Religion & Law

High court?s tilt hinges on election?s outcome

Posted on June 30, 2008
The San Francisco Chronicle reports: The final flurry of rulings in the Supreme Court’s just-completed term made it clear that the future of the court, and some of its most contentious rulings, rests with voters who will elect a new president in November...

?Can California?s same-sex marriages be saved??

Posted on June 30, 2008
Yale law professor Kenji Yoshina has this commentary in the LA Times.  It is subcaptioned: “A constitutional ban would also likely doom the unions already on the books.” Visit Site » Share This

ADF secures settlement for Christian fired for requesting Sundays off

Posted on June 30, 2008
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE June 30, 2008 ? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF secures settlement for Christian fired for requesting Sundays off TULSA, Okla. ? Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund finalized a settlement agreement Friday on behalf of a Christian fired from his job simply because he requested not [...

Number of abortions rising in Middle East, experts say

Posted on June 30, 2008
The LA Times reports: Despite legal and religious restrictions against abortion in much of the Arab world, changing social values and economic realities as well as demographic shifts have contributed to an apparent increase in the number of the procedures in the Middle East ...

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Denver Catholic archbishop bans cleric political donations, reports show biggest recipient is pro-abortion Obama

Posted on June 30, 2008
The Coloradoan reports: Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput will issue a new directive this week that clarifies what political activity is allowed by clergy and prohibiting them from endorsing or contributing money in partisan elections . . . Most of the contributions are to Republican groups or candidates, particularly outspoken opponents of abortion...

Russia: Reprieve for Methodist Sunday school ? but for who else?

Posted on June 30, 2008
Forum 18 reports: In a crucial development for religious organisations, Russia’s Supreme Court on 10 June ruled that a Smolensk Regional Court decision dissolving a local Methodist church was “unlawful and without foundation”. The Regional Court had dissolved the church for running a Sunday school without an education licence...

Men?s Paris fashions blur gender boundaries

Posted on June 30, 2008
“The most striking thing is the amount of crossover from women’s collections that seems to be happening,” Michael Roberts, fashion director of Vanity Fair magazine, told The Associated Press. AFP carries this report: Men’s fashion gets a feminine touch at Paris shows...

Sacramento: Child prostitutes sell themselves on Craigslist

Posted on June 30, 2008
CNN reports: “For more than two years, undercover cops on the Sacramento Police Department’s vice squad have been working one of the most draining beats: trying to crack down on online child prostitution . . . “ Visit Site » Share This

?Gloucester Girls? Explode Myths About Teen Pregnancy

Posted on June 30, 2008
Carol Platt Liebau has this commentary on Townhall. She writes: There was something sweetly naïve about the shock elicited by news out of Gloucester, Massachusetts that a group of 17 girls, no older than 16, may have had a pact to get pregnant together...

UK: Faith schools undermined by ?Government witch hunt?

Posted on June 30, 2008
The Telegraph reports: “Ministers have exaggerated claims that Christian, Jewish and Muslim schools cherry-pick the best pupils to justify a series of ‘plots and threats’ against the religious sector, it is claimed.” Visit Site » Share This

The Legal Status of the Hijab (Muslim Headscarf) in the United States

Posted on June 30, 2008
Finally, this note illustrates the alarming trend of courts failing to protect the constitutional rights of Muslim women because of misunderstandings and bias surrounding the hijab and Islam.

Emergency Contraception: Legal Consequences of Medical Classification

Posted on June 30, 2008
Pharmacists with religious or ethical objections to prescribing emergency contraception won the latest round in the fight over conscience clauses in a case that could have broader implications for attempts to restrict access to contraception.

The Law of Small Numbers: Gonzales V. Carhart, Parents Involved in Community Schools, and some Themes from the First Full Term of the Roberts Court

Posted on June 30, 2008
This Article uses two of the blockbuster decisions of the 2006 Term, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 and Gonzales v. Carhart (Carhart II), as a lens for considering how the Roberts Court may deal with key questions of constitutional law.

On the Capacity of the Roberts Court to Generate Consequential Precedent

Posted on June 30, 2008
Will the Roberts Court produce decisions of consequence in the foreseeable future? Or will its contributions be more modest?

The Right to Remain Silent: A First Amendment Analysis of Abortion Informed Consent Laws

Posted on June 30, 2008
While states are undoubtedly free to regulate abortions and to promote childbirth, problems arise when states compel physicians to deliver to their patients information with which the physicians themselves do not agree.

