On Friday, March 22, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D) vetoed a religious freedom Bill (HB 279) claiming that the bill would “cause serious unintentional consequences that could threaten public safety, health care, and individuals’ civil rights.” The legislature is expected to override the veto.
Category: In the News
Opinion: Now Is The Time to Pass Sensible Gun Policy Reforms
President Obama has responded to public outcry by announcing a plan to reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of the vast majority of gun owners who are law abiding and use their guns safely. His plan, which included recommendations from a task force of stakeholders led by Vice President Joe Biden, is a commonsense proposal that Congress should pass promptly.
113th Congress Most Religiously Diverse Ever — and Why It Matters (Huffington Post)
Dwayne Leslie, Legislative Affairs Director for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists shares his perspective on the current U.S. Congress. EXCERPT: “The more voices, the more diverse points of view heard from, the better the chances we can collectively continue to ensure the ability for all people to follow their conscience. Together we thrive.” Read…
Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2013 Introduced in U.S. Senate
On December 17, 2012 Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced “The Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2013” (S.3686) which would Amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of religion specifically in the areas of “garb, grooming, and scheduling.”
Florida Amendment 8: A Trojan Horse That Could Regulate Churches’ Free Speech
Florida’s Amendment 8 is being promoted under a guise of “religious freedom,” but accepting state funds will subject religious institutions to increased regulation that would actually restrict free speech.
Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Selected to Serve as Idaho State Senate Chaplain
BOISE, IDAHO – Seventh-day Adventist pastor Jim Wibberding has been selected to serve as Idaho state senate chaplain for the 2013 Legislative Session. Wibberding, who earned a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership degree from Andrews University presently serves as the pastor of the Cloverdale Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Northwest Religious Liberty Association has issued the…
Oxford University Introduces Journal of Law and Religion
The Oxford Journal of Law and Religion will have a range of articles drawn from various sectors of the law and religion field, including: social, legal and political issues involving the relationship between law and religion in society; comparative law perspectives on the relationship between religion and state institutions; developments regarding human and constitutional rights to freedom…
Pew Forum Reports “Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion”
The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life has on September 20, 2012 released the third in a series of reports analyzing the extent to which governments and societies around the world impinge on religious beliefs and practices. The new report looks at the extent and direction of change in religious restrictions from the year ending in mid-2009…
BREAKING NEWS: Iran Pastor Nadarkhani Released from Prison
The American Center for Law and Justice announced this morning that Iranian Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani has been released after spending 1,062 days in prison for his Christian faith. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has reportedly been acquitted of apostacy (death penalty), and sentenced for time served for evangelizing Muslims. Pastor Nadarkhani is released from prison in Iran (ACLJ…
Kmiec: Is Paul Ryan Romney’s New Religion Problem? (Huffington Post)
Constitutional law scholar Douglas Kmiec shares his views on how the Paul Ryan pick will affect the Catholic vote in an article published today in the Huffington Post. Read the full article at the Huffington Post.