On November 11, 2006 was reported of 6 new victories at 6 New First Amendment and Religious Freedom Victories!!! "First Amendment related victories since 06/08 and we are now at 31 and there are many more coming.." Well here are 4 more and some other cases and more to come. So now we are at 35. Also, on November 11, 2006 was this post Exactly 388 years ago to date the Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact.. Have we come this far to regress 400 years of religious liberty? Also, see American Remembrance for more on the history of American religious liberties that gave the foundation for civil liberties!!!!
But first let's go international
India
India: Reports of rewards to kill Christians-"Hindu militants in India are offering rewards of money, food and liquor to mobs to kill Christians and destroy their homes, according to partners of human rights organisation, Release International.
"People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties," a spokesman for the All India Christian Council (AICC) told Release International."-Also, see Religious freedom issues in Iraq, India and Pakistan. and Faith and Foreign Policy.
Iraq
Al Qaeda-linked group orders Iraqi Christians to leave country or have throats slit-"A Christian bishop in Iraq has received a threatening letter from an Islamic extremist group belonging to Al Qaeda which orders Christians to leave the country “immediately and permanently.”
The text of the letter, reportedly written by the Islamic extremist group Ansar al-Islam, was published in Arabic on the website of Al-Ittihad, an online daily news service, SIR reports.
The letter reads:
“The Secretary General of the members of the Islamic Brigade decided to give the Christian crusader infidels of Baghdad and the other provinces the last warning, to leave Iraq immediately and permanently and join Benedict XVI and his followers, who have trampled on the greatest symbols of humanity and Islam.”
“There’ll be no room in Iraq for the Christian infidels from now on,” the letter continues, threatening that those who remain will have their throats slit as “it is happening to the Christians of Mosul.” This is more than likely a reference to a recent attack on two sisters who were killed by Muslim extremists.
Iraqi Christians have faced severe persecutions in recent years, with some being forced to pay the “jizya” or protection money and some women being made to wear a headscarf, which is known as the hijab. The Christian community has also suffered forced conversion to Islam, rapes, murders and the destruction of homes."-See Religious freedom issues in Iraq, India and Pakistan. and Faith and Foreign Policy.
UK
See Religious rights trump gay rights vs Gay rights should not be used to harass people of Religious beliefs? ("A Christian registrar from Islington who was bullied and threatened with the sack because of her religious beliefs on same sex unions has succeeded in her claims of unlawful discrimination by the council. In its unanimous judgment") and What do these three black women have in common and what does Obama have to do with it? (by the way the gentlemen in the below article is black also) and Again it's not about sex but rather who is teaching for doctrines the commandments of men? (scroll down to Marcia Walden) and Roseanne Barr: Blacks who supported Prop 8 are 'bigots'... and a possible solution to the problem has been brewing in the UK at UK: House of Lords recognizes dangers of hate laws to free speech and religious liberty and What can our presidential/senate candidates and voters learn from NPR, The Christian Institute, BBC and the UK when it comes to "Hate Crimes"?
Christian therapist sacked over beliefs-"A Christian relationship counsellor says he was sacked because his beliefs prevented him from giving sex therapy to homosexual couples.
Gary McFarlane, a 47-year-old father from Bristol, claims that the counselling service he had worked for since 2003 dismissed him after he said that as a Christian he could not do anything that would encourage homosexual sex.
As a relationship counsellor, Mr McFarlane once helped a lesbian couple because he felt this did not involve “telling anyone what to do or endorsing what they do”.
However, after training as a psychosexual therapist, he felt that he could not treat homosexual couples in this new capacity because it would involve encouraging gay sex.
He wanted the counselling service, Relate Avon, to allow him to avoid these cases.
However, after being accused of ‘homophobia’, he was suspended by his manager last December and later dismissed...Mr McFarlane, who is also a solicitor, is now taking the case to an employment tribunal. He says he was unfairly dismissed on the grounds of religious discrimination....He says he is “sad and disappointed” at the “bigotry” he encountered at Relate.
“If I was a Muslim this would not happen,” he said. “They would find a way to make the system work.
“But Christians seem to have fewer and fewer rights.
“Relate needs to be forced to work through stuff like this.”
