Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
9th Circuit Remands RFRA Objection To Giving DNA Sample
San Francisco Archbishop Issues Q&A's On Religion and Politics
Q: Doesn't separation of church and state mean that religion and politics should have nothing to do with each other?Catholic News Service today reports on the Archbishop's statement.A: Religion and politics, church and state, should be independent of each other. However, both politicians and religious leaders rightly - and unavoidably - concern themselves with many of the same issues ... and it is only sensible that they communicate and even collaborate on the answers....
Q: Doesn't the moral perspective of the Catholic bishops on the issues facing voters in 2008 simply deny the reality of today's partisan divide and political choices?
A: Yes, the Catholic Church denies the reality and logic of a political structure in which citizens are forced to choose between protecting unborn children and fighting the horrors of global poverty because there are no viable candidates willing to do both. We deny the reality and logic of a political structure that prevents the emergence of candidates pledged to fighting the evil of euthanasia while seeking comprehensive justice on the issue of immigration.
Boulder City Council Approves Building Of An Eruv
Oklahoma City Employees Sue Over Holiday Display Policy
Reporting on the lawsuit, today's Oklahoman says City Manager Jim Couch sent supervisors a follow-up memo on Tuesday saying that his original directive applies only to holiday decorations in public spaces at city office buildings — not decorations in employees' personal work spaces. Many of the allegations in the lawsuit relate to plaintiffs' desire to maintain religious items in one employee's office, and to a Bible kept in an employee break room.
UPDATE: The Tulsa World reports that on Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy DeGiusti denied a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit, saying that it was not necessary because of the clarifying memo sent out by the City Manager. UPDATE: The opinion denying the TRO is available on LEXIS: Spencer v. City of Oklahoma City, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94675 (WD OK, Dec. 19, 2007).
Teacher's Title VII Religious Discrimination Claim Dismissed
En Banc Review Sought Of 8th Circuit Decision On Faith-Based Prison Program
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Visits By Conservative Christian Leaders To White House Must Be Disclosed
UPDATE: The White House on Thursday asked federal district court Judge Royce C. Lamberth to stay enforcement of his order to release records while his decision is appealed. (AHN)
UPDATE: On Friday, the federal district court granted the White House's motion, allowing the logs to be kept secret until the Court of Appeals rules in the case. (AP)
RLDS Church Wins Preliminary Injunction Protecting Its Trademarked Name
Green Bay's Holiday Display Attempts Create Problems
UPDATE: On Tuesday evening, Green Bay City Council voted to leave Fradette's nativity display up until Dec. 26, to impose a moratorium for now on any other religious displays, and to eventually draw up a set of guidelines for future displays. The Council vote was 6-6 with Mayor Schmitt breaking the tie. Schmitt on Wednesday ordered city maintenance workers to move a Christmas tree and wire reindeer next to the nativity display to secularize the display. He said Liberty Counsel advised him that his Santa Claus-and-reindeer display on City Hall's other main entrance was already sufficient to do that. Meanwhile the Freedom from Religion Foundation is talking with possible plaintiffs in order to file a lawsuit. (Green Bay Gazette, Dec. 20).
Saudi King Pardons Rape Victim Sentenced For Meeting With Man
CLS At University of Montana Sues Over School's Refusal To Grant Recognition
As UN Votes On Death Penalty, Islamic Countries Seen As Block To Abolition
10th Circuit Hears Arguments In Eagle Feather Protection Challenge
Report Claims Kenya Presidential Candidate Promises To Institute Shariah
Monday, December 17, 2007
White House Holiday Card Sparks Differing Comments
Pakistan's Ahmadis Will Boycott Election Claiming Discrimination
Hajj Begins; Freedom To Attend Measured In Several Countries
Florida Seeks Alternative Route To Get Voucher Amendments [Corrected]
German State Official Wants To Ban Burkas In Schools
Recent Articles and Book of Interest
- Larry Cata Backer, God(s) Over Constitutions: International Law, Religious Law and Transnational Constitutionalism in the 21st Century, (Mississippi Law Review, Vol. 26, 2007).
- Monte Kuligowski, Does the Declaration of Independence Pass the Lemon Test?, 2 Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy 287-338 (2007).
- Eve LaPlante, Salem Witch Judge-- The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall, (Harper Collins, Oct. 2, 2007), reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer.