Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Pennsylvania Woman Indicted In Conspiracy To Kill Muhammad Cartoonist
UPDATE: AP reports that after the arrests in Ireland, three Swedish newspapers on Wednesday reprinted the Lars Vilks cartoon as part of their coverage of the story.
UPDATE2: The Wall Street Journal reported that on Saturday evening (3/13), Irish authorities released (without filing charges) 4 of the 7 (one man and three women) who they had arrested.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Catholic Church Targets Philippine Health Chief Over Condom Campaign
Dispute Over Fire Department Chaplain's Web Page
Christian Group Presses Pray for a Liberal Campaign
Parents Who Relied on Prayer To Heal Son Sentenced to 16 Months For Negligent Homicide
Muslim-Christian Ethnic Massacre In Nigeria Kills 378 Christians
Monday, March 08, 2010
Supreme Court Grants Cert. In Westboro Baptist Church Funeral Picketing Case
UPDATE: Here is the petition for certiorari and the brief in opposition (thanks to SCOTUS blog).
Speculation Surrounds Mixed-Faith Wedding Ceremony for Chelsea Clinton
School Guidance Director Sues, Claiming Animus From Orthodox Jewish Board Members
Recent Articles and Book of Interest
From SSRN:
- Christian Behrendt, State Norms and Religious Norms: Summary Reflections on Some of their Characteristics (Règles Étatiques Et Règles Religieuses: Brèves Réflexions Sur Certaines De Leurs Caractéristiques), (Revue de la Faculté de droit de l'Université de Liège, pp. 287-294, 2009).
- Nathan B. Oman, Natural Law and the Rhetoric of Empire: Reynolds v. United States, Polygamy, and Imperialism, (William & Mary Law School Research Paper No. 09-43, Feb. 26, 2010).
- Jill I. Goldenziel, Sanctioning Faith: Religion, State, and U.S.-Cuban Relations, (Journal of Law and Politics, Vol. 25, p. 179, 2009).
- Peter J. Smith & Robert W. Tuttle, Biblical Literalism and Constitutional Originalism, (GWU Legal Studies Research Paper, March 1, 2010).
- Gregory K, Acquaviva & John D. Castiglione, Judicial Diversity on State Supreme Courts, (Seton Hall Law Review, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 1203-1261, 2009).
- Gabriel Hallevy, Culture Crimes Against Women, (February 15, 2010).
- Mark Kende, Free Exercise of Religion: A Pragmatic and Comparative Assessment, (University of South Dakota Law Review, Forthcoming).
- Howard M. Wasserman, Iqbal, Procedural Mismatches, and Civil Rights Litigation, (Lewis & Clark Law Review, Vol. 14, p. 157, 2010.
- Tom Tyler, Stephen J. Schulhofer & Azuz Z. Huq, Legitimacy and Deterrence Effects in Counter-Terrorism Policing: A Study of Muslim Americans, (Law and Society Review, Forthcoming).
New Book:
- Douglas Laycock, Religious Liberty, Volume 1: Overviews and History, (Eedrmans, 2010).
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Report Says Scientology Staff Members Are Treated Abusively
They signed a contract for a billion years — in keeping with the church's belief that Scientologists are immortal. They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most.
But after 13 years and growing disillusionment, the Collbrans decided to leave the Sea Org, setting off on a Kafkaesque journey that they said required them to sign false confessions about their personal lives and their work, pay the church thousands of dollars it said they owed for courses and counseling, and accept the consequences as their parents, siblings and friends who are church members cut off all communication with them.
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Witcher v. Maclunny, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17382 (MD PA, Feb. 26, 2010), a Pennsylvania federal district court dismissed a prisoner's complaint regarding the removal of 25 religious books, finding that plaintiff failed to allege how this substantially burdened his ability to observe a central religious belief or practice.
In Brown v. Ray, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17363 (WD VA, Feb. 26, 2010), a Virginia federal magistrate judge dismissed on qualified immunity grounds the damage claim, but not the claim for injunctive relief, brought by a Nation of Islam inmate who alleged that he is being denied his weekly NOI newspaper, The Final Call. It also dismissed certain other related claims for failure to exhaust administrative remedies, but permitted others to proceed.
In Banks v. Dougherty, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17443 (ND IL, Feb. 26, 2010), an Illinois federal district court dismissed on mootness and sovereign immunity grounds claims by Muslims confined in a state mental health facility that the facility did not offer Friday Jumu'ah services.
In Butts v. Riley, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17517 (WD MI, Feb. 26, 2010), a Michigan federal district court upheld a prison's refusal, for lack of sincere religious belief, to furnish plaintiff a kosher diet.
In Chappell v. Helder, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18056 (WD AK, March 1, 2010), an Arkansas federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125391, Dec. 14, 2009), and ordered the Washington County Detention Center to revise its policies on religious presentations and use of reading materials during lockout periods. It also awarded nominal damages. Plaintiff complained that he was forced to overhear religious presentations being given in the day room during lockout periods and that the only religious reading material inmates were allowed to have during lockout was the Bible.
In Hundal v. Salazar, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18837 (CD CA, March 3, 2010), a California federal district court adopted a federal magistrate's recommendations (2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125479, Dec. 16, 2009) and held that a Sikh prisoner can file an amended complaint against certain defendants alleging RLUIPA violations in refusing to permit him to wear a beard. However it dismissed his Free Exercise and Equal Protection claims and his RLUIPA claim against one defendant.
In LaRue v. Matheney , (SD WV, March 4, 2010), a West Virginia federal district court rejected a free exercise claim by a prisoner who had agreed to participate in the institution's treatment program. Plaintiff signed an Individual Therapy Contract obligating him to participate in treatment sessions and to refrain from certain conduct relating to children and to sexual matters. He now claims that his inability to keep pornography in his cell violates his beliefs as a member of the Christian Prurient Faith, a ministry which he founded. The court held that the burden with which he challenges was imposed on him because of a valid contract which he voluntarily entered.
In Peterman v. Berry, (ED WI, Feb. 26, 2010), a Wisconsin federal district court rejected complaints from a Muslim inmate that he was not provided a Halal diet, he was not allowed to order various religious items, there was no Muslim group worship, and he was required to purchase a Q'uran while Bibles were given out for free. The court found that the jail attempted to accommodate plaintiff's requests and that any failure to do so was not the result of any official policy or custom of the jail.
Hasidic Charity Can Claim Return of Seized Funds Only In Criminal Case
Virginia's AG Says State Colleges Cannot Ban LGBT Discrimination
the law and public policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia prohibit a college or university from including "sexual orientation," "gender identity," "gender expression," or like classification, as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy, absent specific authorization from the General Assembly.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Taxpayer Lacks Standing To Challenge Church's Use of School; Parent May Have Standing
UPDATE: In Henley v. Cleveland Board of Education, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21876 (March 10, 2010), the court denied a motion for reconsideration.
9th Circuit Says Christians In Indonesia Face Likely Persecution, Torture
Friday, March 05, 2010
Qualified Immunity Applies To RFRA Claim Growing Out of Drug Search
Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Barring Noise Prosecutions Against Church Bells
The Court finds, for the purposes of preliminary injunction analysis, that the NoiseAlliance Defense Fund issued a release announcing the decision.
Ordinance is neither precise enough nor clear enough to be considered narrowly tailored. The Noise Ordinance does not contain an objective standard, such as a decibel level, under which loud, disturbing, and unnecessary sounds are targeted to the exclusion of sounds that are not loud, disturbing, and unnecessary. Also, the exemptions from the Noise Ordinance are a scattershot list, providing an exception for government vehicles, noncommercial public addresses, ice cream trucks (or other uses of hand-held devices playing "pleasing melodies"),and nighttime street work, but not considering any other types of sound to be exempt from coverage. The government's interest in preventing the disturbance of its citizens by noise could be achieved by other, less restrictive means.
Religious Questionnaire To City Candidates Draws Criticism
4th Circuit Upholds Church's Discrimination and RLUIPA Claims
the evidence presented at trial of the County's anti-church animus was very strong. The evidence thus supports the jury’s conclusion that (1) the County intentionally discriminated against Reaching Hearts on a prohibited ground, and (2) the County imposed or implemented a land use regulation in a manner that imposed a substantial burden on Reaching Heart’s religious exercise, without satisfying the standard of strict scrutiny.Yesterday's Washington Post reports on the decision.
State Employees Say Boss Judged Them On the Quality of Their Religious Faith
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Anti-Evolutionists Tying Curriculum Efforts To Global Warming Skepticism
Church Lacks Standing To Sue Over Investigation of Its Loud Music
Plaintiffs have not articulated any concrete or particularized injury. FBC continues to hold services with the music of its choosing. There is no allegation that the nature of FBC's religious services changed in any way in response to the investigation of the noise complaints. There is no specific allegation that any right to free association has been impinged or that any church members were deterred from worshiping.... There is no allegation that FBC was ordered to stop their music or that anyone was ticketed, charged, or fined. In fact, Waterford's disturbing the peace ordinance, which they challenge as vague and overbroad, was not enforced against them. Further, the evidence suggests that Waterford does not have a present intention to enforce the ordinance against them....
Although the complaint alleges that the actions of the prosecutor and police have caused a "chilling effect" -- such bare allegations are insufficient to confer standing.
Texas Republicans Support Religious Reference At Public Gatherings and On Government Buildings
The use of the word "God", prayers, and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as be permitted on government buildings and property.The advisory measure passed by an overwhelming 95.14% majority, with 11.1% of the state's registered voters participating. (Official results.) Apparently this same measure will appear on the November general election ballot. (San Marcos Daily Record). Yesterday American Atheists issued a press release warning that if this proposal is formally adopted in the state, "it will prove to be unconstitutional and expensive for state taxpayers."
Key Christian Conservative Defeated In Texas Board of Education Primary
Public Housing Authority Says No More On-Site Church Services
UPDATE: The Dallas News reports that on Thursday, the Dallas Housing Authority reversed its decision. Religious services at Audelia Manor will resume on Sunday.
Bristish Airport Refuses Boarding To Muslim Women Who Rejected Body Scan
Suit Challenges State Civil Rights Agency Jurisdiction Over Small Religiously-Motivated Group
Cert. Denied In Establishment Challenge To Religious Displays In Postal Unit
Evangelical Group Wins Compromise In Settlement of Suit Over Tax Exemption
In the settlement in Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. v. Tarrant Appraisal District, Tex. Dist. Ct., No. 342-235701-09, agreed judgment entered 2/16/10, the county agreed to have KCM's employment records reviewed by a CPA who specializes in religious organizations. The county accepted as sufficient a report from the CPA that KCM's employee compesation was reasonable, without the underlying data going to the government.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
European Court Grand Chamber Will Review Its Decision Banning Crucifixes In Italian Classrooms
High School Teacher Suspended Over Banning Wiccan Altar In Shop Class
D.C. Catholic Charities Ends New Spousal Benefits To Avoid Recognizing Same-Sex Partners
Chief Justice Refuses To Stay Effectiveness of D.C. Same-Sex Marriage Law
Plaintiffs Have Standing To Challenge Day of Prayer, But Not Prayer Proclamations
Although the answer is not free from doubt, I conclude that, under the unique circumstances of this case, plaintiffs have standing to challenge the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer statute. The primary injury plaintiffs allege is the feeling of unwelcomeness and exclusion they experience as nonreligious persons because of what they view as a message from the government that it favors Americans who pray. That injury is intangible, but it is no less concrete than the injuries in the many cases in which courts have recognized the standing of persons subjected to unwelcome religious speech. The only difference between those cases and this one is that plaintiffs have not come into physical or visual contact with a religious display. However, that difference has little significance in a case like this one involving a national message intended to reach all Americans.Alliance Defense Fund issued a release on the decision.
... With respect to plaintiffs' challenge to "prayer proclamations" issued by the President (other than one required by § 119), none of the plaintiffs has read or heard such a proclamation except when they expressly sought one out. Such a self-inflicted "injury" cannot establish standing. With respect to defendant Dobson, plaintiffs have failed completely to show that any of her actions has injured them.
