Does the military encourage harassment of atheists? What is there are atheists in foxholes? This story is a poignant reminder that the rights of all to believe, or not to believe, must be protected. http://news.aol.com/story/_a/atheist-claims-harassment-in-military/20080428092709990001 AP Posted: 2008-04-28 14:32:47 Filed Under: Iraq News, Nation News JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (April 26) — Like hundreds of young…
Month: April 2008
Polygamy: Where religious liberty ends (Salt Lake Tribune)
Trying to walk the line between religious freedom and societal concerns has never been easy. Some scholars say the line is drawn at polygamy. This article explores that option, but is the line even better drawn at child abuse? What about “legitimate” serial marriages and divorces? This issue may gain some traction in the next…
America facing food rationing? (NY Sun)
The New York Sun reported today that the staggering economy is affecting the food supply in America. Although this may not seem like a religious liberty issue, the amount of freedom we enjoy is indexed by the status of economics and security. Admin Here are some highlights of the story – click the link below to…
Testimony of Gregory Hamilton in support of the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act (SB 786)
April 9, 2009 Senator Floyd Prozanski, Chair Senate Judiciary Committee Oregon State Legislature 900 Court Street NE S-417 Salem, Oregon 97301 RE: SB 786 – Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act Mr. Chairman and Committee Members: The Northwest Religious Liberty Association (NRLA) represents the constitutional and workplace discrimination concerns of all people of faith in…
Testimony of Michael Peabody in favor of the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act (SB 786)
April 9, 2009 Senate Judiciary Committee Oregon State Legislature Salem, Oregon RE: SB 786 – Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act (SUPPORT) Mr. Chairman and Members, Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Workplace Religious Freedom Act. As an attorney I have had the privilege…
Talking Points SB 786 – Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act
GENERAL Talking Points Federal Religious Accommodation Law Defining terms: “Undue hardship.” Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended in 1972, requires employers to “reasonably” accommodate the religious practices of their employees unless, by so doing, the employer would incur an “undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s…
Economic interdependency quiets voices against Chinese human rights abuses
By Michael D. Peabody Last week as it circled the globe, protesters chased the Olympic flame as it traveled to Beijing. That China has been involved in human rights abuses and untoward activities in Tibet is a fact, and a boycott of the Olympics would certainly send a signal to the authorities that the world…
Film Review – “Expelled” – Darwin’s Kool-Aid (CFP)
I’ve been seeing the Google-generated ad on this site for several days now, and finally decided to learn more about Ben Stein’s new film “Expelled.” Frankly, it looks compelling and I hope to see it soon. This is a good overview of the film and it’s potential impact – academic freedom goes both ways. Are…
Wall of silence broken at Minnesota’s Muslim public school
A Minnesota columnist reports on her visit to a “Muslim public school” in Minneapolis. It will be interesting to see whether the school survives constitutional scrutiny. Recently, I wrote about Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), a K-8 charter school in Inver Grove Heights. Charter schools are public schools and by law must not endorse or…
The New Blue Laws – Slate.com
Slate contributor and labor union attorney, Paul L. Edenfield, asks the questions as to workers have the right to have Sundays off. This may be the forerunner of additional trends in this area: The New Blue Laws They’re about giving workers a break, not forcing church attendance. By Paul L. Edenfield Updated Monday, April 7,…