Religion & Law

House Democrats? Delay on Passing Spending Bills Could Allow Abortion Funding

Posted on June 15, 2010
LifeNews: "The scene in Washington right now pits Democrats against Republicans on the annual appropriations bills that are passed to allow the federal government to function. However, the lack of any spending bills could result in passing an omnibus measure that may overturn pro-life provisions ...

Atheism equips itself to fight in Denmark

Posted on June 15, 2010
Indland: "From Friday in here week and Sunday is atheistic company, which has 1,200 members, hosts one of the first and largest international atheist conferences in Europe, where several of the world's most prominent atheists who fight for a separation of state and religion, focusing on issues in religion and politics ...

Dems block GOP effort to roll back health mandate

Posted on June 15, 2010
AP: "The vote Tuesday to repeal the mandate failed 187 to 230."

D.C.: ?Gay marriage? Check. Now legalized prostitution??

Posted on June 15, 2010
The Washington Post | DeBonis: "Handily, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance -- the city's longest-running activist group -- just released its "Agenda 2010," laying out its priorities for lawmakers. Number one is keeping gay marriage legal . ...

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Nightmare vision for Europe as EU chief warns ?democracy could disappear? in Greece, Spain and Portugal

Posted on June 15, 2010
Daily Mail: "Democracy could ?collapse? in Greece, Spain and Portugal unless urgent action is taken to tackle the debt crisis, the head of the European Commission has warned. In an extraordinary briefing to trade union chiefs last week, Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso set out an ?apocalyptic? vision in which crisis-hit countries in southern Europe could fall victim to military coups or popular uprisings as interest rates soar and public services collapse because their governments run out of money ...

Ghana: Gov?t minister defends introduction of Christian Religious Studies

Posted on June 15, 2010
GhanaWeb: "The Minister of Education, says the introduction of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) in Senior High Schools (SHS) would help students to understand the role the Bible play as a source of guidance, direction and counselling."

Young Florida woman chooses baby?s life over her own

Posted on June 15, 2010
Catholic News Agency: "The story of Benny Abreu, a young woman from the Dominican Republic, has moved Floridians because of her testimony to motherly love. The Florida woman suffered from serious heart problems and preferred to die rather than abort the baby she was carrying...

Catholic University?s next president: Boston law school dean

Posted on June 15, 2010
Washington Post: "John H. Garvey, a law school dean with a long record of scholarship on some of the most divisive issues in the Catholic Church, on Tuesday will be named the new president of Catholic University of America."

NY: Senate Dems press no-fault divorce, other marriage bills

Posted on June 15, 2010
"Senate Democrats are prepping for today's vote on three bills that would 'fundamentally restructure matrimonial law,' primarily through the addition of no-fault divorce to the existing grounds for spouses to seek the dissolution of a marriage. Under the bill (S3890A), a divorce could be granted after a six-month (or longer) period in which the relationship has ?irretrievably broken down,? and if all financial and custody disputes have been resolved...

Philadelphia: ?Scouts should confront anti-gay rule?

Posted on June 15, 2010
Associated Press: "City lawyers called on local Boy Scout officials to muster "the courage of their convictions" and challenge their national group's ban on gays as a trial over government funding opened Tuesday. . . . Chapter leaders also accuse the city of applying its lease rules selectively, since at least two other groups with limited membership rules ? a Roman Catholic parish and a Colonial Dames of America chapter ? also enjoy subsidized leases in city-owned buildings...

GOP to force vote on health reform repeal

Posted on June 15, 2010
Politico: "House Republicans will try to force a vote on repealing the individual mandate in the Democrats? health care overhaul, using a procedural maneuver to score political points on one of the most controversial provisions in the health care law...

NY: Senate Dems press no-fault divorce, other marriage bills

Posted on June 15, 2010
Times Union: "Senate Democrats are prepping for today?s vote on three bills that would 'fundamentally restructure matrimonial law,' primarily through the addition of no-fault divorce to the existing grounds for spouses to seek the dissolution of a marriage...

MN: Hennepin County seeks out of same-sex ?marriage? lawsuit

Posted on June 15, 2010
WCCO (AP): "Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks gay marriage in Minnesota."

Video from Pornography Harms Briefing today in Washington, D.C.

Posted on June 15, 2010
FRC Blog reports and links to the video.

NY: Court and DOJ order 6 votes for each voter

Posted on June 15, 2010
" . . . Federal Judge Stephen Robinson said that violated the Voting Rights Act, and he approved a remedy suggested by village officials: a system called cumulative voting, in which residents get six votes each to apportion as they wish among the candidates ...

