Religion & Law

Minn. lawmaker wants to make human cloning a felony

Posted on March 10, 2011
KARE11.com: Cloning humans would become a felony in Minnesota, if a new bill becomes law. In fact, the bill introduced Wednesday night by Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, would make assisting with such a lab procedure a serious crime.

Thousands of union protesters converge on Indiana statehouse

Posted on March 10, 2011
Reuters: "Over 8,000 workers converged on the Indiana statehouse on Thursday to protest proposed legislation they say would weaken unions and public schools."

WI Senate Leader says Obama behind recall efforts

Posted on March 10, 2011
The Cap Times: "If we win this battle, and the money is not there under the auspices of the union, what you're going to find is President Obama's going to have a much more difficult time getting elected and winning the state of Wisconsin."

Illinois Abortion Advocates Oppose Sexual Abuse Reporting Bill

Posted on March 10, 2011
LifeNews: The bill inspired by the pro-life group Americans United for Life would expand the definition of who is a ?mandatory reporter? of suspected sexual abuse to include everyone inside an abortion clinic ? not just the abortion practitioner and nurse.

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Lawmakers: ban on ?gay sex? will stay in Kansas law

Posted on March 10, 2011
KTKA.com: "The ranking Republican and Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee say they intend to leave a law criminalizing gay sex in Kansas law books, even though it is unconstitutional."

?Sexual Orientation? Battle Returns to Human Rights Counci

Posted on March 10, 2011
C-FAM: The EU plans on introducing a joint statement here similar to a 2008 EU-led declaration calling for ?sexual orientation? and ?gender identity? as protected non-discrimination categories that was submitted to the UN General Assembly and signed by 66 countries.

Sex and the ?Study?

Posted on March 10, 2011
New American: "In an era of trillion-dollar budgets and out-sized deficits, the U.S. government continues to finance studies that nobody needs. The latest goofball ?research analysis? hit the news on Thursday, March 3, 2011, telling us that virginity was on the rise (albeit with miniscule numbers)...

ADF: House on firm ground to defend DOMA

Posted on March 10, 2011
House Speaker Boehner announces that U.S. House will initiate legal defense in wake of Dept. of Justice?s refusal to do so

The Government?s About-Face Calls for a DOJ Policy on Friend-of-the-Court Briefs

Posted on March 10, 2011
Washington Legal Foundation: On January 19, 2011, after refusing to consent to the amicus briefs, the same U.S. Attorney?s Office took the unusual step of filing a ?resistance,? arguing that the amicus briefs ?should not be filed.? In the process, the United States urged the adoption of a restrictive standard for the Eighth Circuit?s acceptance of amicus briefs?one that, according to the government, Mr...

White House supports taxpayer money for NPR

Posted on March 09, 2011
Reuters: "The White House says it supports taxpayer funding for NPR, despite the shake-up at the news organization."

Report: Millennials say marriage ideal but parenthood the priority

Posted on March 09, 2011
CNN: Marriage and parenthood aren't necessarily a package deal for for Americans under the age of 30, a new survey finds. Instead, young adults say they put a higher value on raising children than getting married.

Catholic Student Group Wins Legal Battle With University of Wisconsin

Posted on March 09, 2011
The New American: Jordan Lorence, senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which represented the Catholic group, called the High Court?s decision ?a great victory for religious liberty,? explaining the ruling emphasized that the university must treat ?religious groups the same as secular student groups when it?s distributing money for these groups to advocate their ideas on campus...

NC: Bill on charter schools revised

Posted on March 09, 2011
Charlotte Observer: "A rewritten proposal for eliminating the charter school cap would limit how quickly the state could add new schools and would no longer require that traditional schools hand over their booster club money to charters."

UK: Ruling was right on Christian couple banned from fostering because of beliefs on homosexuality, says PM

Posted on March 09, 2011
Daily Mail: David Cameron has stepped into the row over the Christian couple who have been barred from fostering children because of their belief that homosexuality is wrong. He appeared to back the courts by saying Owen and Eunice Johns had been dealt with in an ?appropriate way?, and added that Christians must be ?tolerant and welcoming? towards homosexuality.

Mike Pence: ?It?s time to pick a fight?

Posted on March 09, 2011
Politico: The efforts to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year represent just one ?small battle? in a bigger fight that Republicans need to have, Rep. Mike Pence said Wednesday. ?It?s time to pick a fight,? the former House Republican Conference chairman said Wednesday morning on Fox News

DC: More marriage licenses for same-sex couples than heterosexuals?

