Religion & Law

UK: Church volunteer status saved by court decision

Posted on January 27, 2011
The Christian Institute: "Voluntary Sunday school teachers, church elders, deacons, prayer group leaders and all other church volunteers have been saved from an avalanche of equality diktats following an important court ruling. The Christian Institute intervened in the case and urged the Court of Appeal not to treat volunteers as though they had the same rights as employees under a European Equal Treatment Directive...

University of Kansas denies claim that race, religion led to firing

Posted on January 27, 2011
NECN: "Dilawar Grewal sued the university, alleging that he was fired in November 2009 after complaining about treatment by co-workers. He says he was subjected to racial and religious slurs, including being told he looked like a terrorist. He is a naturalized U...

Abortion, attorney?s fee on agenda for Arkansas Legislature

Posted on January 27, 2011
CNBC: "The Arkansas Legislature is wrapping up its week with action on legislation addressing abortion coverage under the health care overhaul and attorney's fees for the indigent."

MO measure addresses academic freedom, evolution

Posted on January 27, 2011
First Amendment Center (AP): "Republican state Rep. Andrew Koenig and several other co-sponsors introduced H.B. 195, which would allow educators to teach and guide students in thinking critically about scientific theories and discuss 'differences of opinion about controversial issues, including biological and chemical evolution...

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PA: Lawsuit filed against evolution

Posted on January 27, 2011
ChristianNewsWire: "Tom Ritter, who taught physics and chemistry for over a decade, has filed a federal lawsuit against The Blue Mountain School District in the Middle District of Pennsylvania . . . If evolution is unscientific, why teach it? Because no Creator means no God...

UK: Former cabinet minister warns of ?secular theocracy?

Posted on January 27, 2011
The Christian Institute: "Michael Portillo, discussing the plight of the Christian B&B owners sued over their double bed policy, has expressed concern at the dangers posed by a 'secular theocracy.'"

Michigan commission OKs benefits for domestic partners

Posted on January 27, 2011
Lansing State Journal: "The commission voted 3-1 to offer the benefits to roughly 35,000 employees - more than half the state government work force - after state officials told the commission that the benefits would be too costly as the state faces a $1...

Christianity the last bastion against European secularist ?totalitarianism?: Austrian think tank

Posted on January 27, 2011
LifeSiteNews: "An Austrian think tank and non-governmental organization is warning that freedom of religious expression is 'at risk' in Europe from secularist intolerance on the left. While Islamic extremists continue assaults on Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and around the Middle East and Asia, restrictions on public expressions of religious belief by Christians are growing in Western Europe, the cradle of Christendom...

Liberty Counsel files brief in support of DOMA in Massachusetts case

Posted on January 27, 2011
Liberty Counsel: "Liberty Counsel filed an Amicus Brief in support of the federal Defense of Marriage Act in the First Circuit Court of Appeals, regarding The Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The brief states that the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman for federal purposes and law is clearly constitutional...

Practising Muslims will very soon overtake weekly churchgoers in Britain

Posted on January 27, 2011
Damian Thompson writing at his Telegraph blog: "This figure, from the respected Pew Forum, means we must radically revise predictions that practising Muslims will outnumber practising Christians by 2035, which were based on the outdated 2001 census figure of 1...

AR: ?In God We Trust? to be displayed at Branson City Hall

Posted on January 27, 2011
KTTS: "The Branson Board of Aldermen say the city should give the motto 'In God We Trust' a prominent display at city hall."

U.S. must compete with China in the classroom

Posted on January 27, 2011
Philadelphia Inquirer: "Yet, if we are concerned about competition from China, we should look beyond Beijing's growing military - and economic - might. Far better to focus on China's progress, and our lag, in educating our future workforce. That's where the real Chinese challenge lies...

Grocery store un-censors Elton John?s baby picture

Posted on January 27, 2011
ABC: "A grocery store in Arkansas reversed its decision to put a 'family shield' over the cover of the current issue of Us Weekly that showed a picture of Elton John and his partner David Furnish with their new baby Zachary."

Muslim population growth outpaces non-Muslims: study

Posted on January 27, 2011
Breitbart (AFP): "The world's Muslim population will grow twice as fast as non-Muslims over the next 20 years according to a new study, which predicted that Muslims within a generation will make up more than a quarter of the global population."

Will charter schools cure America?s blues?