Study: Campaigns on same-sex ?marriage? ballot measures fail to move voters

Posted on June 15, 2010
New York University Press Release: "Campaigns on ballot measures pertaining to the legal status of same-sex couples, including gay marriage, have minimal impact on voters, a study conducted by New York University?s Patrick Egan has found. The report, Findings from a Decade of Polling on Ballot Measures Regarding the Legal Status of Same-Sex Couples, is based on the most comprehensive compilation to date of the pre-election polls available in the states holding votes on same-sex marriage and domestic partnership since 1988?a total of 167 surveys on 32 ballot measures...

Report to look at poll accuracy in same-sex ?marriage? fights

Posted on June 15, 2010
The Desert Sun: "A public policy and opinion researcher is expected to release a report on Tuesday that looks at the accuracy of polls on same-sex marriage in ballot measure fights across the country. Patrick J. Egan, a Politics and Public Policy professor at New York University will present his research on 'Findings from a Decade of Polling on Ballot Measures Regarding the Legal Status of Same-Sex Couples' in a national teleconference tomorrow morning...

Australia?s Tasmania House of Assembly denies Hindu opening prayer request

Posted on June 15, 2010
ANI: "A Hindu leader has been denied the request to read the opening prayer of Tasmania House of Assembly of Australia. Clerk of the House of Assembly Peter Alcock, in a response to the request of Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said in a communiqui: 'The Speaker of the House is the authorised person to say the prayer each day...

Do Kids Still Matter to Marriage?

Posted on June 14, 2010
"One of the more surprising trends in marriage during the past 20 years is the fact that most couples no longer view children as essential to a happy relationship . . . "

Louisiana to Become Fourth State to Opt Out of Abortion Funding in Health Care

Posted on June 14, 2010
"This morning, the Louisiana Senate passed its opt out bill on a 28-3 margin and pro-life Gov. Bobby Jindal is expected to sign it soon . . ."

UC Irvine Bans Muslim Student Union for a Year, Based on (Among Other Things) Organizing a Disruption of the Israeli Ambassador?s Speech

Posted on June 14, 2010
Eugene Volokh writing at the Volokh Conspiracy: "So reports the Orange County Register, pointing to this decision letter."

America?s debt is creating a security threat to Europe

Posted on June 14, 2010
Christian Science Monitor: "America's spiral of debt isn't just hurting our economy, it's weakening our national security and making the world a more dangerous place. No nation can maintain its power or projection of power if its economy is weak. That holds for Sparta, Rome, and the United States...

On Flag Day, Veterans ask, ?President Obama, put the cross back!?

Posted on June 14, 2010
PR-USA.net: "The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Liberty Institute just sent a letter to President Obama asking him to help put the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial back in its rightful place following its vandalism and theft on May 9...

Afghan Christians ask for prayer; Becket Fund lawyer ? no true democracy

Posted on June 14, 2010
CBN: "Several members of the Afghan parliament have called for the death penalty for any Afghan who leaves Islam for Christianity . . . Eric Rassbach of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty told CBN News the U.S. sacrifice in Afghanistan isn't bringing about true democracy ...

Kagan Worked on Jones Suit for Clinton

Posted on June 14, 2010
Wall Street Journal: "Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, as a White House lawyer in the 1990s, played a role in President Bill Clinton's efforts to stall a sexual-harassment lawsuit stemming from his time as Arkansas governor. Ms. Kagan's role in fighting the suit is one of dozens of issues covered in documents released Friday by the William J...

Philippines: ?Gay group wants homosexuality to be taught kids, too?

Posted on June 14, 2010
Inquirer.net: "If government is ready to teach children about sex, shouldn?t it be ready also to teach children about homosexuality so the gay community would no longer be a punch line to a joke?"

London Mayor invites Christians to help turn capital around

Posted on June 14, 2010
Christian Today: "London Mayor Boris Johnson extended an invitation to thousands of Christians yesterday to work with him in giving more opportunities to young people in the capital. Speaking at a day of prayer for the nation at West Ham stadium on Sunday, Mr Johnson praised Christians for the work they were doing to help those who 'don?t get the best start in life'...

Christian colleges flourish in distance learning environment

Posted on June 14, 2010
USA Today: "The question facing universities looking to compete in the booming market for online higher education is not so much how to do it, but how to distinguish themselves from the rest. In this, Christian universities appear to have a built-in advantage...

?Olson surprises many conservatives by seeking to overturn gay-marriage ban?

Posted on June 14, 2010
Washington Post: "Cocktails had been served on the terrace, the ubiquitous Washington buffet of tenderloin and salmon consumed, and the gay law students settled in to hear from the famed legal mind who is leading the battle to make sure they have the right to marry whomever they want, wherever in the United States of America they live ...

Newdow files for rehearing in challenge to prayer and Presidential Inaugural Oath

Posted on June 14, 2010
Religion Clause Blog: "Last week, Michael Newdow filed a Petition for Panel Rehearing or Rehearing En Banc with the D.C. Circuit in Newdow v. Roberts,an Establishment Clause challenge to prayer and use of "so help me God" in the oath at Presidential inauguration ceremonies ...

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