The Christian Legal Centre is supporting Mr McFarlane."
France
"Homophobic" Speech Ruling Overturned in France-"A judgment against a French parliamentarian for "homophobic" hate speech was overturned by the nation's Court of Appeals last week.
Deputy Christian Vanneste was convicted in 2006 of "homophobic" speech after stating in 2004 that "homosexuality is inferior to heterosexuality. If it were universalized it would be dangerous for humanity." He also called the behavior of homosexuals "bigoted."The French Court of Appeals overturned the lower court ruling, remarking that "if the disputed remarks were able to hurt the feelings of certain homosexual people, their contents do not go beyond the limits of freedom of expression."
The negation of the lower court's $4,000 fine for Vanneste's remarks was denounced by homosexualist organizations across the country."
Canada
University of Calgary Once Again Attempting to Censor Campus Pro-Life Club-""driving onto campus is like crossing the border from a democratic country where we have free speech to a dictatorship which suppresses speech."...The U of C is again attempting to censor student members of the campus pro-life club by threatening them with arrest and sanctions for non-academic misconduct (including the possibility of suspension and expulsion) if they do not comply with an order to turn Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) displays inward. GAP is a graphic exhibit which includes photographs of unborn babies who have been aborted...."Can you imagine them making this demand (turning the displays inwards) of animal rights activists or those who protest the genocide in Darfur?" Gray asked."
Arizona
Court orders approval of Ariz. ‘Choose Life’ license plates-"In September 2003, ADF attorneys filed suit jointly with the Center for Arizona Policy on behalf of the coalition. In January 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled in Arizona Life Coalition v. Stanton that the commission had violated Life Coalition’s First Amendment right to free speech when the commission denied the request to create the license plate. The commission appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the high court declined to hear the case (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4702).
According to the judgment issued Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt, “Defendants shall hold a formal meeting in their official capacity as the Arizona License Plate Commission no later than January 23, 2009. At that meeting, Defendants shall approve Plaintiffs’ application of September 27, 2002, for a specialty license plate….”
The full text of the judgment issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in Arizona Life Coalition v. Stanton is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ALCjudgment."
Utah
Massive support for roadside crossesdedicated to fallen Utah troopers-"Numerous organizations and public officials filed friend-of-the-court briefs Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to defend the constitutionality of roadside memorials for fallen Utah troopers. Alliance Defense Fund attorneys and allied attorneys, who filed their opening appellate brief Oct. 15, represent the Utah Highway Patrol Association against American Atheists, which sued the state to remove the roadside crosses that commemorate the officers.
“It’s ridiculous that a small group of offended atheists would seek to stop the families of slain troopers from honoring their loved ones as they fit,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Byron Babione. “Stamping out these symbols of sacrifice is the first step to forgetting the people who daily risk their lives to keep America safe. The groups and officials filing briefs in support of the memorials underscore the importance of this case.” One of the friend-of-the-court briefs was filed by Robert Mackey, who organized a 1995 effort to erect 14 crosses to commemorate the death of his son and other firefighters who died while fighting a Colorado fire in 1994. The American Legion; the Utah Sheriffs’ Association; Utah legislators together with the city of Santa Fe, N.M.; the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty together with the states of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma; and the Foundation for Moral Law also filed friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the memorials.
American Atheists filed suit against the Utah Highway Patrol and Utah Transportation Department in 2005. In 2006, the court allowed the Utah Highway Patrol Association to intervene in the case to defend the memorials. UHPA is represented by ADF attorneys, ADF-allied attorney Frank Mylar, and the National Legal Foundation (http://www.nlf.net/).
In 2007, a federal district court judge ruled against American Atheists, finding no state or federal constitutional violation. The judge noted that no public money or property was used to support the memorial cross program (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4307). American Atheists appealed the decision to the 10th Circuit.
