Religion & Law

Britain?s National Health Service Issues Guide On Religion In Health Care

Posted on February 06, 2009
Religion Clause Blog reports: “A Press Association report yesterday focuses on guidelines issued last month by Britain’s National Health Service titled Religion or Belief: A Practical Guide for the NHS.” Visit Site » Share This

Saudis brace themselves for first UN rights review

Posted on February 06, 2009
AFP:  Saudi Arabia, which human rights groups say has some of the world’s least protections for its citizens, will put its record up for global scrutiny on Friday in its first-ever review by the UN Human Rights Council. The three-year-old Saudi Human Rights Commission is expected to call at a meeting in Geneva for patience and understanding [...

How does one advocate a public moral position identifiable with one?s religious tradition where religion is disestablished?

Posted on February 06, 2009
Religious communities have a much bigger problem in publicly advocating what they take to be universal norms. That is not only their political problem; even more, it is their philosophical problem. Thus, religious people must be prepared to answer this question: How does one advocate a public moral position identifiable with one?s religious tradition in a society that does not look to any religious tradition for the justification of public morality? Surely, the political disestablishment of religion means that civil society may no longer look to any religious community for the authorization or justification of any public policy, let alone for any specific legal warrant.

Religious Hiring Rights Under Obama?s Faith-Based Initiative

Posted on February 06, 2009
I know from experience as President Bush?s first ?faith czar? how thorny the issue of religious hiring rights can be, but I also know that it cannot be avoided, nor should it be. Indeed, like it or not, what faith-based will mean under Obama will depend in no small measure on how he handles the ideologically polarizing, legally entangling, and administratively intricate issue of religious discrimination.

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Amendment To ?Stimulus? Bill Defeated; Ban on Constrution Aid for Religious Use Remains

Posted on February 06, 2009
Religion Clause Blog:  . . . During debate on the stimulus bill yesterday, Sen. Jim DeMint proposed an amendment to eliminate this restriction on grants. (S. Amend. 189). The proposed amendment was defeated by a vote of 43 yes, 54 no, 2 not voting. After the vote, DeMint issued a release captioned “Democrats Vote to Discriminate Against Students of Faith...

Sen. Stabenow wants hearings on radio ?accountability?; talks fairness doctrine

Posted on February 06, 2009
Politico:  SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it?s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it?s called the Fairness Standard, whether it?s called something else ? I absolutely think it?s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves ...

Rulings by two 9th Circuit judges aren?t precedentially binding

Posted on February 06, 2009
LA Times: “Despite the prominence of the two judges, the rulings are legally meaningless for all but the two couples because they came in the court’s administrative dispute process, rather than in lawsuit judgments.” See earlier post: Two 9th Circuit Judges grant same-sex ?spousal? benefits, one rules Federal DOMA is unconstitutional Liberty Counsel has issued this press release: [...

U.S. Congress Pressures Sri Lanka on Anti-Conversion Law

Posted on February 06, 2009
Becket Fund:  Te Sri Lankan ambassador to the United States, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, received a letter today (2/05/2009), signed by 15 U.S. congressmen, asking that Sri Lanka shelve proposed legislation outlawing religious conversion. The bill was approved in January, and a final vote in Sri Lanka’s parliament is expected this month ...

UW-Madison Hospital Board votes to become abortuary

Posted on February 06, 2009
The Daily Cardinal:  The UW-Madison Hospital and Clinics Authority Board?s vote Wednesday to implement a second-trimester abortion clinic raised mixed emotions among state community members. The board voted 11-3 to install the clinic in the Madison Surgery Center, a private joint venture owned by Meriter Hospital and UW Hospital ...

Court says removing Cuba book at Miami-Dade schools was legal

Posted on February 06, 2009
Miami Herald: A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Miami-Dade School Board did not violate the Constitution in 2006 when it removed a controversial children’s book about Cuba from the public schools’ library system . . .  Clearly, this can’t be allowed to stand...

Vermont: ?Gay Marriage Bill Presented at Statehouse?

Posted on February 06, 2009
WCAX.com: “Representatives Mark Larson and David Zuckerman will introduce legislation to move Vermont from civil unions to full marriage for same-sex couples. About 200 advocates are expected to be at the Statehouse today . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

ACLU opposes Ark. Family Council entry into foster ban challenge

Posted on February 06, 2009
AP:  ”. . . The ACLU claims that the Arkansas Family Council has no legal grounds to enter the suit in Pulaski County Circuit Court . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

White House Announces Troubling Faith-Based Order, ACLU Says Administration Is Heading Into Unchartered Waters

Posted on February 06, 2009
Enews Park Forest:  . . . ?President Obama launched his faith-based initiative today by heading into uncharted and dangerous waters,? said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. ?What we are seeing today is significant - a president giving his favored clergy a governmental stamp of approval...

Lindenhurst HS student files suit over Bible club

Posted on February 06, 2009
Newsday:  A Lindenhurst High School student who tried to start a Bible club has filed a federal lawsuit, saying officials violated his civil rights by denying the group recognition because of its religious nature. The school has denied the allegation...