Tennessee School District Settles Suit Challenging Religious Practices In Schools
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
British Sikhs Challenge 2011 Census Form
Church Zoning Decision Remanded for Further Findings
Ohio Supreme Court Will Decide If Church Can Sponsor Charter School
Teacher Wins Right To Display Classroom Banners With Religious References
The court concluded that the school had created a limited public forum for teachers to express their views on their classroom walls, and that officials had engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination in squelching Johnson's speech. Establishment Clause concerns were unjustified since, according to the court, there is no realistic danger that an observer would think the school district was endorsing a particular religion. Moreover, the court concluded that by permitting Buddhist, Hindu, and anti-religious speech by some teachers while silencing the Judeo-Christian speech of Johnson, the school violates the Establishment Clause, the Equal Protection Clause and the "no preference" clause of the California Constitution. The court ordered school officials to immediately permit Johnson to redisplay the two banners at issue, and also awarded Johnson nominal damages. AP yesterday reported on the decision, and the Thomas More Law Center that represented Johnson issued a release on the decision, including photos of the disputed banners. (See prior related posting.)
Settlement Reached In Texas Prayer Garden Challenge
Cert. Denied In Property Dispute Involving Break Away Episcopal Parish
Private Rabbinic Court In Israel Is At Center of a Controversy
Rabbi Zvi Bialostosky, a building contractor, his son Chaim and the son's partner, Eliezer Friedman, were involved in a lengthy dispute with people who bought an apartment from them in Bnei Brak. The case was heard by Badatz Bnei Brak, until at a certain point Bialostosky and the other plaintiffs sued the dayanim in Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court.... Late last year, the contractors filed no fewer than 11 requests for various legal proceedings against the religious judges, in the process crossing a Haredi red line by taking their case to the state secular court system and, worse, suing dayanim. The result was an offensive of unprecedented ferocity by the Haredi leadership against two private individuals.
A letter signed by ... spiritual leaders of the Haredi world asserts that Bialostosky and Friedman "lifted a hand against God and His Torah" and are liable to cause "the destruction of the religion."
The contractors requested and were granted a restraining order against threats and harassment, after complaining to the civil court that the Badatz rulings constituted "harassment" and "libel." The dayanim retorted that such allegations were groundless and added that Bialostosky is "a quarrelsome individual who is involved in numberless disputes and litigations."
Monday, March 01, 2010
Supreme Court Denies Cert. In Oklahoma 10 Commandments Case
Indian Court Strikes Down Longer Divorce Waiting Period for Christians
Obama's New Envoy To OIC Profiled
Recent Articles and Books of Interest
From SSRN:
- Luc B. Tremblay, The Bouchard-Taylor Report on Cultural and Religious Accommodation: Multiculturalism by Any Other Name?,(EUI Working Papers LAW No. 2009/18, Dec. 1, 2009).
- Juliet P. Stumpf, Juliet P., The Implausible Alien: IQBAL and the Influence of Immigration Law, (Lewis & Clark Law Review, Vol. 14, No. 231, 2010).
- Cosmin Dariescu, Jurisdiction Over Marriage in the Romanian Principalities: From the Ecclesiastical Court to the Secular Tribunal, (Turning Points and Breaklines: Yearbook of Young Legal History 4, Szabolcs Hornyak, et. al., eds., pp.180-192, Martin Meidenbauer, Munchen, 2009).
- Gregor Noll, Sacrificial Violence and Targeting in International Humanitarian Law, (February 24, 2010).
- Perry Dane, Constitutional Law and Religion, (Blackwell Companion to Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory, Dennis Patterson, ed., Blackwell, 2010).
- Frederick C. DeCoste, Caesar's Faith: Limited Government and Freedom of Religion in Bruker v. Marcovitz, (Dalhousie Law Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 153-176, 2009).
- Dimitry Kochenov, On Options of Citizens and Moral Choices of States: Gays and European Federalism, (Fordham International Law Journal, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2009).
- Heather Kennedy, Pleasant Grove v. Summum: Is Ten Truly Greater than Seven? An Examination of the Government Speech Doctrine Regarding Privately Donated Monuments Displayed on Public Land, (February 23, 2010).