How Gonzalez v. Carhart Endangers Women?s Health and Women?s Equal Right to Personhood Under the Constitution

Posted on June 30, 2008
Despite the commonly held view that women have gained more control of their reproductive choices over time, the history of abortion regulation in America suggests that women had more control over their bodies when science was ignorant about pregnancy.

Virginia: Cross displayed by Christian group deemed ?offensive? at Chesapeake city park

Posted on June 30, 2008
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4588 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY June 30, 2008 ? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF attorney available to media following hearing in 4th of July cross case Cross displayed by Christian group deemed ?blatantly Christian? and ?offensive? at Chesapeake city park WHO: ADF Senior Counsel Nate Kellum WHAT: Available for media interviews following preliminary [...

ADF will defend Ariz. marriage amendment against any legal attacks

Posted on June 30, 2008
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4587 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND STATEMENT June 30, 2008 ? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF will defend Ariz. marriage amendment against any legal attacks Constitutional amendment approved by Ariz...

More Second Amendment cases and the political fall-out

Posted on June 30, 2008
SCOTUS Blog reports: “The National Rifle Association on Friday began its courthouse campaign to extend the Second Amendment in order to restrict gun control laws in San Francisco, Chicago and three Chicago suburbs.” How Appealing has this post linking to articles that survey the potential political fall-out and next steps as a result of the DC [...

Pornography: California?s Unwanted Export

Posted on June 28, 2008
Although we do not support the adult entertainment industry because of the degenerative impact on the family unit and society as a whole, we also oppose ?sin taxes.?

Texas high court rules exorcism protected by law

Posted on June 28, 2008
"The Texas Supreme Court on Friday threw out a jury award over injuries a 17-year-old girl suffered in an exorcism conducted by members of her old church, ruling that the case unconstitutionally entangled the court in religious matters."

?Spanish cabinet minister to join gay-pride march?

Posted on June 28, 2008
CWNews reports that Spain’s “equal-opportunity” minister will join an upcoming “gay pride” parade. Visit Site » Share This

Arizona partial birth abortion ban vetoed again

Posted on June 28, 2008
Reprting on passage of the marriage amendment in the Arizona Senate, the Arizona Catholic Conference’s email update also reports: Unfortunately, the Governor apparently used this opportunity to once again veto the new partial birth abortion bill despite the fact that it met her previously stated objections...

Idaho: Ten Commandments defenders hit with huge legal bills, city threatens enforcement

Posted on June 28, 2008
The AP has this biased report on the situation. Members of the Idaho Values Alliance have been ordered to pay $10,000+ in legal bills after challenging the city’s removal of a Ten Commandments display. The city is threatening to enforce the award...

Ariz. Senate rejects bill to ban abortions by nurses

Posted on June 28, 2008
The AP reports on KTAR.com that an Arizona bill to ban nurses from performing surgical abortions has been defeated in the Arizona Senate.  “The Senate vote Thursday was 14-12, short of 16 votes required for passage by the 30-member senate.” Visit Site » Share This

Arizonans to vote on the Marriage Amendment in November

Posted on June 28, 2008
The Center for Arizona Policy reports that the Amendment passed the Senate and will appear on the November 2008 election ballot. After failing on Wednesday, the Senate passed the Amendment in a second vote by a margin of 16-4.

?Presbyterian leaders OK gay clergy?

Posted on June 28, 2008
The LA Times reports: “Leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) overturned a long-standing ban on the ordination of gays and lesbians Friday, providing yet the latest example of a religious denomination struggling with how, and whether, to incorporate homosexuality into church life ...

Colorado: Religion in private? OK, declares ACLU: New limits on Christians leave family groups reeling

Posted on June 27, 2008
WorldNetDaily carries this report discussing SB200 Colorado’s new anti-discrimination legislation. Colorado Family Action wrote of the plan: “This bill lays groundwork for state-sanctioned abuse of individuals and organizations who have faithfully held religious convictions and refuse to offer or sell goods or services to homosexuals, bisexuals, transgendered, or transsexual individuals because of such beliefs...

Washington Times: ?Protest gives preview of abortion debate?

Posted on June 27, 2008
The Washington Times reports: . . . Calling abortions “womb lynchings” and “black genocide,” a group of 60 black demonstrators marched on the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican parties to voice their outrage over the practice...

Scottland: Government distributes morning-after pills for free

Posted on June 27, 2008
The Christian Institute reports: “The morning-after pill is to be given out free of charge at Scotland?s chemists. Ministers have announced the scheme as teen pregnancy rates reach their highest level since 1998.” Visit Site » Share This

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