Jay Sekulow: Don?t Force Christian High Schools to Change Curriculum

Posted on February 06, 2009
Jay Sekulow writes on BeliefNet: Barry, there’s another troubling development in the education world - this one is not about stimulus funds for higher education facilities - this centers on high school curriculum and focuses directly on what’s being taught in many Christian high schools across the country...

Jordan Lorence and Kelly Shackleford on Point of View Radio: Dangerous Presidential nominees and tough times for children

Posted on February 06, 2009
ADF attorney Jordan Lorence and Kelly Shackleford of Liberty Legal Institute appeared on Point of View of Radio to discuss recent events that are harmful to families and dangerous Presidential nominees. The mp3 runs just over 18 minutes. Related: Alan Sears: A Bad Month for Children Visit Site » Share This

?Judge Says Canadian Lesbian Couple Can Divorce in New Jersey?

Posted on February 06, 2009
"A state judge [Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson] has ruled that gay marriage is recognized in New Jersey for the purpose of divorce . . . "

What Do Supreme Court Precedents Tell Us About Removal of Books from School Library?

Posted on February 06, 2009
Eugene Volokh writes on the Volokh Conspiracy: I often hear arguments that the Supreme Court has held that school boards are limited by the Free Speech Clause in their ability to remove books. A commenter on the first thread in this chain offers an example: The distinction is that the school library already had the copy and then removed [...

Transforming CLE

Posted on February 06, 2009
Legal Blog Watch:  Over in Illinois, 587 attorneys have been removed from the state’s “master roll” after failing to file the paperwork showing that they had completed the required 20 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) between July 2006 and 2008, reports theNational Law Journal...

Oregon: Should cities create strip club zones

Posted on February 06, 2009
KVAL.com reports: “We’re improving the downtown area,”said Democratic state Sen. Bill Morrisette of Springfield, “but this one element in the downtown area makes it difficult.” He wants to give local governments the power to create special land use zoning for strip clubs, just like cities can regulate residential zoning for houses or apartments, industrial land or commercial [...

Targeting Religious Broadcasters

Posted on February 06, 2009
Rowan Scarborough writes on Human Events: Democratic plans to revive government censorship of the radio and TV airways will strike hardest at religious broadcasters who stand in the way of a liberal social revolution. Christian broadcasters tell HUMAN EVENTS they will be targeted once President Obama’s appointees gain control of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this year [...

Justice Department Settles Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Against Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Posted on February 06, 2009
PR Newswire: . . . The United States filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in September 2008, alleging that WMATA violated Title VII by failing to reasonably accommodate and provide equal employment opportunities to employees and prospective employees whose religious practices require an accommodation from WMATA’s uniform policy for [...

Italy ready with draft law to stop the killing of Eluana Englaro

Posted on February 06, 2009
The Christian Telegraph: “On February 5 the Italian government announced it has made ready a draft emergency measure that would prohibit the removal of food and hydration from vulnerable patients. As of this writing, the measure, though drafted and ready, has not yet been formally adopted, the final decision being that of Prime Minister Silvio [...

?Americans United Lauds Senate Vote Rejecting Taxpayer Funding Of Religious Institutions?

Posted on February 06, 2009
Americans United press release: Americans United for Separation of Church and State today hailed a Senate vote rejecting tax funding for religious facilities in the economic recovery package . . . The 54-43 vote came after Religious Right groups began complaining that the proposed economic recovery bill (H...

Senator Jim DeMint Says Stimulus Bill Is ?An Attack On People of Faith?

Posted on February 06, 2009
FoxNews carries this transcript of the discussion between Neil Cavuto and Sen. Jim DeMint (R) South Carolina. Visit Site » Share This

Lesbian Couple Seeking Divorce In New Jersey

Posted on February 06, 2009
AP: “A judge is expected to rule Friday on whether a lesbian couple legally married in Canada can be divorced in New Jersey. The state attorney general’s office opposes the request, which is the first of its kind in the state . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

Two 9th Circuit Judges grant same-sex ?spousal? benefits, one rules Federal DOMA is unconstitutional

Posted on February 05, 2009
"Reinhardt?s order declared the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, while Kozinski?s order didn?t reach the 'hard question' of the statute?s constitutionality."

GWU College Democrats Apologize for Vandalism

Posted on February 05, 2009
Washington Post: “Crosses used in an antiabortion demonstration at George Washington University were defaced last week, and the school’s College Democrats organization has apologized for the vandalism . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

SC State Senator pushes for civil unions

Posted on February 05, 2009
WSPA.com: . . . ?I think it?s unconstitutional,? Sen. Ford says of the amendment. Because of that and the Democratic National Committee?s platform plant to encourage states to adopt civil unions, Sen. Ford has introduced the Civil Union Equality Act. It would allow same-sex civil unions in the state that would have all the benefits, privileges, [...

Wisconsin: Group says prayer at meetings should stop

Posted on February 05, 2009
The LaCrosse Tribune: “The co-president of Madison-based Freedom from Religion Foundation said Wednesday two Coulee Region governing bodies that open meetings with prayers need to cease the practice. Both the Vernon County Board and the La Crosse Common Council pray at meetings ...

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