David E. Hoy, Attorney & Counselor at Law
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Education:
A "turning point" for school choice By The Editors
Voucher programs survived legal challenges in 1999 to flourish in 69 cities; tuition tax-credit initiatives also picked up steam. Some public-school defenders are seeking alternatives to court: 10 school districts in New Jersey are implementing their own state-sponsored choice program, complete with innovations that they say will improve schooling. Even the prospect of real competition has some effect. "1999 was a turning point for the school-choice movement," says Fritz Steiger, president of the Arkansas-based school-choice organization CEO America. Ordered to stop saying "Have a blessed day" at work has sued ReligionToday November 11, 1999 A woman who was ordered to stop saying "Have a blessed day" at work has sued her company. Liz Anderson (see link below) of USF Logistics in Indianapolis filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission Nov. 9... The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld Illinois and Wisconsin laws banning partial-birth abortion. World Magazine Nov. 6, 1999 Volume 14; Number 43 Supreme Court or bust The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld Illinois and Wisconsin laws banning partial-birth abortion. The 5-4 decision reversed a lower court's ruling that the Illinois law was unconstitutional and an appeals panel's order that temporarily stopped enforcement of the Wisconsin law. The Wisconsin law provides for life imprisonment of anyone performing such an abortion, except to save the life of the mother. Partial-birth abortionists receive a three-year sentence under the Illinois statute. Top of page Churches say they need a shield from multimillion dollar lawsuits that threaten to shut their doors. ReligionToday Oct. 29, 1999 Lawsuit awards should reasonably compensate people who are injured, but not be so large that they drive congregations into bankruptcy, proponents of a change in Colorado's laws say. State legislators there are drafting a bill that would protect churches from financial ruin when sued, The Christian Science Monitor said. ...The number of lawsuits against churches has increased quickly. A suit against the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado in 1993 claimed sexual misconduct by a priest against a female church member he was counseling and resulted in a $700,000 award. That set the stage for similar cases around the nation, and churches have been sued by the families of members who have committed suicide, and even for allegations of brainwashing. Churches around the country are watching the progress of the Colorado legislation. Reprinted with permission by ReligionToday Lottery Defeated in Alabama ReligionToday Oct. 21, 1999 Christian
preachers led a movement that defeated a proposed state lottery
in Alabama. Voters solidly rejected the lottery proposal backed
by Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman in a referendum Oct. 12.
Minnesota Christians have won a victory for religious rights.ReligionToday House of Representatives passes legislation designed to prevent infringes on religious expression. ReligionToday The U.S. House of Representatives voted to bar government development of an abortion pill. The bill that prevents the government from testing, developing, or approving drugs that induce abortion passed 217-214 June 8, the AP said. It means the bill’s chances for becoming law this year appear dim. The government should not use taxpayer funds to produce drugs that kill unborn children, bill sponsor Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), said. "Come up with drugs that heal," Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) said. Opponents said the action will restrict abortion rights. "We have our Flat Earth Society days around here, and this appears to be one of them," Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said. The House rejected a similar bill last year. ReligionToday Wisconsin’s partial-birth abortion ban has been upheld by a federal judge. ReligionToday Voluntary prayers can’t be held at graduation ceremonies ReligionToday Zoning and licensing requirements on hard-core pornography by U. S. Supreme Court ReligionToday Drunk-driving atheist doesn't have to attend AA meetings World Magazine Read Article The Internal Revenue Service was correct to strip tax-exempt status... ReligionToday Most Oregon doctors refuse to participate in assisted-suicide. by the Editors at ReligionToday.com About 67% say they won't prescribe the lethal drugs, a survey by state officials found... In Michigan, swearing in front of children is illegal. World Magazine ...And a county judge has upheld
the 1897-vintage statute, saying Timothy Boomer, 24, must stand
trial for his foul language. He fell out of a canoe on the Rifle
River last summer and launched into a three-minute stream of profanities.