A copy of the appellate brief filed by UHPA with the 10th Circuit in American Atheists v. Duncan is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/UHPAbrief.pdf. The amicus briefs filed by other organizations are available at the following links:
· Robert Mackey (Perkins Coie): www.telladf.org/UserDocs/MackeyAmicus.pdf
· American Legion (Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe): www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ALamicus.pdf
· Utah Sheriffs’ Association (Pacific Justice Institute): www.telladf.org/UserDocs/USAamicus.pdf
· Utah legislators and city of Santa Fe (Baker Botts): www.telladf.org/UserDocs/UtahSFamicus.pdf
· Colo., Kan., N.M., Okla., and Becket Fund: www.telladf.org/UserDocs/CKNOamicus.pdf
· Foundation for Moral Law: www.telladf.org/UserDocs/FMLamicus.pdf"
New Mexico
Las Cruces Lawsuit Ends-"Last Friday, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request for reconsideration of its decision in Weinbaum v. City of Las Cruces, according to today's Las Cruces Sun-News. The decision handed down last month found no Establishment Clause problem with Las Cruces, New Mexico's using three Latin crosses as a symbol of the city and as part of the logo for the school district. (See prior posting.) Plaintiffs Paul Weinbaum and Martin Boyd say they will not seek further review from the U.S. Supreme Court, citing the costs of an appeal and the current philosophy of the Supreme Court."
Colorado
Jury Finds For Boulder Colorado Church In RLUIPA Case-"The Longmont (CO) Times Call reported yesterday that a federal court jury has rendered its decision in Rocky Mountain Christian Church v. Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County, Colorado. (See prior posting.) The case involves a challenge to the denial of a church's application for a special use permit so it can expand its facilities. The jury rejected the church's equal protection claims, but found that the Boulder County Commissioners violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act by not treating the church equally with non-religious institutions and by placing a substantial burden on its exercise of religion. The jury did not award damages that the church sought to cover construction cost increases."
California
Pro-Life Activists Arrested at College of Alameda-"From the time of their arrival on campus the group quietly held signs, distributed literature and peacefully dialogued with students. After a security guard attempted to dispel a group of curious onlookers, the group was told to leave and threatened with arrest by the sheriff's department. When the members of Campus Life Tour refused to stop their free speech activity and leave the public school property, the three activists handing out literature to students were handcuffed and arrested. They were charged with causing a disturbance, although the police professed on videotape that the group was not yelling, shouting, blocking the walkways, or preventing students from getting to class."...When the individuals being arrested repeatedly asked why they were being taken into custody the sheriff's deputy responded that he was just doing what the school principal asked...Campus Life Tour is a pro-life campus outreach project of Survivors, description of organization here (http://www.survivors.la/)"
West Virginia
James Madison Center: Court Sides with West Virginians for Life-"A federal district court in West Virginia has sided with a West Virginia-based organization in many of its challenges to West Virginia election law.
The ruling will allow West Virginians for Life, Inc., to engage in political speech without fear of violating West Virginia law... “This decision affirms First Amendment principles and an organization’s right to engage in political speech,” said James Bopp, Jr., lead counsel for the WVFL plaintiffs. “This is a victory for the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, over impermissible regulation of speech.”
The action is West Virginians for Life, Inc. v. Ireland, Civil Action No. 1:08-cv-01133, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, and is consolidated with Center for Individual Freedom, Inc. v. Ireland, Civil Action No. 1:08-cv-00190. The complaint, preliminary-injunction brief, and preliminary-injunction orders are available at http://www.jamesmadisoncenter.org/."
Pennsylvania
ADF: Pro-life counselors arrested and threatened with arrest for sharing message-"Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney Randall L. Wenger and ADF Senior Legal Counsel Douglas H. Napier will be available for media interviews following oral arguments Thursday in Holman v. City of York, Snell v. City of York, and McTernan v. City of York at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Wenger and ADF attorneys filed three separate lawsuits against the city of York on behalf of three pro-life counselors arrested or threatened with arrest for exercising their First Amendment rights....In December 2005, while peacefully sharing his pro-life message in a public area, John Holman was arrested for trespassing when he momentarily stepped onto Planned Parenthood’s parking lot to avoid being struck by a large truck pulling into a public alley. Edward Snell was arrested in November 2004 when he attempted to hand out literature and speak with people walking to the clinic in the same alley. In September 2005, a police officer told John McTernan that continuing to hold a pro-life sign in the alley would result in his arrest, thus interfering with McTernan’s First Amendment rights.
Wenger and ADF attorneys appealed all three cases to the 3rd Circuit after a district court ruled in favor of the city of York and the police officers in October 2007.