From SmartCILP and elsewhere:
- J. Scott Carpenter, Matthew Levitt & Michael Jacobson, Confronting the Ideology of Radical Extremism, 3 Journal of National Security Law & Policy 301-327 (2009).
- H. Lyssette Chavez & Monica K. Miller, Religious References in Death Sentence Phases of Trials: Two Psychological Theories That Suggest Judicial Rulings and Assumptions May Affect Jurors, 13 Lewis & Clark Law Review 1037-1083 (2009).
- Michael Hatfield, The Anabaptist Conscience and Religious Exemption to Jury Service, 65 N.Y.U. Annual Survey of American Law 269-322 (2009).
- Debra A. Jones, The Role of Spirituality in the Mediation Process, [Abstract], 27 Conflict Resolution Quarterly 145-165 (2009).
- Journal of Church and State, Vol. 51, No. 3 (Summer 2009) has recently been issued.
- The March 2010 issue of American United's Church & State has recently appeared online.
Recent Books:
- Dan Diner, Lost in the Sacred: Why the Muslim World Stood Still, (Princeton Univ. Press , Nov. 2009), reviewed in The Muslim News.
- Frank Lambert, Religion in American Politics: A Short History, (Princeton Univ. Press, Feb. 2010).
- Ian Buruma, Taming the Gods: Religion and Democracy on Three Continents, (Princeton Univ. Press, Feb. 2010).
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Op-Ed Presses For Continued US Foreign Aid Through Religious Groups
Some Americans assume that religious groups offer aid to entice converts. That's incorrect. Today, groups like World Vision ban the use of aid to lure anyone into a religious conversation.
Some liberals are pushing to end the longtime practice (it's a myth that this started with President George W. Bush) of channeling American aid through faith-based organizations. That change would be a catastrophe. In Haiti, more than half of food distributions go through religious groups like World Vision that have indispensable networks on the ground. We mustn't make Haitians the casualties in our cultural wars.
DC Catholic Archdiocese Says It Will Be In Compliance When Same-Sex Marriage Takes Effect
Mennonites Have Problems With Road Protection Law In Iowa County
Anti-Semitism Showing Reductions In Poland
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Abdul-Aziz v. Ricci, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14657 (D NJ, Feb. 19, 2010), a New Jersey federal district court allowed an inmate to proceed with claims relating to use of prayer oils and availability of Halal meals.
In Walker v. Dart, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14638 (ND IL, Feb. 19, 2010), an Illinois federal district court refused to dismiss an pre-trial detainee's complaint that religious services were denied for nearly nine months in one part of the Cook County Jail.
In Wappler v. Kleinsmith, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15322 (WD MI, Feb. 22, 2010), a Michigan federal district court allowed a now-released inmate to proceed only against certain of the defendants in their individual capacities on his claims that he was denied kosher meals, religious materials and the opportunity to participate in group religious services and that officials made membership in the Alliance for Jewish Renewal (ALEPH) a condition of his ability to practice Judaism, participate in Seder and Passover services.
In Shoucair v. Snacker, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15551 (ED MI, Feb. 23, 2010), a Michigan federal district court adopted the magistrate's recommendations (2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15634, Feb. 3, 2010) and dismissed claims by an inmate including an allegation that a correction officer assaulted him, motivated by prejudice against Islamic Caucasians.
