Free Republic

Education Department Constitutionally Adrift by: Amanda Busse, January 09, 2008 Larry P. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College in Michigan, is looking for a way to put morality back into America’s classrooms, a goal he believes the Department of Education has abandoned. “The purpose of education has both an intellectual and a moral component,” Arnn wrote in an article that appeared in the Hillsdale newsletter Imprimis. “One will not find these sentiments in the plans made in the Department of Education today.” Public schools may not promote a religion, according to the Department of Education’s website, but neither the Department of...

Methodists Sue New Jersey over Attempt to Force Gay “Marriage” at Church Owned Camp By Hilary White TRENTON, August 21, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In another case of a clash between Christian traditional values and the new secular sexual morality, the United Methodist Church group that owns a private campground retreat are suing the New Jersey government, saying its rights of religious freedom are being violated. The state is investigating a discrimination charge brought against the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association by a pair of lesbians who wanted to use the private retreat campground for a “civil union” ceremony. The federal...

SUGAR LAND — Student Natasha Gualy was all smiles Tuesday knowing that when she shares her Christian faith at school, she will not be reprimanded or humiliated. Gov. Rick Perry conducted a ceremonial signing of House Bill 3678 aimed at reaffirming students' rights to express religious viewpoints. Perry officially signed the bill, also known as the Religious Viewpoints Anti-Discrimination Act, in June. Surrounded by schoolchildren at the Clements High School library, Perry signed the bill sponsored by state Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land. The bill does not create a new law but rather provides a model policy that school districts...

Nativity Scene 'Aborted' By Tiller Employee http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/10960409.html Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Outreach & Media Coordinator, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue WICHITA, Kansas, Dec. 14 /Standard Newswire/ -- An employee of late-term abortionist George R Tiller stole a nativity scene belonging to Operation Rescue that had been displayed among crosses and other religious items on the public property outside the abortion clinic gate. The plastic Nativity Scene, consisting of likenesses of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and a donkey were placed outside the notorious abortion clinic, as part of a national campaign called The Nativity Project. The Nativity Project was...

Canada's Harper government delightfully surprised both its friends and its foes last week. It leaked the fact that it may bring in a "Defence of Religions Act" to protect critics of homosexual practice from prosecution under human rights codes, and to prohibit the firing of marriage commissioners who refuse on the grounds of their religion to "marry" homosexual couples. Social conservative allies were surprised because opposition to gay marriage, which had begun to seem a lost cause, was being revived. Government foes are equally delighted, because they assume that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has finally made a blunder that will...

Blessing of school may have done more harm to students than good Saturday, September 09, 2006 I write regarding the Aug. 27 blessing of Woodward Park Middle School and the Aug. 31 editorial "No harm done." Even if I grant that the 180 people who took part in this blessing were legally exercising their free-speech rights and that no unconstitutional mixing of church and state occurred, I am far from convinced that no harm was done. Can you cite any empirical studies proving that such blessing ceremonies are safe and effective? If you can’t, is it possible that students who...

Public Expression of Religion Act moves forwardhttp://www.recordgazette.net/articles/2006/07/28/news/05news.txt http://tinyurl.com/hp9ga Rees Lloyd, Banning-based attorney and Commander of American Legion District 21 (Riverside County), has been selected to testify on behalf of The American Legion before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution in support of passage of Senate Bill 3696, Veterans Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals and Other Public Expressions of Religion Act of 2006 (“PERA). S 3696 (PERA), sponsored by Sen. Brownback (R-Kan), a companion bill to H.R. 2979 (PERA), sponsored by Rep. Hostetter (R-Ind.), would amend all relevant federal laws to eliminate the authority of judges to award taxpayer-paid attorney...

Russell Springs, KY - In protest to a court order issued hours before the Russell County High School graduation last Friday night, about 200 seniors spontaneously stood and began reciting the Lord's Prayer, prompting a standing ovation from a standing-room only crowd. The thunderous applause drowned out the last part of the prayer. The revival-like atmosphere continued when senior Megan Chapman said in her opening remarks that God had guided her since childhood. Megan was interrupted repeatedly during her speech by the cheering crowd as she urged her classmates to trust in God as they go through life. On Friday,...

Munford, TN- Graduation is a time to celebrate accomplishments and successes to come. At Munford High School, in the middle of all the pomp and circumstance, there is normally time set aside on the program for prayer. This year God is being deleted from the program. "I just don't think it's right," Parent Dena Harden says. It's hard for students and parents to accept. Since they can remember prayer has been part of the program. "They've done it at every other graduation. Why should it be taken away at ours," Graduating Senior Nick Jones says. But they also feel like...

One thing is for sure, the liberals can’t say this was government endorsed. I applaud these young men and women for standing up for their rights, and setting the example for others. The ACLU filed suit on behalf of one student who felt offended that a prayer would be included in their graduation ceremony. U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley granted a temporary restraining order sought by a student. Here is how the students responded to the attempts to censor them. The senior class at a southern Kentucky high school gave their response Friday night to a federal judge’s order banning...

