Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Controversial Chaplain Finally Discharged
Mennonnites Leave Missouri Over Drivers' Licence Requirement
Agency Finds Discrimination Against Catholic Priest At NIH
Indonesia Moves Toward Sharia
Thursday, March 01, 2007
San Diego Diocese Files For Bankruptcy Reorganization
City Land Swap Challenged As Unconstitutional
Pressure For Evolution, Creationism In Curriculum Continues
Meanwhile, the Associated Press on Tuesday reported on a fascinating resolution aimed at placing the Tennessee state education commissioner on the spot. State Sen. Raymond Finney has introduced SR 17 in the Tennessee state Senate. The resolution is worth being quoted at length:
Bill sponsor, Sen. Finney, a retired physician, lives some 60 miles from the town of Dayton, TN where the famous 1925 Tennessee Scopes Monkey Trial was held.BE IT RESOLVED ... that the commissioner of the department of education ... is hereby respectfully requested by this body to respond to the following questions:
(1) Is the Universe and all that is within it, including human beings, created through purposeful, intelligent design by a Supreme Being, that is a Creator?
Understand that this question does not ask that the Creator be given a name. To name the Creator is a matter of faith. The question simply asks whether the Universe has been created or has merely happened by random, unplanned, and purposeless occurrences.
Further understand that this question asks that the latest advances in multiple scientific disciplines –such as physics, astronomy, molecular biology, DNA studies, physiology, paleontology, mathematics, and statistics – be considered, rather than relying solely on descriptive and hypothetical suppositions.
If the answer to Question 1 is “Yes,” please answer Question 2:
(2) Since the Universe, including human beings, is created by a Supreme Being (a Creator), why is creationism not taught in Tennessee public schools?If the answer to Question 1 is "This question cannot be proved or disproved," please answer Question 3:
(3) Since it cannot be determined whether the Universe, including human beings, is created by a Supreme Being (a Creator), why is creationism not taught as an alternative concept, explanation, or theory, along with the theory of evolution in Tennessee public schools?
If the answer to Question 1 is "No" please accept the General Assembly’s admiration for being able to decide conclusively a question that has long perplexed and occupied the attention of scientists, philosophers, theologians, educators, and others....
Montana Senate Keeps Child Health Contraceptive Payments Ban
Iran Universities Continue Discrimination Against Baha'is
Worcester City Council Backs Invocations
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Religious Objection-- Among Others-- Raised To Ohio's New Smoking Ban
SCOTUS Hears Arguments Today On Taxpayer Standing To Challenge Faith-Based Inititative
UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times has an account of today's oral arguments in the case.
UPDATE: The full transcript of today's oral arguments in the Hein case is now available online.
UPDATE: Dahlia Lithwick at Slate has a particularly interesting account of the oral argument.