Posted on January 27, 2011
Walter Russell Mead writing in The American Interest: "As the blue social model gradually falls apart and American society casts restlessly about for something to replace it, charter schools may be on the cutting edge of the social transformation about to take place ...

Afghan Christians live in fear of jail, exile, or worse

Posted on January 27, 2011
AFP: "In Afghanistan, where insurgents continue to fight their 'holy war' against foreign forces, there are no churches, evangelising is illegal and the country's constitution forbids conversion from Islam to another religion."

Somali Islamic militant group recruiting Canadian youth

Posted on January 27, 2011
CBC: "Top Canadian security officials say they have intercepted or intervened in a number of cases involving Canadian youths set to join the Somalia-based militant organization al-Shabaab, but in spite of their efforts many others may have joined the group...

Sudan mulls Islamic law after southern secession

Posted on January 27, 2011
Deutsche Welle: "As referendum results make southern Sudan's independence from Khartoum nearly certain, northern Sudanese are unsure what is in store for their country. The president has promised to base the constitution on Sharia law."

Idaho could expand sexual orientation discrimination law

Posted on January 27, 2011
The Spokesman-Review: "Idaho's state Human Rights Commission has endorsed legislation adding sexual orientation to the state's anti-discrimination law, a key move since two years ago, the commission opposed such legislation - and lawmakers refused even to introduce it...

Boston Catholic schools to accept kids of same-sex ?parents?

Posted on January 27, 2011
National Catholic Register: "The Archdiocese of Boston has decreed that children of same-sex couples can enroll in its parochial schools, reversing a controversial 2010 decision at the parish level refusing one such admission."

Alberta Archdiocese: School funding can?t come from gambling

Posted on January 27, 2011
National Catholic Register: "Edmonton Catholic Schools? trustees have voted to abolish gambling activities as a source of school funding."

Mike Pence not running for President, governor bid likely

Posted on January 27, 2011
LifeNews: "In a long-awaited announcement, pro-life Congressman Mike Pence will not seek the Republican nomination for president and will leave open the possibility of a gubernatorial bid."

American Legion: Four Chaplains memorial services, Feb. 6

Posted on January 27, 2011
The American Legion: "On Feb. 3, 1943, the United States Army Transport Dorchester was bound for an American base in Greenland as it pushed through the frigid North Atlantic waters with 902 servicemen aboard. But the ship did not arrive at its destination ...

Hawaii lawmakers want release of Obama birth info

Posted on January 27, 2011
Associated Press: "Five Hawaii Democratic representatives want to pass a law making President Barack Obama's birth records public and charge $100 to see them."

Obama picks pro-abortion activist to lead Global Health Initiative

Posted on January 27, 2011
LifeNews: "According to the Associated Press, State Department officials confirmed Wednesday that Lois Quam will become the executive director of the GHI. Quam is a former UnitedHealth Group executive who is married to Matt Entenza, a former state legislator who lost his bid to become the Democratic nominee for governor of Minnesota to Mark Dayton last year...

Obama picks Carney for press secretary

Posted on January 27, 2011
Associated Press: "President Barack Obama has chosen Jay Carney, the communications chief to Vice President Joe Biden and a former magazine journalist, to be the next White House press secretary."

Ontario party: Human rights commission moving to ?take over? education, threatens homeschooling

Posted on January 27, 2011
LifeSiteNews: "The controversial Ontario Human Rights Commission has signaled their 'takeover' of the province?s education sector, a development that could threaten private schools and homeschoolers, said the Family Coalition Party of Ontario (FCP) today...

Egypt protests widen, toll rises to six

Posted on January 27, 2011
Breitbart (AFP): "Two more people died and hundreds were arrested as the biggest uprising against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule widened, prompting Washington to prod its long-time ally on democratic reforms."

Report recommends Michigan court system overhaul

Posted on January 27, 2011
Detroit News: "A lawyers' task force on Wednesday issued a report urging a systemwide overhaul that includes reducing the number of judges, consolidating and modernizing court operations. The report echoes a call for deep cuts in the state's court system issued this month by the Michigan Supreme Court's new chief justice, Robert Young Jr...

Rep. Ron Paul mulls Senate bid

Posted on January 27, 2011
UPI: "Republican Rep. Ron Paul says he is considering a Senate bid, a move analysts say could affect the Texas primary field for those counting on Tea Party support."

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