kissimmee could soon get a new motto. The proposal is on the Aug. 24 ballot. ... One of those ideas is to make Kissimmee's new logo 'In God We Trust.' It?s a proposal other commissioners initially supported. ... But then came the controversy...

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