Religion & Law

Bolivian President Says Catholic Church Is Enemy Of His Reforms
After Bolivians last week approved a new Constitution that eliminated special protection for the Catholic Church (see prior posting), Bolivia's President Evo Morales lashed out at the Church in remarks at the World Social Forum in Brazil...

Brazil's President Signs Agreement With Vatican
In the Vatican yesterday, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed an agreement with the Vatican on the juridical status of the Catholic Church in Brazil. CNS reports that the Vatican will not publish the full text of the agreement until it is ratified by Brazil's Parliament...

Catholic Voters Differ on How to Apply Church's Teachings on Abortion & Other Issues
NY Times: Catholic Church Is Riven by Internal Debate, by David D. Kirkpatrick: As the Roman Catholic Church observes its annual ?respect life? Sunday in this heated presidential election season, the unusually pitched competition for Catholic voters is setting off...

Spain's Proposed Abortion Reform Draws Opposition from Catholic Church
RH Reality Check: The Church Battles Reforms in Spain's Abortion Law, by Angela Castellanos: A draft of Spain's reformed abortion bill has ignited the Catholic Church, which called its congregation as well as the Catholic politicians to vote against the...

Croatia lawmaker convicted of war crimes in death of Serbian civilians
[JURIST] Croatian parliament member Branimir Glavas was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for the killing of Serbian civilians during the Croatian war of independence. Glavas stood accused of ordering the torture and death of Croatian Serbs in the town of Osijek in 1991, a charge he denied...

NY: Catholic Church Opposes Gov. Spitzer's Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act
NY Sun: Abortion Battle Brews Between Spitzer, Church, by Jacob Gershman: Tensions are running high between the Spitzer administration and the Catholic Church, which is mounting an unusually aggressive campaign to stop the state from enacting a law that would...

Federal Transportation Equity Act of 2005
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

Roman Catholic Church
Diocese of Antigonish faces class action over abuse by a priest

The Bay Presbyterian Church
$700,000 settlement reached in church split case.

Kansas Catholic Diocese

Catholic Archdiocese
Will Pay $12.6 Million in Sexual Abuse Settlements

Bank Transaction
City Bank president Mike Liner agrees to pay $25,000 fine for assisting in a cash deposit.

Investor Fraud
Company president and director Gregory William Rivers to pay $10,000 shareholder fraud settlement.