Religion & Law

EU Parliament passes new divorce rules

Posted on June 17, 2010
EurActiv: "International couples living in 14 EU countries will be able to choose which country's jurisdiction should apply to their divorce as the European Parliament finally backed proposals tabled by the EU executive four years ago." | Related: [6...

Lebanese Cardinal warns Sarkozy of Christian emigration

Posted on June 17, 2010
Assyrian International News Agency: "The number of Christians in the Middle East is swiftly declining, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir warned Nicholas Sarkozy during a meeting with the French president at the Elysee Palace."

ECHR rules Turkey must return orphanage to Ecumenical Patriarchate

Posted on June 17, 2010
Asia News: "In a unanimous decision, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that Turkey must return the former Greek Orphanage on Büyükada Island, the largest of the Princes? Islands, back to Fener Greek Patriarchate. This concludes the long legal case between the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Turkish authorities...

IPPF leads push for abortion rights as UN prepares for high-level MDG review

Posted on June 17, 2010
C-FAM: "The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) launched a new campaign this week called 'A Promise is A Promise,' demanding that states implement policies and programs to achieve the controversial Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target 5b on 'universal access to reproductive health by 2015...

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Canada: Lawyers battle over definition of religion in marijuana case

Posted on June 17, 2010
Canwest News Service: "A strong selling point of the Church of the Universe is the use of marijuana as a sacrament - so assuming someone is inclined to indulge, the church is a godsend. . . . Now the case, which began in April, is in one of the more unusual phases to ever take place in a Canadian court room: A debate over what exactly constitutes a religion and even whether such a definition is even possible...

NC Senate takes steps to expand video poker ban

Posted on June 17, 2010
Jacksonville Daily News: "A Senate judiciary committee recommended Thursday a bill that would bar electronic and computer-based devices springing up at new 'sweepstakes cafes' or 'business centers' where customers buy Internet or phone time. Customers can play games and win cash and prizes...

UK: Teach 5-year-olds about sex, say NHS advisers

Posted on June 17, 2010
The Christian Institute: "Five-year-olds should be taught about sex, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is controversially claiming. Only weeks after the previous Government failed in its attempt to force schools to teach Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) to children as young as five, NICE says sex education is important for children?s 'wellbeing'...

UK: Cameron supports civil partnerships in churches

Posted on June 17, 2010
The Christian Institute: "Homosexual couples should be able to register civil partnerships in churches which wish to hold them, according to the Prime Minister. Mr Cameron revealed his stance on the controversial issue last night as he became the first Conservative Prime Minster to host a Gay Pride reception...

Erik Stanley: Pulpit Initiative pastor in his own words

Posted on June 17, 2010
ADF Attorney Erik Stanley writing at Speak Up Movement / Church: "Pastor Paul Blair recently spoke at an ADF event about his participation in ADF?s Pulpit Initiative. We have posted video of his remarks on our website. Pastor Blair is pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, and was one of the 33 courageous pastors who stood boldly and spoke Biblical truth from his pulpit about the 2008 elections and the candidates running for office during that election...

Jordan Lorence does TV: The Proposition 8 Trial

Posted on June 17, 2010
ADF attorney Jordan Lorence appeared in various TV news outlets to discuss the case. Clips from some of those appearances: CLAS CBS 8 MP4 1:14 mins | WITN MP4 1:30 mins | WPBF ABC 25 News MP4 48 seconds

Joel Oster on KFUO with Roland Lettner: Equal access and eradication of religion from the public square

Posted on June 17, 2010
ADF attorney Joel Oster appeared on KFUO with Roland Lettner to discuss equal access and eradication of religion from the public square | MP3 24:42 mins | ADF Media: ADF seeks to end religious discrimination policies at more than 750 government-run facilities

David Hacker on the Georgene Rice Show: Idaho?s censorship of the Great Books in Idaho Charter Schools

Posted on June 17, 2010
ADF attorney David Hacker appeared on the Georgene Rice Show to discuss Idaho's censorship of the Great Books in charter schools. | MP3 7:18 mins | ADF Media: ADF files appeal over Western Civilization book ban in Idaho public schools, universities

Daniel Blomberg on Secure Freedom Radio: Challenges to the chaplain corps and normalization of homosexual behavior

Posted on June 17, 2010
ADF attorney Daniel Blomberg appeared on Secure Freedom Radio with Frank Gaffney to discuss efforts to normalize homosexual behavior in the military and potential impact on the chaplain corps. | MP3 9:23 mins

Travis Barham on the Georgene Rice Show: Graduation Prayer at Montana State Northern

Posted on June 17, 2010
ADF attorney Travis Barham appeared on the Georgene Rice Show to discussion the controversy over a graduation prayer at Montana State University Northern. | MP3 8:55 mins | Related ADF Media

Controversy Swirls around Catholic U of America?s New Prez

Posted on June 17, 2010
LifeSiteNews: "The move has sparked concerns among some Catholics, primarily due to Garvey?s record of support for pro-abortion politicians."

