Religion & Law

Idaho Senate approves ban on abortions after 20 weeks

Posted on March 23, 2011
Reuters: "The Idaho Senate on Wednesday approved a measure that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and subject abortion providers who violate the ban to criminal prosecution and lawsuits. The bill now heads to the state House of Representatives, where passage is expected ...

Florida: People pack school board meeting in defense of prayer

Posted on March 23, 2011
Newschief: "With Bibles in their hands, more than 100 people showed up at Tuesday's School Board meeting to show their support for prayer."

Alabama: ACLU blasts Bible giveaway

Posted on March 23, 2011
Times Daily: A parent is accusing staff members at Blue Springs Elementary School of violating the constitutional rights of students by distributing Bibles and avoiding lessons on evolution.

SD: Crisis pregnancy centers thrust into new role

Posted on March 23, 2011
Argus Leader: The law divides South Dakotans over the usual fault lines on reproductive rights, this time by making counseling centers a mandatory stop for women considering an abortion . . . . But it takes South Dakota into new territory by requiring that a woman visit a crisis pregnancy center during the 72 hours.

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Raise high the crucifix

Posted on March 23, 2011
Andrew Brown at the Guardian: If the law of England is no longer based on Christian texts but on the idea of foundational rights ? and this seems to be what recent court cases have concluded ? it's worth remembering that very few people believe that human rights exist ? rather fewer, at a guess, than believe that God exists...

9th Circuit refuses to lift stay on Cal. same sex ?marriage? licenses

Posted on March 23, 2011
How Appealing carries the text of the docket entry and order denying the motion to lift the stay.

Austria: Conservatives pleased about crucifix verdict

Posted on March 23, 2011
Austrian Independent: The federal panel announced in Vienna today (Weds) that kindergartens in Austria were not discriminating against other religious communities by displaying crucifixes at their facilities.

Peru Constitutional Court rejects application requesting removal of religious symbols from courts

Posted on March 23, 2011
Noticias Globas (Google translation): Peru's Constitutional Court rejected the application requesting the removal of religious symbols from courts across the country. In Argentina, two judges of the Supreme Court intended the removal of crucifixes from the courts.

DOJ sues on behalf of Muslim teacher wanting to go on 3 week Mecca pilgrimage

Posted on March 23, 2011
"Safoorah Khan had taught middle school math for only nine months in this tiny Chicago suburb when she made an unusual request. She wanted three weeks off for a pilgrimage to Mecca. The school district, faced with losing its only math lab instructor during the critical end-of-semester marking period, said no ...

Pakistan U.S. Embassy Condemns Burning of Copy of Holy Koran

Posted on March 23, 2011
The Pakistan U.S. Embassy's condemnation is here. | Hat tip: Religion Clause Blog.

Church Leaders, Parents Charged With Child Abuse In ?Biblical Punishment? of Their Children

Posted on March 23, 2011
Religion Clause Blog: "The Superior (WI) Telegram yesterday reports that the leaders of a Black Earth, Wisconsin church have been charged with child abuse for using wooden spoons and dowels to hit the backsides of children in their family and in the families of other church members...

Suit Seeks to Bring Building Under Religious Exception In Historic Preservation Law

Posted on March 23, 2011
Religion Clause Blog: The complaint (full text) in Westminster Presbyterian Church v. City of Peoria, Illinois, (IL Cir. Ct., filed March 21, 2011), seeks a declaratory judgment that the fellowship meetings are sufficient to qualify Westminster House for the religious use exemption.

Germany extends statute of limitations on abuse, church targeted

Posted on March 23, 2011
AP: "The change was triggered by last year's sex abuse scandal that rocked the nation's Roman Catholic Church."

AP: ?New NAACP seeing more gay, diverse chapter leaders?

Posted on March 23, 2011
AP: "The NAACP's newly revived Worcester chapter elected a 28-year-old openly gay black man as its president this month."

David French on Relevant Radio: Supreme Court review of student rights to challenge campus speech restrictions

Posted on March 23, 2011
ADF attorney David French appeared on Relevant Radio to discuss this: ADF files two appeals with U.S. Supreme Court over right of students to fight policies that muzzle speech. | MP3 audio 20:32 mins

Roger Kiska on the Radio: Parents persecuted for objecting to school based German sex indoctrination programs

Posted on March 23, 2011
ADF attorney Roger Kiska appeared on the radio to discuss this: ADF moves to have mother released from jail for keeping children from permissive German ?sex education? programs. | Al Kresta on Ave Maria Radio; MP3 audio 12:03 mins | Point of View Radio; MP3 Audio 18:18 mins

S.D. Requires 3-Day Waiting Period, Pregnancy Center Visit Before Abortion

Posted on March 23, 2011
Christianity Today: "Earlier this month, New York City passed a bill requiring centers to disclose whether they provide abortions or emergency contraception, make referrals to organizations that do, and if they have a licensed medical provider on site...

