Last July, Wisconsin State Representative Terry Moulton led his colleagues in prayer: “In your name, and by the power of your spirit, I come against the Evil One. And I ask that he be cast from this place, this day.” Not necessarily the most ecumenical of prayers, and now the Freedom from Religion Foundation has…
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…
VIDEO: 16-year-old boy dies from lack of medical treatment; family plans religious freedom defense
A 16-year-old Clackamas, Oregon boy, Neal Beagley, died Tuesday, June 17, following complications from an infected urethra. As he was older than 14 years of age, he could determine which medical treatment he received or did not receive, and he chose the path of faith healing. Physicians felt that a catheter would have saved his life had he…
Religious Freedom Problems Growing in Indonesia (UPI)
Although the Constitution of Indonesia provides for the freedom of religion and belief since 2000, these freedoms have been increasingly restricted. In an article published today, Dr. Philip Setunga, a staff member of the Asian Human Rights Commission in Hong Kong, reports on Indonesia’s issues at: http://upiasiaonline.com/Human_Rights/2008/06/10/religious_freedom_not_secure_in_indonesia/8244/
VIDEO: 18-minute Speech by Mitt Romney on Religious Liberty
On May 8, 2008, Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann were awarded the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty’s Canterbury Medal for “Courage in the Defense of Religious Liberty.” Mr. Romney’s 18-minute acceptance speech, before friends and supporters of the Becket Fund at the Metropolitan Club in New York, focused on the need for religion…
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…
OPINION: Courtship of religion complicates McCain and Obama campaigns
In an opinion piece published June 9 by Robert Novak, Novak describes the difficulty McCain has had winning the votes of religious right icons such as James Dobson and John Hagee and Catholics. Hagee, of course, has alienated Catholics with his description of Catholicism as “Godless theology,” something that McCain couldn’t abide, and Hagee has…
Religion-politics mix proves perilous (Christian Century)
If anything defines this election season, it is religion and politics, but as the Christian Century astutely points out, this can a troublesome mix. Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith. Mike Huckabee and his “Christian leader” ads. John McCain and John Hagee. Hillary Clinton and her “prayer warriors.” Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright. The 2008…
The Pope, the President, and the Politics of Faith (Asia Times)
The balance between faith and politics is fragile, and Asia Times writer Spengler gives an interesting perspective in today’s paper. It is worth reading. A link is provided following this excerpt: It is not only faith, but the temerity to act upon faith, that the pope and the president have in common. In the past…
PROFILE: Rep. Chet Edwards Champions Separation of Church and State in Congress
Rep. Chet Edwards represents President George Bush’s home district (including Crawford, Texas) in the United States House of Representatives. A moderate who considers himself a bridge-builder between left and right, and a Methodist who attends the Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, Rep. Edwards is a staunch supporter of the separation of church and state….