By Michael Newdow – EXCERPT: “Two months ago, when the American people chose Barack Obama to serve in the highest office in the land, it seemed that Homer Plessy’s dream had finally been realized. America, we thought then, truly stands for the justice and equality guaranteed in its Constitution. Yet, in a few days, as our new president steps up to the inaugural podium, the reality will be that government-sanctioned favoritism – now for religion, instead of race – will continue.”
Category: Discrimination
U.S. Muslims worry about new federal rules (MSNBC)
The revised guidelines going into effect Monday will allow agents to use undercover sources to gather information, interview people without identifying themselves and spy on suspects without evidence of wrongdoing.
Critics say the rules will allow for abuses, including more racial and religious profiling.
VIDEO: War on/for Christmas Begins! Focus on the Family Protests Religiously Neutral Retailers
It is an amusing video, but the message is clear – retailers should be commercializing Christmas, not just the “holidays.” At Christmastime, all retailers should be Christian or at least not offend Christians by recognizing other celebrations of the holiday season. Apparently FOTF believes that the “Christian” (not “Judeo-Christian”) majority should prevail and if you don’t like it, find another country.
EEOC issues New Guidelines on Religious Discrimination
Thanks to the tireless efforts of many the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released new guidelines that make clearer recommendations regarding workplace religious discrimination and accommodation of religious practices. The full guidelines, available at http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/religion.html , are remarkable in that the EEOC has clarified definitions and provided clear examples of prohibited conduct that can…
Proposal Would Deny Federal Money if Employees Must Provide Medical Care to Which They Object (WashingtonPost.com)
The Bush Administration has proposed new regulations which would deny federal money to medical facilities if they required employees to act against their religious conscience in providing certain health benefits. This raises a number of pertinent questions: Does this go too far, or is it just what religious employees need? Is the proposed regulation too…
Landowner Of Proposed Muslim Community Site Files Suit Against Town
In Walkersville, Maryland, a landowner who wanted to sell his farm to a Muslim group is suing the town for religious discrimination because they have refused his right to do so. This is a classic case of “NIMBYism” (Not in My Back Yard) where city officials used what sounds like neutral language to carefully make…
California Supreme Court to Decide A Case Where Medical Rights v. Workplace Religious Freedom
Soon after issuing its opinion that gay marriage cannot be prohibited under the Constitution, the California Supreme Court is about to issue a ruling in a case where a physician declined to provide fertilization services on a lesbian (unmarried) couple, but referred them to another clinic that did provide the service on the basis that…
OPINION: Gay Rights and Religious Liberty (Los Angeles Times)
The Los Angeles Times today published an article by Marc D. Stern of the American Jewish Congress describing the impact that gay marriage might have on religious organizations. A link follows these excerpts: In its controversial decision, the [California Supreme Court] insisted that these same-sex marriages would not “diminish any other person’s constitutional rights” or…
VIDEO: Could Gay Marriage Erode Non-Profit Tax-Exempt Status?
On March 26, 2007, Brian Brown, Executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, testified before the judiciary committee of the state legislature in regard to raised House Bill 7395: An Act Concerning Marriage Equality. In this video, Brown argues that even if churches are not required to perform the ceremonies, legalizing same-sex marriage might…
Atheist Claims Harassment in the Military (AP)
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…