The ACLU once again finds an very accommodating federal judge who found no problem in destroying the only absolute sovereignty for which this nation rests upon: the people. U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley granted a temporary restraining order sought by a student who didn't want prayer to be part of the graduation exercises from a south-central Kentucky school some 110 miles southeast of Louisville. This didn't stop the principal at the beginning of the graduation ceremony from reciting the Lord's Prayer, prompting a standing ovation from a standing-room only crowd at the Russell County High School gymnasium. We can...

Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a ruling by a federal court of appeals to stand that declared public schools cannot censor the religious viewpoints of students in class assignments. The case, Baldwinsville School District v. Peck, involved a school district's censorship of a kindergartner's art poster that contained a picture of Jesus. Liberty Counsel represents Antonio Peck, the student whose poster was censored. When attending kindergarten at Baldwinsville Elementary School in Syracuse, New York, Antonio's teacher instructed the class to draw posters regarding their understanding of the environment. Antonio drew a poster depicting children holding hands...

University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly announced a proposal Wednesday that would allow resident assistants to lead and participate in all activities, religious and otherwise, anywhere on campus. The proposed system-wide policy would replace previous policies, which varied among individual UW campuses, many of which banned RAs from holding or leading Bible studies within their rooms or residence halls. “You have to weigh and balance everything,” UW System spokesperson Doug Bradley said. “This [proposed policy] is the best way to ensure all students have access to everything our campus has to offer.” According to Reilly’s recommended policy, RAs are...

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a small congregation in New Mexico may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a four-hour ritual intended to connect with God. Justices, in their first religious freedom decision under Chief Justice John Roberts, moved decisively to keep the government out of a church's religious practice. Federal drug agents should have been barred from confiscating the hoasca tea of the Brazil-based church, Roberts wrote in the decision. The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered sacred to members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal, which has...

Regrettably, the decision by the media not to offend Muslims is motivated by fear, not ethics. Whenever the Catholic League criticizes a work of art, cartoon, movie or TV show, we are told that (a) we’re the intolerant ones (b) what is offensive is in the eye of the beholder (c) art is supposed to make people uncomfortable (d) no one can criticize anything until they have seen it (e) protests have a ‘chilling effect’ on free speech (f) it’s not real anyway, and (g) get over it. So why have Muslims been spared this lecture? Because the extremists in...

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Sweden's highest court on Tuesday acquitted a Pentecostal pastor accused of hate speech for having denounced homosexuality as a "cancerous tumor" in a sermon. Ake Green's contentious sermon in 2003 was protected by freedom of speech and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights, the Supreme Court said in a 16-page ruling. Green, 64, became the first clergyman convicted under Sweden's hate crimes legislation, when a lower court found him guilty of inciting hatred against homosexuals. An appeals court overturned the ruling earlier this year, but Sweden's chief prosecutor appealed the acquittal to the Supreme...

Meadowlands sets aside prayer spaces at stadium for Muslims By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press Writer November 22, 2005, 4:49 PM EST NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority says it will provide a special area for anyone who wants a place to pray while at Giants Stadium or the Continental Airlines Arena _ a reaction to Muslim groups' outcries after several fans who prayed at a New York Giants game were detained and questioned by the FBI in September. Sohail Mohammed, the lawyer for the Totowa-based American Muslim Union, met Sunday with officials from the sports authority,...

A California high school says it will no longer prohibit a student from using religious music to accompany her dance performance audition for a January dance team concert. Officials with West High School in Torrance initially told student Lauren Stoudt she could not choreograph her dance to the song "In Your Presence" because of the song's religious content. The teenager's father contacted the legal defense organization Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which sent a letter to Torrance Unified School District Superintendent Dr. George Mannon, West High School Principal Tim Stowe, and other district officials. The letter warned them that legal action...

RenewAmerica alert! U.S. Air Force bombs freedom of religion September 23, 2005 RenewAmerica staff Friends, Your action is needed! Please send this to everyone you know. As many of you are aware, on August 29, 2005, the U.S. Air Force issued sweeping new guidelines that essentially prohibit public prayer at all official Air Force meetings and events, except at worship services and under "extraordinary circumstances"--such as "mass casualties, preparation for imminent combat and natural disasters." Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is now thinking of requiring all of the Armed Services to abide by these restrictions as well. As reported by...

TRADITION is making a comeback this Christmas, with Melbourne to include an old-fashioned nativity scene in a $200,000 outlay on festive decorations. Church groups are delighted Melbourne City Council has bowed to protests from Christians and returned Christ to Christmas. Council staff cannot remember another city nativity scene. The council will today announce a major revamp of its Christmas decorations and displays. The 17m Christmas tree will be at Federation Square opposite St Paul's Cathedral. Huge "Merry Christmas" banners will be hung throughout the city. A nativity scene of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Feast of the Epiphany...