Chinese Web Censorship

Posted on June 17, 2010
NCPA Policy Digest: "Under the new rides, any individual seeking to start a personal website, such as a blog or photo-sharing page, must apply in person at their local Internet service provider's offices. Website operators would have to show identification and allow the service provider to take their photo...

72% of GOP Voters Say Republicans In Congress Out of Touch With Their Base

Posted on June 17, 2010
Rasmussen: "A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of Republican voters continue to believe that GOP members of Congress have lost touch with the party base throughout the nation over the past several years . . . Most voters continue to believe it would be better for the country if the majority of Congress is thrown out this November, but they also remain unconvinced that a Republican takeover will make a noticeable difference...

Reports say Obama admitted he?s a Muslim

Posted on June 17, 2010
One News Now: "During the campaign, he spoke openly of both his Muslim upbringing and his adult conversion to Christianity. But now two major Middle East media outlets -- Nile TV International and Israel Today Magazine -- are reporting that the president has admitted in recent months that he is a Muslim...

House Expected to Vote Friday On Bill Limiting Pro-Life Groups? Free Speech

Posted on June 17, 2010
LifeNews: "The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Friday on a bill that would place more limits on pro-life and other political groups when it comes to communicating with supporters about legislative and political activities."

Elena Kagan?s Oxford Thesis Has Supreme Court Nominee Praising Activist Judges

Posted on June 17, 2010
"Americans United for Life has turned up a copy of the thesis Kagan wrote in 1983 at Oxford University that praises agenda-driven judges."

Transcript of Closing Arguments in Proposition 8 Trial

Posted on June 17, 2010
The transcript is available online here.

Judge to Ted Olson: ?Isn?t the danger in your position, not that you?re going to lose . . . but that you?re going to win . . . ?

Posted on June 17, 2010
In addressing Olson, Walker seemed concerned about the courts overstepping their role . . . 'Isn't the danger in your position, not that you're going to lose this case -- either here, at the 9th Circuit or at the Supreme Court -- but that you're going to win it?' Walker asked...

Chamber of Commerce ups ante against McConnell appointment

Posted on June 17, 2010
Providence Journal: "On the eve of the Senate Judiciary Committee?s debate on the McConnell nomination, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce alerted senators that their votes on whether to seat him could become part of the organization?s influential scorecard on members of Congress...

Prop 8 closing arguments turn on tradition

Posted on June 17, 2010
Candace Chellew-Hodge writing at Religion Dispatches (a "diversity of progressive voices" on religion): "I thought about Naboth as I read through the transcripts from the Prop 8 closing arguments. Those arguing to keep same-sex marriage illegal in California are like old Naboth?arguing from worn traditions that a growing number of people find ridiculous?if not quaint...

CAIR Says U.S. Muslims Stranded Abroad After Being Placed on No-Fly List

Posted on June 17, 2010
Religious Clause Blog: "On Tuesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations wrote Attorney General Eric Holder (full text of letter) complaining about cases of U.S. citizens who, while traveling abroad, have been placed on the U.S. no-fly list and have been delayed or prevented from returning home...

European Court Says Poland Forced Student To Indirectly Reveal Religious Beliefs

Posted on June 17, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "In Grzelak v. Poland, (ECHR, June 15, 2010), the European Court of Human Rights by a vote of 6-1 held that a Polish school violated the European Convention on Human Rights when it failed to offer an ethics class for a student who opted out of the school's religious education class...

?Israel wakes up to potential of Arab sector?

Posted on June 17, 2010
AP: "It's a refrain long sounded by Arabs citizens of Israel, who argue they face widespread discrimination in the workplace. The Israeli government says it now wants to do something about it, with a $250 million initiative with local venture capitalists to boost the Arab sector...

Supreme Court OKs search of policeman?s sexy text messages

Posted on June 17, 2010
AP: "The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the search of a police officer's personal, sometimes sexually explicit, messages on a government-owned pager, saying it did not violate his constitutional rights." | City of Ontario v. Quon (08-1332)

Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest school ruling

Posted on June 17, 2010
AP: "Tens of thousands of black-clad ultra-Orthodox Jews staged mass demonstrations on Thursday to protest a Supreme Court ruling forcing the integration of a religious girls' school."

FCC set to reconsider broadband regulations

Posted on June 17, 2010
AP on MyWay: "Federal regulators are reconsidering the rules that govern high-speed Internet connections - wading into a bitter policy dispute that could be tied up in court for years . . . "

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