5th-grader initially banned from performing ?offensive? Christian song in talent show

Posted on March 23, 2011
Christian Examiner: ?Christian students shouldn?t be censored at public schools just because district officials consider religious speech to be offensive,? said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. ?The school district is doing the right thing by changing its policy to protect students? constitutionally protected rights so that censorship of religious speech no longer occurs during student activities...

National Right to Life: Two Court Challenges to New York City?s Anti-CPC Law

Posted on March 23, 2011
National Right to Life: The ADF lawsuit states, ?Plaintiffs desire to offer their free, non-medical, non-commercial assistance to women without the threat of Bill 371-A forcing them to recite government-mandated speech, to be priced out of advertising to women in need, and to face fines, closure and jail time...

Nepal Christians protest to demand burial grounds

Posted on March 23, 2011
AP: "Hundreds of minority Christians protested in Nepal's capital on Wednesday, demanding the government provide them with designated burial grounds."

Apple pulls Exodus? ?gay cure? app calling it ?offensive to large groups?: will Apple pull ?pro-gay? apps too?

Posted on March 23, 2011
The offending app by religious group Exodus International -- which aims to "help" gay individuals through the Bible's teachings -- directly contradicts Apple's guidelines, and constitutes inappropriate hate speech, argued activists from gay-rights group Truth Wins Out ...

Aging Population Is Biggest Challenge for Federal Budget

Posted on March 23, 2011
NCPA Policy Digest: "With Social Security deficits increasing and the U.S. population aging, policymakers today face a choice. If they raise Social Security's maximum taxable wage -- a common proposal -- individuals will respond by working and saving less, which weakens the economy and does not fix the problem...

Mexico releases Cal. fertility doctor in stolen egg and embryos case

Posted on March 23, 2011
AP: "Asch and fertility doctor Jose Balmaceda are charged with stealing the eggs and embryos of dozens of women being treated at the UC Irvine Center for Reproductive Health."

Hispanics Now Majority In Texas Public Schools

Posted on March 23, 2011
CBS: "The Texas Education Agency reports Hispanic students this school year account for 50.2 percent of the state?s 4.9 million children enrolled in public schools, including pre-kindergarten and early childhood education."

?Gay-rights opponents have human rights too, Vatican delegate reminds UN?

Posted on March 23, 2011
Catholic Culture: "At a UN session in Geneva, the Vatican's delegate has argued that respect for fundamental human rights should not be used as a pretext for forcing public acceptance of homosexual activity."

?Military indoctrinated on gays kissing, behavior?

Posted on March 23, 2011
: ?Marines are expected to obey lawful orders and could be subject to discipline or adverse administrative action if they refuse orders, even if such refusal is based on strong, sincerely held, moral or religious beliefs,? the briefing states.

State Department Promises Move Toward UN Convention Rights of the Child Ratification

Posted on March 23, 2011
ParentalRights.org: On March 10, the Obama administration told the UN Human Rights Council that it supports the UNHRC's recommendations that the United States should ?ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child [CRC].? Moreover, the administration promised that it ?intend[s] to review how we could move toward its ratification...

U.S. Dept. of State: Joint Statement on the Rights of LGBT Persons at the Human Rights Council

Posted on March 23, 2011
U.S. Dept. of State: At the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva 85 countries joined a Joint Statement entitled ?Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based On Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.? This follows previous statements on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons issued at the United Nations, including a 2006 statement by 54 countries at the Human Rights Council, and a 2008 statement that has garnered 67 countries? support at the General Assembly...

Small-business panel wants in on waiver wars

Posted on March 23, 2011
The Hill: Republicans on the House Small Business panel Tuesday demanded to know how federal officials went about approving more than 1,000 healthcare reform waivers.

Pete DuPont: ?A Very Bad Year: And it?ll only get worse, unless ObamaCare is repealed or struck down.?

Posted on March 23, 2011
Wall Street Journal: So we the people are subject to a 2,700-page law that will cost us nearly $1 trillion over 10 years and will put the federal government, in charge of everyone's medical care. The bill appropriates in advance some $100 billion from now until 2020, making it more difficult for future Congresses or Presidents to defund it...

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