In Roberson v. South Carolina Department of Corrections, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16421 (D SC, Feb. 24, 2010), a South Carolina federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations
(2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16370, Jan. 27, 2010) finding that an inmate failed to show how an alleged denial of "any Kairos sponsored religious feast [and/or] bread festival celebration" prevented him from practicing his religion, and did not claim that Kairos food or celebrations are part of any religious ritual or faith to which he subscribed.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
No Compromise Found For Hutterite Drivers' Licenses
Controversy In Trinidad Over Aid To Prime Minister's Church
Friday, February 26, 2010
Complaint Filed With EEOC Over Conflict Between Hijab and Abercrombie's Employee "Look Policy"
Suit Charges Car Dealership With Employment Discrimination Against Sikh
New Policy on Comments on Religion Clause Blog
Suit On Religious Use of Cannabis Dismissed On Ripeness Grounds
Malaysian Professor Discusses Controversy Over Christians Using "Allah" For God
I have been pushing for the setting up of a National Consultative Council for Religious Harmony, as an official body or mechanism to promote dialogue between the different religious communities in Malaysia. Such a council can deal with issues like this ongoing controversy.... Lamentably, the muftis of the different states in Malaysia have consistently opposed the setting up such a council, on the specious grounds that it would mean Islam being treated at par with the other religions although Islam is the religion of the Malaysian Constitution.
Court Says School Can Insist Valedictorian Remove Religious References From Talk
White House Official To Meet With Secular Coalition Members
Court Finds No Meeting of the Minds on "Mahr"
A valid contract requires a meeting of the minds on the essential terms.... Mr. Qayoum was not told that he would be required to participate in a ceremony that would include the signing of a mahr until 15 minutes before he signed the mahr. Here Mr. Qayoum was unaware of the terms of the agreement until they were explained to him by an uncle after the mahr had been signed. The negotiations preceding the execution of the agreement were conducted in Farsi. Also, the document was written in Farsi which Mr. Qayoum does not read, write, or speak.... Because Mr. Qayoum could not speak, write, or read Farsi, there was no meeting of the minds as to the terms of the mahr agreement. In addition, the court indicated that the agreement was influenced by duress.[Thanks to Volokh Conspiracy for the lead.]
Finnish Court Imposes Damages on Parents for Son's Circumcision Without Anesthetic
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Maryland AG Says Same-Sex Marriages From Other States May Be Recognized
While the matter is not free from all doubt, in our view, the Court is likely to respect the law of other states and recognize a same-sex marriage contracted validly in another jurisdiction. In light of Maryland's developing public policy concerning intimate same sex relationships, the Court would not readily invoke the public policy exception to the usual rule of recognition.Three Catholic Archbishops of Maryland issued a joint statement (full text) criticizing the ruling. Today's Baltimore Sun reports on developments.
Brazil's Catholic Church Sues Columbia Pictures Over Use of Statue In Film
Murder Trial of Cult Members Under Way In Baltimore
Tony Perkins' Invitation To Speak At Military Prayer Luncheon Rescinded Over Stand on Gays
I am very concerned ... that this merely foreshadows the serious threat to religious liberty that would result from repeal of the current military eligibility law. Such legislation would not merely open the military to homosexuals. It would result in a zero-tolerance policy toward those who disapprove of homosexual conduct. Military chaplains would bear the heaviest burden. Would their sermons be censored to prevent them from preaching on biblical passages which describe homosexual conduct as a sin? Would they remain free to counsel soldiers troubled by same-sex attractions about the spiritual and psychological resources available to overcome those attractions?
Negligent Supervision Claims Against Archdiocese Dismissed on 1st Amendment Grounds
adjudicating the reasonableness of a church's supervision of a cleric—what the church 'should know'—requires inquiry into religious doctrine. . . . [T]his would create an excessive entanglement, inhibit religion, and result in the endorsement of one model of supervision.The court of appeals held that different 1st Amendment interpretations by federal district and appellate courts and courts in other states do not take precedence.
Florida Federal Court Rejects Jurisdiction In Church Homeless Shelter Challenge
Employee Loses Sabbath Accommodation Claim
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Church Classification for Capitol Hill Townhouse Questioned
Apparently there is a close relationship between the Center and the Fellowship Foundation that sponsors the National Prayer Breakfast. J. Robert Hunter, a member of the Fellowship, said that "there are religious services all the time" at the C Street Center. He added it is also "a safe place where politicians who are tempted by lust would hold each other accountable." The Center has received notoriety because at least four politicians involved in extra-marital affairs have lived at or used the Center-- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Nevada Senator John Ensign, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, and Mississippi Representative Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, Jr. Last year D.C. tax authorities classified the Center as 66% taxable. [Thanks to Scott Mange and Wall of Separation for the leads.]