Ban on Sexual Exploitation By Counselor Survives Establishment Clause Challenge

In State of Iowa v. Edouard, (IA Sup. Ct., July 18, 2014), the Iowa Supreme Court upheld a clergyman's constitutional challenge to the state's statute prohibiting sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist (Iowa Code Sec. 709.15).  The Christian pastor involved, Patrick Edouard, was charged with having sexual relations with four women he had counseled.  The majority held that the statute did not unconstitutionally burden Edouard's right to enter into sexual relationships. It also concluded that the statute does not violate the Establishment Clause:

We do not find section 709.15 violates the Establishment Clause as applied to clergy. As the State points out, the statute ... is essentially neutral. It applies to all persons who provide or purport to provide mental health services.

Christian-Themed Park Turns Down State Economic Grant After Church-State Complaints

In Sioux City, Iowa, developers of a Christian-themed park have decided to turn down a $140,000 state economic development grant after objections were raised by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.  AP reported this week that developers of Shepherd's Garden do not want to be in the middle of lawsuits over the park. While the park is to include a stone path with Bible verses, and prayer spaces, the funding from the state organization, Vision Iowa, was not to go to religious elements of the park.  A member of the park's board said that FFRF's objections stimulated enough private donors to pay for the project.