A woman and her two young children were nearby, as was the sheriff's
deputy who testified against him. Top of page Christian Lawyers Endorse Need for and Constitutionality of Religious Liberty Protection Act Home-school parents can refuse visits from school authorities Religion Today Read Article Report From Counsel Winter 2000 TOPICS: Drive
Now, Talk Later; Insurance for Home Offices; Sexual Harassment in
the Classroom; When Calling Cards are Credit Cards; Advantages and
Disadvantages of Revocable Trusts Wills & Trusts Seminars |
Religion
isn't 'educational' By The Editors This time the threat to religious
broadcasting is real (unlike Seventy bills limiting abortion and 57 increasing abortion rights were passed last year in the United States ReligionToday January 24, 2000 Reported from the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. Neither side in the debate was pleased with the results. Texas and Michigan passed the most laws restricting abortion... January 8, 2000 World Magazine Volume 15; Number 1 Benchmarks: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, covering Western states, ruled that landlords with religious scruples may refuse to rent to unmarried couples. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that student prayers at graduation ceremonies were OK, but not at football games because they are not "solemn events." The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, reversing its earlier judgment, ruled that the Cleveland Board of Education's practice of opening its meetings with prayers is unconstitutional. Reprinted with permission by
World Magazine
Charges dismissed against minister who spanks son ReligionToday November 20, 1999 Massachusetts
dismissed charges against a minister who spanks his 12-year-old
son. The state's Supreme Judicial Court ruled Nov. 17 in Boston
that child welfare officials did not provide enough evidence to
support child abuse charges against Donald Cobble
Congressmen asked Supreme Court to support prayer before sporting events at public schools. ReligionToday Nov. 4, 1999 The House of Representatives passed a nonbinding resolution asking the court to support the constitutionality of such prayers when it considers a case in coming weeks, The Associated Press said. The resolution carries no legal force and is merely an expression of the representatives' wishes. Texas Reps. Henry Bonilla, a Republican, and Charles Stenholm, a Democrat, introduced the resolution in response to an appeals court's February decision banning the prayers in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. An important religious tradition "has been threatened by a foolish decision in federal court," Bonilla said. "This resolution gives the U.S. Congress a chance to take a stand. Reprinted with permission by ReligionToday "Members of Congress support posting the Ten Commandments in public" ReligionToday Oct. 21, 1999 Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council will give a framed copy of the biblical laws to about 30 members of Congress, who have agreed to post them in their offices. "By posting them in public places, members will send a clear message that the Ten Commandments are an integral part of public life and should be posted to promote a virtuous and civil society," FRC said. The organization will kick off a campaign to encourage public officials -- from governors to legislators and jurists -- as well as public citizens, to post the Ten Commandments. "This bold gesture by members of Congress will be a spark" to encourage others to post the laws, FRC's Janet Parshall said. Reprinted with permission by ReligionToday. Religious Freedom Report gets Mixed Reviews ReligionToday September 13, 1999 The U.S. State Department’s first report on religious freedom got mixed reviews from a religious freedom organization. It is a milestone that "shows the world that religious freedom is an American foreign policy priority and underscores the importance of religion in world events," but has serious gaps, Nina Shea... Federal judge blocks enforce- ment of a Florida parental notification law World Magazine A federal judge blocked enforcement of a Florida law requiring pregnant teenage girls to give their parents a heads-up before killing their unborn grandchildren. U.S. District Judge Terry Lewis said the abortionists challenging the parental notification law had a strong case and expected them to win a permanent injunction against the law. The law is similar to those in 41 other states, yet more lenient than many since it does not even require doctors to get permission from the parents of underage girls who want abortions. Reprinted with permission by World Magazine Injunction wrongly curbs rights of students to pray and lead prayers in public schools. ReligionToday A federal judge wrongly restricted student-instigated prayer at DeKalb County, Ala., schools. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta handed down the ruling July 13, the Associated Press reported. The 3-0 decision reversed a 1997 injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent that curbed the rights of students to pray and lead prayers in public schools. Read Article Valedictorian in California will not be allowed to deliver his prepared address ReligionToday Top of page U.S. commission to investigate violations of international religious freedom ReligionToday Federal court establishes secularism as dominant religion World Magazine A federal judge again refused to remove the Ten Commandments from a North Carolina courtroom ReligionToday Top of page Are religious "lunch clubs" at schools legal? Religion Today Board of Education members in Cleveland, Ohio, can't pray before their meetings by the Editors at ReligionToday.com 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules when schools can pray Religion Today A Virginia abortion law withstood a U.S. Supreme Court appeal. Religion Today ...The high court refused to
hear an appeal of the law, which requires an unmarried minor living
at home to tell at least one parent of her decision 24 hours before
having an abortion. The law allows a judge to waive the requirement
if he or she feels that the girl has been abused or neglected, the
Associated Press said. Abortion-rights advocate Simon Heller opposed
the law because "it is detrimental to the privacy rights of young
women." President Clinton's budget proposal includes no funding for the Religious Freedom Act Religion Today Read Article Five states have passed their own versions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by the Editors at ReligionToday.com Read Article "Tax break for people who donate money for scholarships to religious and other private schools" Religion Today Property owners' free exercise of religion ruling: Anchorage ReligionToday.com Read Article President Signs Bill That Will Protect Tithes and Charitable Donations IICLE Flashpoints - Business Law: 1998 Top of page
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