By Danielle Peabody – “If society expects to reap the benefits of educational improvements, society needs to be willing to step in and contribute its time, talent, and support to making education work. It is not something that schools alone can be expected to achieve – parents, neighbors, taxpayers, and future employers have the opportunity to take an active involvement at the local level through their volunteer efforts and supportive work. This is not so much an issue of money as it is a dedication to make sure that society will benefit from education and that education will benefit from society.”
Year: 2008
INTERVIEW: Barry Lynn – Why Churches Should Stay out of Politics (SpectrumMagazine.org)
Spectrum Magazine has just interviewed Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Lynn is an attorney, activist, and ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.
Full Text of Decision: North Coast Women’s Care Medical Group v. Benitez – California Supreme Court (August 8, 2008)
Filed 8/18/08 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA NORTH COAST WOMEN’S CARE ) MEDICAL GROUP, INC., et al., ) ) Petitioners, ) ) S142892 v. ) ) Ct.App. 4/1 D045438 SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, ) ) San Diego County Respondent; ) Super. Ct. No. GIC770165 _____________________________________ ) ) GUADALUPE T. BENITEZ, ) ) Real…
ANALYSIS: California Supreme Court unanimously rules that physicians cannot withhold fertility treatments to homosexuals
Do the rights of religious freedom and free speech, as guaranteed in both the federal and the California Constitutions, exempt a medical clinic’s physicians from complying with the California Unruh Civil Rights Act’s prohibition against discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation? The California Supreme Court says “No.”
California Court Reverses Itself and Says Homeschooling Parents Do Not Need Credentials
This overturned the decision the judges made in February requiring homeschooling parents to possess credentials. In their decision, they stated, “It is important to recognize that it is not for us to consider, as a matter of policy, whether homeschooling should be permitted in California . That job is for the Legislature. It is not the duty of the courts to make the law; we endeavor to interpret it.”
INSPIRATION: The Secret of All Persecution and the Power of Love
In a year when religious views seem to be shaping public discourse and ultimately impacting the law, this short excerpt from a classic religious work seems particularly relevant. ReligiousLiberty.TV publishes articles from a wide variety of political viewpoints and faith perspectives. Freedom can be celebrated from a secular perspective as well from a religious perspective….
CHINA: Underground church activist detained enroute to Christian service Bush was attending (The Independent)
Human rights concerns are underlying the pageantry of the Beijing Olympics where persecution against certain religious groups continues. Read the full article by Clifford Coonan at http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news-and-features/bush-steps-up-pressure-on-china-with-call-for-religious-freedom-890295.html Here are some excerpts from this article: President George Bush attended a Christian service in Beijing yesterday to call for greater religious freedom in China but, in an…
America’s Would-be Saviors
This article originally appeared on the Northwest Religious Liberty Association at http://www.nrla.com/article.php?id=75 and is used here by permission of the author. By Gregory W. Hamilton© August 5, 2008 It is not just the Pope who is drawing hundreds of thousands, with throngs pressing all about to get a glimpse of him, and maybe even a…
VIDEO: Is there room for peace?
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED With all that is going on in the world today, it is easy to forget that there is a war going on overseas. I wondered whether to post this video because it has some violent scenes and language in it, but maybe it is time to honestly face what is happening…
AUDIO: Evangelicals Up For Grabs? Candidates Court Voters (NPR)
Attorney Karen Scott found this story on the NPR web site, and it is worth both listening to and reading. It underscores just how much religion is playing a role this election season. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93360158 Morning Edition, August 7, 2008 · On Aug. 16, Barack Obama and John McCain will appear together at Rick Warren’s Saddleback…