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,…
Worker wins $6.5 million in reverse religious discrimination suit
A former employee of Kelly Services, a worldwide provider of temporary workers, was awarded more than $6.5 million in damages Friday by a Sacramento federal jury on her claim that the company failed to promote her because she is not a member of a religious group that other employees belong to. Lynn Noyes, who worked…
McCain shies away from religion talk – Politico.com
Presidential candidate John McCain remains private about his religion. By Jonathan Martin – Politico.com Traversing the country this week on a tour of places that have shaped his life and informed his values, John McCain spoke in strikingly personal language to introduce himself to the American public. But missing so far is any significant mention…
Obama’s Faith-Based Outreach Hit By Wright Controversy
Religion is supposed to be Barack Obama’s strength. Unlike many Democratic candidates before him, Obama speaks with ease about his faith. He attends Sunday worship and knows his Bible. His supporters believe he can pry some committed churchgoers away from the GOP. But the furor over comments by his Chicago pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright,…
British researchers create human-animal hybrid embryo amid political row
For the first time in Britain, researchers at Newcastle University said Tuesday they had created human-animal hybrid embryos, amid a political row over a disputed embryo research bill in parliament.According to the northern English university, the research, which was first presented at a lecture in Tel Aviv on March 25, has yet to be published…