Posted on March 09, 2011
Washington Post: "At least as many same-sex couples as heterosexual couples - and possibly more - appear to have applied for marriage licenses since gay marriage was legalized in the city last March."

Navy Sailor Faces Discharge for Falling Asleep With Another Man

Posted on March 09, 2011
ABC: A Navy petty officer facing discharge for falling asleep in bed with another male sailor last month says his ouster is motivated by homophobia, not a legitimate crime, a claim that has some gay rights advocates worried about life after "don't ask don't tell...

CA: Students curious about rules for free speech on campus

Posted on March 09, 2011
Daily Trojan: Students often invoke free speech to justify on-campus demonstrations, but there are no clear-cut guidelines for protection of free speech at USC, Stephen Yamaguchi, university counsel, said at the ?Campus Conversation: Free Speech? panel held Tuesday.

Bioethics Prof.: Online Support for Man Ending Life ?Disturbing?

Posted on March 09, 2011
Christian Post: The mass online support through social media sites Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook for an Oregon man who says he plans to end his life on Tuesday because he has terminal cancer is ?disturbing,? said a Christian bioethics professor.

Conscience bill amendment passes House over objections

Posted on March 09, 2011
MagicValley.com: The ?conscience law? that passed the Legislature last year gave health care professionals the right to opt out of providing any care they object to based on religious, moral or ethical grounds. It created concerns that a comatose patient?s end-of-life wishes, outlined in advance in a living will, could be ignored by health care professionals who cite the new law and refuse to end life support...

Rallies at Indiana capital debate abortion

Posted on March 09, 2011
Courier-Journal: "With Indiana on track to pass some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation, demonstrators on both sides clashed Tuesday outside the Statehouse."

Bill would limit insurance coverage of abortion in Utah

Posted on March 09, 2011
Salt Lake Tribune: "Utah is steps away from banning insurance coverage of elective abortion and joining five other states with similarly restrictive laws. HB354 . . . "

MD: Immigrant?s Health Crisis Leaves Her Family on Sideline

Posted on March 09, 2011
NY Times: "Rachel Nyirahabiyambere, a legal immigrant from Rwanda, has been in a persistent vegetative state since having a major stroke in April . . . But they were helpless to block it when Georgetown University Hospital, frustrated in its efforts to discharge Ms...

Matt Bowman: ACLU Has Major Misunderstanding of Abortion Conscience Law

Posted on March 09, 2011
ADF attorney Matt Bowman writes at LifeNews: "Would it surprise anyone to find out that left-wing extremists believe that religious hospitals must perform abortions? This is what the ACLU has been trying to convince people to believe in its recent press releases...

UT Supreme Court seeks input on federal ruling before deciding pending polygamous church cases

Posted on March 09, 2011
The Republic (AP): "The Utah Supreme Court says a federal court ruling on the state's handling of a communal land trust belonging to Warren Jeffs' polygamous church could affect two pending appeals."

Ark. lawmakers OK bill on Bible as elective course

Posted on March 09, 2011
Arkansas Online: "Arkansas lawmakers have advanced a bill to lay out guidelines for public schools that want to offer elective courses on the Bible."

Oklahoma: Bill to require Senate to confirm judges OK?d

Posted on March 09, 2011
Tulsa World: "The Senate passed a measure Tuesday that would require Senate confirmation of the appointments of judges across the state. Senate Bill 621 by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, passed by a vote of 30-14 and heads to the House."

Maryland House approves marriage redefinition in preliminary vote

Posted on March 09, 2011
"The Maryland House of Delegates has taken a preliminary, voice vote that indicates approval for legislation to allow gay marriage in the state."

How Do Planned Parenthood & NPR Federal Funding Survive in this Environment?

Posted on March 09, 2011
National Review: "Mike Pence?s battle is not just another social-issue skirmish. It?s a test of economic and budgetary seriousness. March 18 and a second continuing resolution are looming. Planned Parenthood must be privatized. Economic and social conservatives agree ? this one is non-negotiable...

NY Gov. Cuomo joins ?gay activists? for marriage strategy meeting

Posted on March 09, 2011
NYMag: "A confidential strategy meeting will be held today between Governor Andrew Cuomo and top gay activists in the state over the topic of marriage equality, the Times reports."

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