“The city cannot violate the First Amendment rights of these men just because Planned Parenthood doesn’t want their criticism,” said Napier. “In America, you simply can’t do that.”
A fact sheet on the lawsuits is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/HolmanSnellMcTernanFactSheet.pdf."
Missouri
Missouri State University Students Vandalize Campus Pro-Life Cross Display-"Student vandals at Missouri State University wrecked a pro-life cross memorial on the school’s Blair-Shannon Lawn on Wednesday, October 1. Some students cheered from a nearby sidewalk as others deliberately stepped on the crosses and one student rode his bike through the display.
Bears for Life (BFL), a student group that received assistance from the Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia, hosted the Graveyard of Innocents, a memorial of nearly 4,000 popsicle-stick crosses to represent the number of unborn babies killed by abortion each day.
One BFL volunteer who witnessed the incident captured some of the vandalism on video.
Phillip Gleeson, president of Bears for Life commented, “I was shocked by the immaturity and lack of respect displayed by some members of the pro-choice community at Missouri State University.”
Missouri: Two state senators set roadblock to keep pro-life group from offering license plates-"Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster will be available for media interviews following oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in a lawsuit over Missouri’s “Choose Life” license plates.
“Pro-life organizations shouldn’t be discriminated against for their beliefs,” said Oster. “Rejecting Choose Life’s participation in the specialty license plate program just because government officials in high places object to the message is simply unconstitutional.”...Earlier this year, a federal court ruled in favor of Choose Life, determining that the state’s statute outlining the approval process for specialty plates was unconstitutional (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4366). The state appealed the ruling to the 8th Circuit, which refused to stay the district court’s decision while the case is on appeal.
The plate in dispute can be viewed at http://www.chooselifemissouri.org/. All proceeds from the plate go to adoption centers and battered women shelters throughout Missouri.
A fact sheet on the lawsuit Roach v. Davis is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/RoachFactSheet.pdf."
Maryland
Police prevent more Md. pro-lifers from sharing message, ADF sues-"Alliance Defense Fund attorneys and allied attorneys filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city of Westminster on behalf of pro-life organization Defend Life. Police insisted that participants in Defend Life’s “Face the Truth” 2008 tour needed permits to peacefully share their pro-life message along a public street...“Pro-lifers shouldn’t be denied their free speech rights simply because some people don’t approve of their message. That’s a textbook violation of the First Amendment,” said ADF-allied attorney Owen M. Taylor, who is assisting with the case....A copy of the complaint filed in the lawsuit Walsh v. City of Westminster is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/WalshComplaint.pdf.
On Sept. 3, ADF attorneys filed a separate lawsuit on behalf of three young women who were arrested, jailed, shackled, and strip-searched after demonstrating on the last day of the Defend Life 2008 tour. A federal judge approved an agreement on Oct. 10 that prohibits enforcement of a permit requirement involved in that case while the court considers its constitutionality (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4708)."
North Carolina
ADF: City of Charlotte refuses “festival permit” for event on Roe v. Wade anniversary because of celebration’s religious content-"Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney Frederick Nelson will be available for media interviews following his oral arguments in federal court Monday in Benham v. City of Charlotte. After Rev. Philip Benham was denied a “festival permit” for a Roe v. Wade anniversary event, Nelson filed suit on Benham’s behalf against the city, which declared the event a “demonstration” instead of a “festival” because it included praise, worship, and preaching of the Gospel....Nelson alleges the city’s determination–that the religious and pro-life nature of the celebration constituted a demonstration and not a festival–is purely subjective and a violation of Benham’s First Amendment rights. His oral arguments Monday will ask the court to dismiss the city of Charlotte’s motion for summary judgment filed on July 31.
A copy of the memorandum in opposition to the city’s motion for summary judgment is available at https://mail.alliancedefensefund.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=5fedd46c7ec645b2917b445a28c26337&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.telladf.org%2fUserDocs%2fBenhamOppMemo.pdf.
A fact sheet on the lawsuit is available at https://mail.alliancedefensefund.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=5fedd46c7ec645b2917b445a28c26337&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.telladf.org%2fUserDocs%2fBenhamFactSheet.pdf."
